Boys punishment short pants

Answer 1

Though there are antecedents & parallels, the assocation of short pants or short trousers & the idea of making boys dress in them as a way of discipline appears to date from the early 20th Century, when outfits with shorts became de rigueur for boys (essentially starting in England but soon the convention in most places until after World War II).

The quaint custom was to keep boys in short pants until they came of age, when they would then graduate to wearing long trousers as a rite of passage (traditionally at age 13). Hence, a boy donned in shorts then signified he was still a juvenile & so to be regarded.

While the "cute" factor of the style no doubt influenced mothers to adopt this fashion for their sons, it was also a curious belief then (mostly with males) that making boys go bare-legged had healthful benefits (developed hardiness) as well as "character building" virtues (instilled docility, taught humility). So, that this fostered the curious notion of making adolescent youths go in shorts as a way to discipline or tame them was ineluctable.

Keeping youths in shorts as daily attire for the purpose of training discipline has been part of the standard regimen practice at some schools (as a requisite part of the uniform for all); or, conversely, used by some as a way punishment by making a lad spend a stint in them (his classmates being in their normal long trousers uniforms). Parents & guardians have likewise employed this method as a way to tame or discipline teenage sons. And, making a youth go publically dressed as a little boy in short pants has been used as a way of "petticoating" one by perverse females. In any case, the shorts for these purposes are almost invariably cut brief & fit trim (for reasons I trust understandable).

All the right/wrong and/or good/bad arguements even for the best of reasons re this idea as a way of discipline for boys aside (being beyond the scope here) it is nontheless a curious note, judging from the voluminus reports & anecdotal commentary (both historical & current) relative to this subject, that, regardless, it does indeed "work." What this may mean, prove or justify, if anything, is a matter of opinion, I suppose...

Answer 2

In brief, they are (usually very brief & snug) shorts a (particularly adolescent) boy is made to ware as a "tool" (way/means) of discipline. The idea being that the ignominy & chagrin of waring them is the punishment...