School Physical Exam Differences between Genders

Never had to go braless for a school exam. Last time I was in underpants only was probably grade three...so yes, it does seem like there is a bit of a double standard, but that is at least partially due to anatomical differences...

Never had to go braless for a school exam. Last time I was in underpants only was probably grade three...so yes, it does seem like there is a bit of a double standard, but that is at least partially due to anatomical differences...

I don’t think that to be honest. In my opinion, they just respect girls feeings more in those situations. Thats why they don’t undress they as much as boys. Thats what I think at least.

Never had to go braless for a school exam. Last time I was in underpants only was probably grade three...so yes, it does seem like there is a bit of a double standard, but that is at least partially due to anatomical differences...

Male genitalia may be external, but so are female breasts. Shouldn't both be examined during a proper sports physical?

I am not sure that there is still great differences between boy's students and girl's students school physicals for sport or annual routine examination but it was certainly true in the past.

in my opinion, there are obvious and logical reasons for the difference as regards genitals examination and other reasons less logical which were due to double standard.

The main reason is the different anatomy of boys and girs: the genitals of boys are external, so it is very easy to check by a visual examination and to touch and palpate them while it is not the case for girls.

So if a doctor is performing a hernia test which is useful for boys, it is logical that he decides to check also the genitals of boys and palpate their testicles. And the boy is normally undressed in underwear for that examination

But it is less logical that the examinations were performed in an assembly line inspired by military methods without partitions.

It is on that point that thre was a double standard : I doubt that girls were examined in that way and thre was certainly partitions for them so that they were examined with a certain level of privacy behind a curtain.

For boys the medical or school authorities did not think that it was necessary, they preferred to go faster and did not care about the possible embarrassment of boys.

As it was said in a message, for most of the adults to leave the boys keep their underwears or a jockstrap was enough for the respect of their modesty.

Boys were not supposed to be shy towards nudity on the reverse of girls and at leat in the past boys could not complain to their parents if they were instructed to remove or to pull down their underwears in an assembly line without partitions because their parents would have laughed ( the father) or told them to get over their embarrassment which not a masculine feeling while the parents were more concerned by the respect of the privacy of their daughters.

"Hildabert" : I find funny your message where it is said that at college in England in the 50's, screens were set up in a gym for girls being checked to get undressed behind but those screens fitted together badly so that the boys waiting at the entrance of the gym could see the girls in their bras and panties waiting and even taking off their bras before going through when they were called giving them a good view on their boobs but unfortunately a teacher or a nurse pointed out that issue and pushed the screens together.

In that message it is not said how the boys were undressed and if they were themselves exposed to the view of the girls if they were not undressing behind screens ....

Never had to go braless for a school exam. Last time I was in underpants only was probably grade three...so yes, it does seem like there is a bit of a double standard.

I have had the genitals examined during every physical since I was 11 years old. Boys with whom I played sports would occasionally mention the hernia exam in a joking manner and it was something we all came to expect once we hit adolescence. Mothers and fathers would sometimes allude to hernia exams in joking as well. It was never stated as such, but I thought even at the time, having the testicular and hernia exams represented a rite of passage for a boy into manhood in a unique way. It was as though it helped you become manly to have the courage to take sown your pants and let a stranger see what you had down there. I have to say, it's one of the reasons I find it so exciting. I do think that girls not having to do anything during their exams that is comparable represents a double standard.

Without a doubt there seems to be a ridiculous double standard that continues to this day. At some point adolescent boys should obtain information and instruction regarding monthly testicular exams. Adolescent girls should also obtain the same regarding monthly breast exams. Cancer happens. Reduce the risk. It also teaches the young person the importance and responsibility of self care. It can also give the adolescent a sense of empowerment.

My doctor counseled me about it and upon reflection I feel grateful...Giving me an excuse to fondle myself in the shower at age 15? Sign me the hell up.

I never had to do the hernia exam in my school exams. My doctors would place their hands down there and look, but that was it for the most part.

I agree with most of the comments on here. Definitely a double standard when it comes to physical exams. The genital exam is something most guys came to expect growing up. From the women I have talked to, none of them were subject to any exams of the nature prior to their OBGYN.

I think if a woman doctor were to examine a young boy's genitals at school, it would be OK, but if a male doctor were to examine a young girl's breasts or genitals, parents will raise a red flag calling the doctor a perv.

This can be solved by organising a female doc for a female class; I remeber a female friend told me once their class asked for a female doc for the school exam (where breast exam do is done here), and they got one (most of the school docs are female here anyway I think)