Figure 1.-- Boys and girls in the first half 20th century have both commonly worn long stockings. After the 1920s they were probably more common for girls as older boys began to increasingly wear socks rather than stockings. This can be overagerated. We note German boys commonly wearing long stockings, however, into the 1950s. And there are many images where the boys are wearing long stockings and the girls are wearing socks. Here we see a group of children in 1930.

Both boys and girls wore longstockings, in masny cases identicial long stockings. There were, however, some gender differences. HBC has little information about long stockings gender conventions in the 19th century. Both boys and girls wore them and I am unsure if there were any important gender differences. Boys and girls in the first half 20th century have both commonly worn long stockings. After the 1920s they were probably more common for girls as older boys began to increasingly wear socks rather than stockings. We know that some boys objected to wearing them. We are less sure of girls' attitudes. Our information here is limited and large numbers of boys contnued to wear them, but mothers commonly insisted--primarily for health reasons. In such matters, girls were commonly more compliant than boys. This can be overagerated. We note German boys commonly wearing long stockings, however, into the 1950s. And there are many images where the boys are wearing long stockings and the girls are wearing socks.