But even in 2015, the battle for sartorial² sexual equality rages on, notably³ at the University of Cambridge, where ladies must still wear skirts if they wish to eat in college dining halls.

 

Now though, a mere⁴ century and a half after women were first admitted to Cambridge, they will finally be allowed to cover their legs at formal dinners, at one college at least.

 

St Catharine's College, founded in 1473, has always insisted on male students wearing a jacket and tie and smart trousers with an academic gown, while women, who were first admitted to the college in 1979, have had to wear a skirt or a dress.

 

Centuries of tradition has now been overturned thanks to a campaign by a transgender student, who has persuaded the college that women should be allowed to wear trousers and men should be allowed to wear skirts.

 

St Catharine's is believed to be the first college at the 800-year-old university to change its formal dress code, though others are now expected to follow suit.

 

The campaign was led by American Charlie Northrop, 25, who is studying for a PhD in Classics and began transitioning from male to female earlier this year.

点击收听单词发音