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.

I am 100% against anyone being forced to wear covering clothing when they don't want to.

But surely modesty is a cultural value? I make my dc put pants on before conversing with the postman because within the values of my culture that is appropriate. Other cultures define modesty differently, and dress their children differently. It sounds like some people want to enforce westernized standards on everyone of every culture, presumably because our standards are right and you consider other cultures wrong.

I think what is important is to allow all girls to participate in all activities (school, sports etc) by providing clothing which is acceptable within their cultural norms. I would argue that this is the feminist option.

@cloudly I am literally the first person in my family for centuries that is not Muslim. I know loads of Muslims. Some of them wear hijabs because they feel it is morally appropriate but most don't because it is not the practice in our culture (which historically take a rather Liberal view of Islam and is more inclusive of women than most historically demanding more education and respect for women and their choices than its more orthodox counterparts). It is absolutely and categorically not a part of Islam to dress prepubescant girls in hijabs or any firm of head covering. It is entirely cultural. Now please tell me how you know more about the religion I was raised in and actually educated about (unlike many Muslim women) than I do. FYI I find binkis on little girls also extremely disturbing. I see them as the two as two faces of the same coin so not sure why you brought that one up but that certainly isnt my view. You are the one who isn't living in the real world.

I live in the middle east and headscarves on young girls makes me uncomfortable as well because the only reason a young girl would need to be modest would be if there was something to expose! Interestingly, the only Muslim group where this seems to be common is Indonesians. It's very rare with (for example) middle east nationals.

I pulled my DD of an after school class because I was told that at 4 she had to wear trousers (rule didn't apply to the boys) and I felt they were sexualising her. She didn't even own trousers at the time, I'd have had to buy some specially.

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

Racecardriver said she was raised Muslim, not that she is Muslim. Anyone can be anyone on the internet though.

If all the men you know are disparaging about women who don't conform to certain standards of behaviour, then most of the women will conform and believe they want to, and that its their choice.

@frankincensed I was once.

This is the sort of thing that fuels division and hatred in the country. It should be banned in schools for teachers and pupils.

@havania is right. I was raised Muslim and I identified with that for a while to lesser and greater extents until I decided that religion just wasn't for me. I am a theistic agnostic now.

Also we are western and how the majority dress is technically "our culture" without religious beliefs , also what western children wear is by their parents choice and not religious beliefs that is the point most people are trying to point out, my personal opinion of a 5 year old to wear a hijab is fine as long as it is worn by choice of the child and not for religious beliefs tbh

I thought Racecardriver was a bloke. Shows what i know ...

I’m more shocked that a pp forgot that this is the UK and not England. No wonder non English UK citizens get pissed off.
As you were

Upstartcrow - you're not wrong and cloudly has internalised that misogyny herself where she describes western girls in bikinis/small skirts/heels falling under the gaze of perverts. [Better to be covered]

And telling women and girls that they cannot wear what they choose would not fuel hatred and division walking?

Way to be inclusive 🙄

@idahocrow it's my name isn't it? I'm not even an aggressive driver, just a bit random. I am really rubbish at picking user names.

Walkingdeadfangirl thinks hijab should be banned for teachers as well as students. Do expand further.

Racecardriver no :) it was something you said about not being distracted at prayer and the context of that. No matter. What you say is very interesting.

I don’t understand how someone can consider themself a feminist and defend the hijab on little girls. It involves some really advanced DoubleThink in the manner of 1984... Wake up!! www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6235373/Iranian-woman-fights-man-brands-w-shes-not-wearing-compulsory-hijab.html

@cheaperthebetter

What is having western friends got to do with this? this is about young girls copying their mummies by wearing mini skirts am talking about young girls. I don’t care how grown ups dress. Muslim girls are wearing hijab and no it is not sexualised it’s your thinking. Oh FYI my family is westerns so don’t judge me on that. I am defending Muslims because they are always bashed and trashed for having a belief.

Maybe @cloudy means the sexualising of young girls by putting them in bikinis? Why does a 4yo need to wear a bikini?

There’s definitely a huge increase in girls wearing the hijab, i think it’s more to do with making a statement than anything else. Young girls are probably encouraged by their parents. How it makes them feel “closer to God” is puzzling.

Hijabs are supposed to be a symbol of modesty. Can anyone tell me why a 4 year old should have to be modest?

OP show some tolerance to other cultures. Muslim men also have to dress modestly.

Muslim men don't have to pluck all their body hair or cover their hair though, do they?

Surely it is far worse that they sell Per Una ?

Most muslim men i see wear western style clothes, often accompanied by their wife wearing the full burka.