Netizens roast bill seeking ‘pants option’ for female students

People online are roasting the bill seeking “gender-neutral” school uniforms for female students — which would allow them to opt out of skirts — in place of more comprehensive gender equality and non-discrimination laws.

Senator Raffy Tulfo recently filed Senate Bill No. 1986, which seeks to promote “gender-neutral uniforms in schools, colleges and universities.” The kicker? It’s also being proposed to be called the “Pants for Her” Act.

“The convenience of wearing pants or trousers should be available for all. Women should not be restricted to wearing skirts as their choice of uniform in schools, colleges, or universities,” the bill read.

“Young women must be given another alternative to the traditional skirted-uniform for them to feel comfortable and promote a gender-neutral environment,” its explanatory note added.

Netizens online argued that while allowing women to wear pants as part of their uniforms was long overdue, they wondered as to whether the discussion merited the involvement of lawmakers.

“Why is this even being discussed in the Senate? Such a waste of time,” one Redditor said.

“In other countries this would be an administrative matter, or something handled by government agencies,” another user on Reddit argued.

“Doesn’t the SOGIE bill cover this?” one mentioned, referring to the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression Equality or Anti-Discrimination Bill that seeks to prohibit gender-based discrimination.

However, others argued that bills such as the proposed “Pants for Her” Act were positive baby steps.

“SOGIE, together with other priority bills like the [Reproductive Health] Bill and Divorce Bill are languishing miserably in the bowels of the Houses,” one said.

“[This is the] reality of politics. This bill is far easier and palatable to pursue than [SOGIE].

Better some progress rather than no progress,” another contended.

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