Figure 1.--Here we see a group of what we believe to be Kindrgarteners just beginning school in about 1960. The children, both boys and girls, are all wearing tights. Usually such uniformity only comes when the item is required. But note that there was no school instructions as to color. Note that the cherry tree is blooming..

Gender conventions concerning tights varied from country to country. In some countries there were very strict gender conventions and in other countries tights did not have gender conventions. This varied somewhat over time. Girls commonly wore tights, but not exclusivedly. We see boys wearing them as well in several countries. Tights are primarily associated with girls in America and Britain, but this was not the case in many other countries. Gender convemtions varied from country to country. Tights in American and Britain were exclusively worn by girls. They were very common in America and continue to be, but only for girls. Tights were worn by younger boys in several countries. We are not sure why these gender conventions developed. In most countries tights became popular in countries where long-stockings were worn. For some reason this convention did not continue in America. Perhaps the fact that long stockings had disappeared by the time tights appeared may have been a factor. While children both boys and girls wore tights, there were some gender differences, primarily in the age of children wearing them and the colors worn. In most cases tuights were not a uniform item, but rther just the hoiery children wore to school. Some schools may have specified tights, but not the color. And some schools were very specific. These were primarily consrvative girls' schools whicg almost always were dark colors even though white tights were commonly worn by girls.

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Created: 10:21 PM 9/1/2011
Last updated: 10:21 PM 9/1/2011