In fact, it's a relatively new thing for women to compete in kilts in Highland dancing and dates from the 1940s and 50s. The Highland Fling, the Sword Dance, the Barracks, etc. were danced originally by men in the Highland regiments, and, until the early 1900s, only boys entered Highland dance competitions. Girls began to enter dance competitions in the early 1900s, but only in the traditional "Aboyne" costume, not in kilts. It's my understanding that women competing in kilts began in the 1940s and 1950s.

But - don't think that modern Highland dancing is for girls/women only, despite the small number of boys/men at a typical Highland games. Many of the winners at the world championship have been men.

Wildrover - any dance teacher would be delighted to add males to a dance class. Our local group has two adult males and has had several boys over the years.