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.

UpstartCrow wrote: 'It's the height of irony that woke people support women wearing the hijab, but not having a women only changing room or toilet to be able put it on or adjust it'

Fair point, well made.

Also I don't think 'skull cap' is universally considered to be a very nice way of describing the kippah / yarmulke. Just saying.

idaho

Apologies for that

I was copying the phrase from other people but its no excuse...even though im trying to use it as an excuse

Insisting 4 year olds wear a hijab to schoolroom be modest is on the same spectrum of thinking as FGM

And if they aren't in school there's literally no one to look out for them.

@worstmotherintheworld

Firstly, it's not aimed at primary aged kids. It is in the school uniform section, and a reviewer who was complaining about the sizing said the smaller one would fit a 4yr old in her opinion. Not that it was aimed at 4 year olds. If you're going to boycott a shop, at least get your facts straight.

Unless of course you'd boycott them for selling hijabs at all; then as you were.

A head scarf on a young child and it is their choice for what ever reason (be the same as mummy) I don't see much harm in it tbh, as long as they take it off when needed too such as( p.e, swimming etc)
A burka on the other hand should be banned full stop!
It would be like white British women running around wearing a balaclava; never would be allowed so don't see why those who wear burkas should be allowed in my opinion, People who ride motorcycles must take their helmets off when entering a shop , so people wearing burkas should do the same in my opinion
But back to the point it a head scarf not a burka and as long as it is worn through choice and not religious beliefs then can't see a problem tbh

Fucks sake, each to their own.

I have Muslims in my family although I am not myself and the little girls love wearing them and they like to buy pretty ones with flowers on, I know plenty of Muslim girls who chose not to wear them at all.
You do realise that the majority of girls get a choice right?
There are controlling men in all walks of life and in millions of families around the world not just in the Muslim community.

I'm sure M&S are devastated to lose you.

Funny how the people objecting to hijabs in the name of oppression of women are actually oppressing Muslim women themselves by refusing to believe them and refusing to give them a voice. Muslim women repeatedly say they wear the Hijab to feel closer to God. It stands to reason that some women who wear the hijab will allow their children to wear a hijab if they want to, so they can decide if they if they want to wear it as they grow older and grow accustomed to it.

To say that these women are sexualising their young daughters is grossly offensive. It's just another stick to beat Muslims with. I doubt any of these people give a shit about Muslim women or will put their hands in their pockets to help Muslim women around their world or give up their time to work with charities to help disadvantaged Muslim. Plenty of time to spout their intolerant crap on Mumsnet though.

www.girlguidingshop.co.uk/products/brownies/neckerchiefs/hijab--5729/

Well the poster who said they were pretty has a funny idea of pretty I must say! The photo on the website is just plain creepy.
I do not think little girls should be encouraged to wear these. Deep down it is telling her she has to cover herself up. They are just little girls. Not a good message.

Under his eye.

How come 50 years ago almost no 4 year old Muslim girls anywhere "wanted" to wear headscarves, and now so many of them "want" to?

I can't comment on that, but I do know that my 5yo has told me on a number of occasions that she wants to wear a hijab.

We are not Muslim. But her best friend is. Her best friend, who also doesn't wear a hijab, because she's five. My DD actually wants to be like her best friend's mum. So I can well believe that young girls are asking to emulate the women they see around them.

(Incidentally, as I sit here with Lyclear on my hair, I can definitely see the benefit of them wearing a non-religious headscarf to school for lice related reasons! 😁)

Spot on Havaina 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Sorry if this was already mentioned here but one of the reviews on the link gave it 1star with a comment: "sleazy. Too revealing."

That's gotta be someone taking the mickey.

Surely a 5 yr old is too young to make that kind of choice and doesn't fully understand the significance of the garment?

And also remember a lot of little girls aren't forced to wear them. They choose to because like a lot of little girls, they just want to look like Mummy/Aunt/Granny etc.*

This. I wear hijab and I have a 5 year old DD, she doesn't wear hijab, it's up to her to chose when or if she wants to wear it. Lately she has been saying she wants to wear it because I wear it. I think I'll let her decide when she's a big older .

And also wants to verify that Islam doesn't say 4 year old girls should wear hijab, its when they hit puberty. You might see little girls wear hijab, but how do you know they didn't chose to wear it? My DD wants to wear it NOW but I think she's too young to decide!

I also cringe when I see little girls wearing bikinis, what's the point?!

That hijab looks more like the ones I see girls wearing to go to the mosque for Islamic lessons than anything any of the (thousands of) Muslim girls I’ve taught have worn for every day school.

Irishfeminist nailed it a few posts in on page one!

"Wants to look/be like mummy"?

Aye hen. My 5 year old wants a glass of wine like mummy. "No poppet. It's for grown-ups".

@Racecardriver

“Putting a hijab on a four year it follows is perverted. No one puts a hijab on a young child for religious reasons. It's purely a case of myspginistic cultures that fetishise women's bodies and sexyalise young girls. It's not a Muslim thing. It's a backwards thing.”

You don’t need to tell me about ISLAM dear I know more about religions than you do, there’s a difference between religion and culture. What do you know about the meaning of Hijab? It’s not just a head covering as you seem to think, there is a story behind the meaning of Hijab. It is disgusting way of thinking young girls are sexualised or anything else for wearing a Hijab. Oh but it is ok for young girls wearing bikinis like their mummies do, running around the beaches in this hot weather we have had, how many perverts would have been looking at them. Or seeing young girls wearing mini skirts and small heels like their mummies are, but not ok for a young Muslim girl to cover her head that’s called sexualising her. Get into the real world.
You obviously do not have Muslim friends because if you did you would know why they are covering their heads.

I would've thought most MNers don't approve of 4 year olds in bikinis either it's not an either/or situation as said upthread.
FWIW I don't believe in any religion being imposed on children and think they ought to be completely free to choose for themselves when they are 18.

There are people here who say they've boycotted places over how they choose to organise their toilets, so you wouldn't be too far fetched to stop going to M&S over this in my opinion

@Rufusthebewilderedreindeer, no worries. Usage and abusive (conscious and unconscious) of terms describing cultural and religious clothing is really fascinating. Loads of myths, too. I think we're all learning.

@Cloudly umm I think @Racecardriver IS Muslim... (apologies Racecar if assumption incorrect)

If I wore a hijab i could guarantee my 5 year old daughter would want to wear one too.

Cloudy ; by the sound of you! You don't have many western friends then!
A good majority of western woman wear vest tops / shorts/ 3/4 length / dresses in all weather (apart from winter)that cover our modesty , only parts showing are our legs arms and maybe shoulders , Does that make us more sexualised? After all our modesty is covered? but that not the case in Islam though is it?

@MrsRhettButler bloody well said. Over this topic now!