to stop shopping at M and S for selling hijabs for young girls

[worstmotherintheworld]

So M and S have started to sell hijabs as part of their school uniform range...aimed at primary school children. One reviewer helpfully suggests getting the small one for a 4 year old.

I have been shopping at Marks all my adult life and have remained a faithful customer despite some dodgy clothes of late and the uninspirational Sparks card, but I think this is going to be the last straw for me.

In the west breasts are considered sexual when really they are glands for feeding babies. It is customary to cover them up. By your logic a bra is a symbol of female oppression

Nope, bras are used for functional purposes...not to cover breasts up.

I think M&S are responding to a market and that's fair enough. I do worry though that we are promoting this stuff as the "norm" and aligning it with British culture. It isn't and I don't like the message that young girls "need* to wear this in the UK to be able to join in with school and activities. And nowhere else on the planet accommodates and dismisses it's own culture in favour of others quite like the UK....this causes problems.

I can't help but be pleased for any little Muslim girl, who might be tuned in to the current racism becoming more acceptable in Britain, to feel that she is being 'accepted' and can go and get her school appropriate hijab from the same shop millions of other little girls get their school appropriate dresses from. I'm happy for that little girl and also her mum, who can now just grab a decent looking hijab at a half decent price while she's in marks and Spencer already buying the rest of her things. I hope they've got some nice ones to choose from.

I fail to understand why women stand up for this really nasty anti woman cult - forced marriage, honour killing, FGM ........

danger so what's a better solution? Push Muslim women out of British society by not catering to their needs? Because that's not a great way to live either.

But if hair was considered sexual why do men not cover their heads - it's literally exactly the same in the west. Men's nipples - asexual. Women's nipples - sexual. But no one seems to get in a flap about bikini tops being sold and how repressive that is.

green totally agree.

@OhTheRoses - is there a possibility that the children were not from Muslim families. Not all "asians" are Muslim.

gas you know FGM has nothing to do with Islam, right? It's cultural, not religious. At least insult the right group.

I couldn't care less about Islam one way or another. But considering how easily people attack every aspect of it, yes, I will stand up for Muslims, especially Muslim women, which is a totally different thing to supporting Islam.

But if hair was considered sexual why do men not cover their heads - it's literally exactly the same in the west. Men's nipples - asexual. Women's nipples - sexual. But no one seems to get in a flap about bikini tops being sold and how repressive that is.

But they do! Have you not heard of the free the nipple campaign.

People who get pissed off about girls wearing hijab are equally likely to be pissed off about bikinis/makeup/high heels being sold to young girls too.

It’s all part of the same problem that girls are sexualised in a way boys are not. Covering up or flaunting it still give the same message that IT matters.

'All the feminists who want to tell Muslim women how to dress need to give themselves a shake. It is THEIR culture, THEIR struggle (or not, depending on how they see it). Please let them dictate their own terms.'

I have two friends who are Muslim, one (A) a very good friend indeed. Both are university educated, modern working women.

A never wore a headscarf growing up. Her fiance didn't give a hoot (not an arranged marriage). Her mother in law, however, has made it an issue for over 20 years. So much so that A compromises by NEVER leaving the house when visiting her in-laws, and remaining in her bedroom if males from outside the immediate family are in the house.

My other friend (N) enjoys a drink and a smoke. However, she only drinks and smokes when she is out with us AND her husband is away working. Because he regards it is inappropriate for her. But not himself, obviously - he does both.

In most European countries and other countries around the world women don't wear bikini tops. (I certainly didn't)

Off the beach men like women are asked to cover up

Sigh. Little girls want to look like mum. Some want to wear her high heels, drape on her best clothes, try on the lipstick etc. Some want a headscarf like mum's. Do get over yourselves people.

rita yes, and as I said previously, don't you think it's up to Muslim women to fight this if they want to? If you're not a Muslim, you obviously don't know the ins and outs of the culture and presuming to dictate it is pretty colonial imo - and therefore not feminist. I prefer to LISTEN to people, not try and tell them how their lives should be lived.

mumsnut not sure what your point is.

olivers and in most European countries, men don't wear make up and women do.

It was an example, not the be all and end all of my argument.

Sigh. Little girls want to look like mum. Some want to wear her high heels, drape on her best clothes, try on the lipstick etc. Some want a headscarf like mum's. Do get over yourselves people.

There is a big difference between wanting something and being allowed to do it. It's certainly not a mature, informed decision. How often do you see little lipstick wearing girls on high heels in public?

When a girl is old enough to understand her decision to wear it, absolutely, but at the age of 4 or 5?

bellinisurge the asian community near Aldgate is/was principally Bangladeshi. Bangladesh has one of the largest islamic followings in the world so I suspect those children were one third to one half muslim. One didn't see secondary age girls in that community wearinv the hijab either in the late 80s/early 90s.

What a ridiculous,shameful post.Do we not have enough divisions in society without causing more? If a Marks and Spencer Hijab is all you have to be concerned about(,however nicely its tried to be dressed up as an insult to feminism) then I think you are doing ok...Some of us with lives have far more pressing issues to worry about.Closet racism is what this post amounts to and it stinks.Op I am sure there is a heavy heart around the board of directors at M and S this morning let alone what repercussions there will be at the AGM when they realise they have to deal with the sad loss of your custom...prey tell us all where will you spend your pocket money now?

Muslim women who don't wear the hijab will always, ALWAYS cover their hair, arms and legs when doing their 5 daily prayers, even when there are no men around, even when they're alone in their bedroom.

If that doesn't tell you that Muslim women cover their hair to be closer to God then nothing will.

Black women are pressured into chemically relaxing their hair to make it socially acceptable. But I don't see anyone saying they want to boycott the local stores that stock these products. It's only Muslim women that seem to need protecting in this way. How very convenient considering they are the one group that everyone feels are fair game these days.

Well religious fundamentalism didn't do much for Irish women. I think that's the concern - choice is great; imposition from a n idol or their representatives is not.

I think I mix with a different sort of people.

Most of DDS male friends wear make up.

And not all women wear make up.

Yet I can count on one hand the women I know who do wear it.

The point I was trying to make up thread is their seems to be one rule for one and another rule for another.

How many young girls in hijabs have been asked to remove their head covering before going into a store.
And how many children are asked to remove hats and hoods before entering the same store

ThisIsTheFirstStep

Agreed, it's prejudice wrapped in faux concern. These women couldn't give a shit about Muslim women and I doubt they have a single Muslim friend.

chardonnay there have been MILLIONS of threads on here complaining about little girls being dressed in an overtly sexualised manner, knee boots, mini skirts, crop tops etc.

Don't know the trends in the UK, but here in Korea, there are little girls wearing heels every day, no not high ones, but definite heels that mean they can't run or even walk very far. So yes, it is a thing.

Oliversmum - sorry for not giving a shit if a white male feels butt hurt that he can't wear his hoodie in store.

Have you ever complained to M&S about this egregious policy?

Oliversmum - you're like the white man on a show about racism on TV who claimed he knew what it was like to be a victim of prejudice, because M&S didn't stock his size shirt.

havaina right? I never understand this argument. Oh no you can't wear a hoody, someone call Amnesty straight away.

This isn’t about whether or not women should wear a hijab ( they can do what they like).
It’s about whether it’s appropriate for a primary school uniform.
It isn’t in the same way that nail polish, make up and high heels isn’t.
However I do see that the idea it is for primary school children is a misconception based on a comment on the site rather than the M&S marketing and on that basis I think it’s fine. Fwiw as an atheist I think the hijab and other forms of religious dress are daft but if you want to wear one I respect your right to do so.