A SIGNIFICANT push to lobby the NSW state government to amend its school uniform making “gender neutral” mandatory in all public schools spurred debate at NSW Country Women’s Association state conference on Tuesday.
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A motion put forward by the Sydney City branch of the NSW CWA pushed for mandatory “gender neutral” uniforms across the board.
Sydney City president Elizabeth Nash lamented the inconsistent standards across the state and said many schools in NSW did not offer fair choices to their students.
“The NSW government leaves it up to school communities as to what policy is appropriate,” she said.
And this often left girls without the choice of wearing shorts or pants, she said.
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She spoke in favour of a motion that read: “That the policy of CWA of NSW shall be to advocate for the NSW government to amend its school uniform policy so that gender neutral uniforms are mandatory for all public schools.”
Many delegates sympathised with girls having to wear dresses or skirts when some physical activities did not loan themselves to such attire.
But state treasurer Ruth Cargill was quick to point out what she felt were the motion’s shortcomings.
“Options are a good idea, but this motion doesn’t say that,” she said.
“Gender neutral means everyone wears the same thing, I don’t wear a dress and I won’t go as far as saying (there should be) options for boys to wear skirts,” she said, generating plenty of laughter in the crowd of hundreds.
Another delegate near the centre of the room opposed the motion.
“This shouldn’t even be on our agenda, the CWA is about improving conditions of women and families, we are a humanitarian organisation and we have won the respect and admiration of Australia and the world for that,” she said.
Another chipped in: “This motion seeks conflict and is looking for a headline.”
State president Annette Turner, looking to take the heat out of the debate added: “We should not censor, everyone has a right to speak.”
With that delegates set about modifying the motion, because the prevailing opinion seemed to be that choice was a good thing.
The motion was amended to: “That the policy of the CWA shall be to advocate for the NSW government to amend its school uniform policy so that the option of gender neutral uniforms is made mandatory for all public schools in NSW.”
Put to the vote, the motion failed, 192 in favour, 285 against with six abstentions.
