What happened to your daughter is amazing, and makes it clear that this kind of attitude about what "girls" and "boys" should or should not do is deeply anchored in society. I well recall the laughable dress codes I had in my primary school and for which I, too, got sent to the principal's office (one time for a "midi-skirt", the height of fashion in the 1970s, and another time for culottes, also very in. I was aghast at my principal's lack of fashion sense).

The incident with your daughter also drives home that these are societal issues that begin at school, and are also beliefs held by the teachers who interact with our children. It's so important to stand up to this kind of behavior wherever it surfaces.

I hope your daughter has overcome the incident by now and once again feels comfortable at school.