Dylan McMahon’s father says that if girls are allowed to wear stud earrings, his son should be too.
A Co Antrim school has been accused of sexism after a teenage boy was allegedly sent home and excluded for wearing stud earrings.
Dylan McMahon has been excluded from class on multiple occasions at Ballyclare Secondary School since the start of the school year for wearing stud earrings in each ear. This is because he is said to be breaching the school’s uniform policy that allows girls to wear stud earrings but not boys.
Speaking to Belfast Live, the 15-year-old’s dad Darren Stewart said that he believes the school is being sexist towards his son as boys are not being treated equally as girls regarding a small uniform issue. He said that his son has even worn plasters over the studs in order to try and appease the school, but was still excluded from class.
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Darren met with the school this week in order to try and resolve the issue, however he says that while the school says Dylan can return to class, he has been told that he cannot wear earrings.
Darren said: “My son is being discriminated against entirely based on his gender by this school that is allowing girls to do one thing but banning boys from doing the same.
“All Dylan has been doing is wearing two stud earrings, which would have no impact on any other student in the school, and would be allowed if he was a girl. The school has given no reason why it has one rule for girls and another for boys and they are hurting his education in a very important year.
“Dylan has even tried to appease the school by wearing plasters over his earrings, but this was still a problem for them. I think it is ridiculous that my son is being treated like this by the school, who are causing him a lot of unnecessary stress.
“If I was allowing him to stay off school like this I would be fined for it, but for some reason the school can exclude my son like this without any issue.”
Darren has also claimed that alongside this sexism issue with his son, the school has used students breaching its uniform policy in its advertising.
A spokesperson for Ballyclare Secondary School said: “Whilst we are limited in discussing individual students, we are liaising directly with the family to resolve this matter.
“Following the establishment of our new Board of Governor, and as part of our ongoing commitment to reviewing practices, we will be running a consultation with parents, carers, pupils and staff on jewellery which will start on Friday 12 September.
“Research indicates that maintaining high standards of uniform and appearance helps with creating a positive school identity, reducing social barriers; creating self-esteem and self-respect. As reflected in our school ethos, we remain committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive learning and teaching environment for all.”
An Equality Commission spokesperson said: “We can confirm Mr Stewart has spoken to a member of our discrimination advice team regarding his query.”
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