Marks & Spencer’s selling Hijabs for young children.

Why not? They’re a business.

I agree, we are a multi cultural society, why shouldn't they sell them.

The debate about young children wearing the hijab is to my mind different.

It’s being discussed on Jeremy Vine now, the other angle to it is that some think age 3 is just too young to wear the Hijab

If I wore a short skirt in Saudi or had my arms uncovered.........When in Rome etc etc!!! In case you're puzzled about my comment I'm saying that M&S is wrong!

For once I think it best to keep my own council.

I don’t really have an opinion Pogs, that’s why I started a thread on it , so I would be interested to know what you think.

No where in the Koran does is state that a female of any age has to wear a hijab.

Some choose to do so, normally at puberty.

Bridget

By my saying ' I shall keep my own council ' it is not in anyway shape or form a snub to your thread which is an interesting subject.

The fact is if I said what I thought/my opinion was I could well find myself in the firing line by some posters. That indicates what my view/opinion is probably.

I'm all for tolerance, but would you feel happy about little girls dressed in this?: www.marksandspencer.com/hijab/p/p22522579?&pdpredirect

It is a spooky unflattering garment in my view; and some of the rationale behind it (that women are a threat to men and need to cover themselves up) is hard to swallow, especially where children are involved.

How far should tolerance go? Are there some things that our culture holds so dear that they wish to draw a line? Freedom and equality for women is something that I hold dear. Is that a general view? - enough to see this as a step too far?

It is very difficult and not as clear cut as some might wish.

If we went to a muslim country to live, then I guess we would have to have respect for their views about women's attire; so maybe it needs to work both ways?

And before someone jumps on me and says I am a racist, I really am not. I just recognise that multi-culturalism is not a simple thing.

Hijabs in school colours were offered for sale a few years ago at the primary school I worked at. We consulted with the mainly Pakistani Muslim parents beforehand and it was their overwhelming view that they were totally unnecessary before puberty, so we bought in an age 10/11 only. We sold very few.

Good thread, interesting discussion. Maggiemaybe, thanks for your post. I live in a town with a large Pakistani Muslim population, where increasing numbers of women wear the Burkha. Most of the young women wear Hijabs along with their skinny jeans and stilletoes, plus exotic eye make up. Primary school children wear school uniform and outside school, jeans, t'shirts and trainers like most of the other children here.
M&S is a business. If the range doesn't sell, it will be ditched.

Ahh thank you Pogs, yes it is quite a sensitive topic, I was a bit reticent about posting it.

Iam64, thankyou too .

I think if any company is in need of the business, it's Marksies....

Good for them.

Can't see the issue myself; if there's a market, there's a market.

I was curious about why increasing numbers of Muslim children were wearing hijabs and asked a friend married to a Muslim if she knew why, as I had understood that girls only wore them after puberty. Her explanation was that their mothers found it easier to get them used to wearing when very young, as when they were older they would tend to resist! (My friend isn't Muslim, but spends a lot of time in a Muslim country with her husband).

I have mixed feelings about this, M&S are a business and not arbiters of cultural habits. I don't like the mini me children's outfits which are sold nowadays either some of which are overtly sexual.

I absolutely get that M & S have to go where they can make a fast buck. However I have reservations on some products , whether it's sexualized clothing for tiny tots...or at the other extreme hijabs. I certainly feel put off the firm...I'm too selfish to promise never to buy anything there ever again, but it has moved the brand from favourite to a much more distant feeling.

What POGS said. But I know that M&S is under no illusion as to how I feel on this subject as I informed them yesterday.

I’d rather see girls modestly covered as their culture prefers than dressed like goths, slappers or adults.
My eight year old granddaughter wears fishnet tights under ragged denim shorts and an off the shoulder black top.
I told my younger grandchildren that in many cultures women and girls cover their heads just as we cover our breasts and bottoms.

I’d rather see girls modestly covered as their culture prefers than dressed like goths, slappers or adults.

I take your point and I find some of the clothes that are put on young girls unacceptable, just as I find a hijab unacceptable on a child. But in terms of M&S selling these items (both sorts) then this is a purely business decision on their part.

But where does the state come in I wonder? Some European countries have laws against face coverings (which risks offending some people who live there - predominantly Muslims) and some Islamic countries have laws banning certain sorts of women's dress (which risks offending non-Muslims living there).

How interesting that these prohibitions are all about women.

Those European countries who have instituted these bans have done so presumably because these modes of dress undermine some principle that the nation holds dear. And ditto the Muslim countries.

Again it is about where you draw the line as a nation. I have no answer, but I feel sad to see children in hijabs.

I think it is cynical marketing on the part of M&S and I do not agree with a child of 3 wearing a hijab.
If an older woman or even a reasoning teenager wishes to wear one, so be it, but a child of 3 has no choice.

Watermeadow
This phase will pass, we've been through it

The wearing of hijab by such little girls is relatively new anywhere! It is choice of some Muslim families and not doctrine. I would not (did not) choose to put my 3 / 4 year old girls in sparkly silver shoes with little heels that M&S used to sell, some of their friends did wear them.

My instinct is to feel sad that any family would think this is a good choice for their daughter. I expect their will be Muslim families wo think that too!

My dil is Muslim. She sees no need to wear any special clothing herself and I know certainly wont be imposing a hijab on her little daughter.

Watermeadow, does your 8yo GD buy her own clothing? If not, who is making those choices for her?