to think that Muslim Girls should not be wearing headscarves....

[PosieParker]

at primary school?

here

I would hope something as advisory as a school would not permit the loss of innocence for these children.

If someone dared to suggest a 3 year old cover themselves up in a bikini top most of you would be horrified. You'd say it was sexualising the child to have to cover up and implying she should have to ashamed of her body.

WHat is the difference here? They are little girls not sex objects and shoudln't be already made to be ashamed of their bodies

To be fair about this I don't think there is room for any independent religious schools, I find it a frightening and indoctrinating idea.

I think skirt length is comparable.

Different cultures have deemed different parts of the female body as 'inflaming lust'- Western culture dictates that thighs and stomach should be covered. Some islamic culture dictates that hair should be covered.

Actually Posie, your example sort of proves the opposite of what you wanted- what is the difference between making young girls cover their stomachs and figure by not wearing crop tops and jeggings and islamic parents insisting that young girls wear headscarves? Both actions suppose the possession of sexual attraction in young girls.

yes you are being completely unreasonable. Itis an Islamic school FGS!

How tedious that it's always all about girls and what they should do. The 'yes but it's better then crop tops' argument comes out every time.

Why should girls be made moral guardians of society? And then we know who to blame don't we if it all breaks down.

As for the catholic girls in the impractical skirts, that's just as bad. I don't like either - headscarves on prepubescent girls or pointlessly long skirts. It's all part of these religions that seek to make women take the blame for male behavior, imo.

It's utterly silly to compare a headscarf to a necklace of the crucifix. They aren't remotely the same. When boys have to wear headscarves to school too we can talk as if all things are equal.

It's a really interesting point, Morris. Great post.

Surely crop tops being banned is just as indicative of us foisting responsibility for sexualisation onto young girls when the intention is the opposite?

A relatives little girl in Saudi has a pic of her dd (aged 1yrs old) on fb all wrapped up in a hijab. In that blistering heat as well. I don't get it.

Actually Riven it's not hijab bashing it's more your common or garden 'why are girls seen as sexual objects' bashing, something you seem to be fine about.

ALso to say it is cultual and therfore ok is wrong to.

I can't support any culture that says a man can't control his desires, or that if he doesn't control his desires it is a woman's fault.

These are little girls, must we force our out moded misogynist values upon them at seven?

Riven , if you'd care to enlighten us all why people cover, oops sorry I mean women cover and convince us that's it's not to avert the gaze of men then please go ahead.

PS the brilliant school isn't so brilliant according to Ofsted.

No you are picking on Muslims, yet again. The wearing of scarves is not purely as a result of the religious text, it is very much a cultural thing.

The text you quote refers to older girls, the fact that young girls wear scraves, may or may not have anything to do with this text. But that is the basis for your argument.

Lets ignore thousands of years of culture to satisfy your need for superiority.

sanielle, not sure if you mean me? I didn't say it was ok, was just pointing out that the sexualisation of young girls is happening everywhere, and the cultural specifications are somewhat arbitrary.

If you didn't mean me then I'll shut up

Riven: I did think that the hijab was not generally required wear for children as I was of the impression that it only became necessary to cover up once you mature physically (same as the Western tradition - equally sexist bullshit of course - of putting little girls into bikini tops or one-piece swimsuits when they start developing breasts but not before).

I don't see it as hijab bashing at all. It's more about questionning the sexualisation of young girls by dressing them in a way that boys are not forced/encouraged to do - whether that's by putting them into crop tops or bikinis, or covering them up to ensure that they don't inflame any passing bloke.

What about the Plymouth Bretheren or Amish. Their religion requires a head covering or, is it like others have asked, Muslim bashing by the back door?

no doubt the little girls are wearing scarves so they can look like Mummy?

oh bugger, Riv already made that point.

I'm sure it's something to do with protecting women. Women must need more protecting from muslim men then other men. Are they more lustful by nature do you think Riven?

Tbh I'm happy with crop tops being frowned upon in schools, as they would be in the workplace.

Kids should wear practical, comfortable clothes to school and save the extreme stuff for their own time, it's a fair life lesson I'd say.

But I do get riled by the whole Muslim dress thing - why is it only the girls and women who are held to moral account?

I've asked on here a zillion times but I never get an answer. The best I get is 'yes but the Koran says men must dress modestly too'. Righty ho. But the thing is, they don't do they. They dress like the rest of western society.

If it was up to me all schools would allow girls to wear trousers if they so wished, and to stop this gender segregation by dress.

As an aside, I love wearing skirts as an adult but as a child I'd have run away from home rather then wear one. Thank god I went to a school which allowed girls to dress for comfort and practicality. God knows boys get to take that privilege for granted all their lives.