Oh yes, absolutely - that's a bigger issue of course, but male-as-generic sexist bullshit is a also part of what's going on here. (If the head had mandated skirts for all he'd be getting even more flak.) Paradoxically it results in more freedom for girls in one sense - they can wear trousers, play football, be into engineering (up to a point) and everyone many people thinks it's cool, whereas a boy who is into "feminine" clothing and pursuits is far more disturbing, apparently. But then, it's understandable for girls to aspire to be boys, but degrading for boys to lower themselves to be girls.