CAMPAIGNERS have accused three major supermarkets of "sexualising" little girls with their school uniform options.
Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury's have come under fire over the differences between the options for girls and boys.
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Campaigners say chains including Asda are 'sexualising' children with their uniform choices. George's skirts for girls are 8cm shorter than shorts for boys Credit: MEN Media
The three chains have been accused of selling skirts and shorts that are significantly shorter than uniforms on offer for boys.
And a parents' group says the supermarkets aren't "behaving responsibly" with their back-to-school ranges.
Francesca Mallen, from the campaign group Let Clothes Be Clothes, told Kent Live girls are often left with no choice but to wear "impractical and rigid clothing".
Asda's girls' shorts are 8cm shorter than a similar garment for boys.
A pair of boys' regular-fit shorts in ages 11 to 12 have an outside leg measurement of 44cm - while a pair of girls' comfort-stretch waistband shorts came in at just 36cm.
A spokesperson for Asda said George offers "more choice and variety than any other schoolwear retailer", with longer skirts, shorts and skorts for girls available.
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In a statement, they added: "While we sometimes use signposting to help customers navigate clothing sections in store and online, our school shop items are split by age and are not labelled ‘boys’ or ‘girls’."
Tesco's F&F girls' pleated skirt had an outside leg measurement of 32cm - four centimetres shorter than the 36xm on the boys' regular fit shorts.
A spokesman said the differences in sizing between boys' and girls' clothing is due to differences in pupils' average size and height.
There's a 2.5cm difference between garments for youngsters aged seven to eight as boys, on average, grow faster than girls, they say.
Meanwhile, Sainsbury's TU offers better options for taller girls.
Their skirt for youngsters aged seven has an outside leg measurement of 38cm - 1cm longer than the boys' regular fit shorts for the same age.
However, boys are sold clothing with a reinforced knee - something not offered as an option for girls.
Ms Mallen said: "At the very least it's not practical.
"At its very worst it sexualises girls.
"We're not talking about modesty here. We're talking about values of performance in dress.
"In our culture, we have these images of women that are very highly sexualised and objectified.
"Supermarkets have a duty to behave responsibly.
"They are absolutely not doing that at the moment."
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Skirts are also shorter in Tesco - although a spokesman from the store says this reflects the height difference between girls and boys Credit: MEN Media 3
Sainsbury's skirts are longer - but girls' trousers don't have reinforced knees, unlike options for boys Credit: MEN Media
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