Marks & Spencer’s selling Hijabs for young children.

PECS I haven't seen any research either but like oldgimmer, I have noticed increasing numbers of women who aren't just dressing modestly but are wearing full veil and burka. There is also an increase in men wearing traditional clothing to work as well as to Mosque.
I wonder if its a way of stating commitment to faith and culture in the face of increased suspicion and Islamaphobia following 9/11 and the increase in terrorist attacks by members of the Muslim community. It's important to add that the majority of terrorists seem to be disaffected young men, with a history of drug use, petty crime and involvement in 'western culture' .

I have heard from muslims including ones that chose to wear head coverings as adults that it is considered sinister/inappropriate for children that age to have their hair covered every day.

It is NOT an Islamic requirement. It s sexualising young children. The western equivalent would be putting 3 year olds in bras.

Once we are Brexited look out for less equality in the work place and that will affect women the most, just as zero hours contracts do
You can’t keep off Brexit can you?
Another fact?

notanan2 the concept that all Muslims believe exactly the same things is completely wrong. There are some who cover younger children, some who never cover. Of course it's not a requirement of Islam it is a cultural requirement and Muslims come from many different places.

Y y to that trisher agree with you

Sexualising young girls is vile. Searching them in headscarves is as sinister as letting your dd wear tops with ‘future wagg’ On it. I have seen both and both made me feel ill.

Watched Simon Reeve in the Med last night when he ws in Gaza a woman in a headscarf was running a work yard where men were making bricks out of cinders and coal dust. She was definetly in charge, so a headscarf doesn't always indicate subjugation.

Haha! My experience of Palestinian women is not one of oppression within the family!

Wow mycat....overreacting just a bit??

Sexualisation is in the eye of the beholder.

I used to wear hotpants and knee high boots as a 10 year old, according to fashion.

I come from a conservative, Welsh Methodist family.

Sexualisation, or harmless following of a fashion trend?

Sexualisation is in the eye of the beholder.
Precisely, that's why young girls and women are supposed to cover up

PECS that programme was interesting, wasn't it?

Headscarfed Palestinian woman amongst a bunch of Palestinian men in Gaza - and very much in charge!

Jalima - who's "supposed" to cover up?

If I told my daughter that she was "supposed" to cover up for fear of looking sexual in the eyes of men she'd tell me, perhaps quite rightly, that, in the UK she is perfectly entitled to dress how she pleases.....

Interesting isn't it. I know of someone quite high up in the legal profession who was working for an American company, she left when it was suggested at her annual review that she might "sex up" her conservative dress style. Perhaps that's why some women choose to cover up.

Latest figures show an increase in hate crime, with 52% of hate crimes directed against Muslims. I wonder if this confirms my suspicion that the increase in young women wearing more traditional conservative clothing is in solidarity with faith, race and culture.

I think that is probably a good reason Iam64 . It is shocking to see these figures. I feel so sorry for Muslims trying to go on with their every day lives.

You might be right I was probably overreacting but I to yearn for the days when kids could be kids. Especially girls.

Growing up as a 60s/70s kid we wore jeans and shorts with the occasional dress

I feel a bit sad to see under tens in either head scarfs or crop tops. Just seems sad to me

I wonder if this confirms my suspicion that the increase in young women wearing more traditional conservative clothing is in solidarity with faith, race and culture.

Post puberty, yes that is likely.
Small girls? No.

But notanan if you are feeling threatened and constantly hearing abuse about your religion, and then you see clothes for young children which sexualise them (and there is no doubt some outfits do) your response might be to protect your younger girls as well.

Notanan, the issue is parents who dress their children in a way that sends a clear message to others, what their belief systems are. Hijabs in one group, crop tops and sexualised slogans in another.
It’s ibevitable, we all impose our clothes choices on small children. I’m not comfortable with whole body covering for women or girls. Can’t say I like the sexualised slogans on adults or children, don’t get me started on shopping in pyjamas

Shopping in pyjamas, that’s a whole new thread Iam64

I say this every time we have such a thread - I lived in Saudi Arabia for six months and even there young girls did not wear hijabs, or any sort of covering. Until their teens girls were in typical Western garb i.e. jeans, dresses, sparkly tops, etc.

I don't give a toss if grown women in the UK choose to wear the niqab or go half naked, but do strongly object to very young girls being paraded in hijabs.

They should be banned in primary schools.

A generation ago it was unusual to see a Muslim woman in as much as a headscarf, now their granddaughters are in hijabs.

Riverwalk would you ban girls in primary schools from wearing on non-uniform days skimpy tops with sometimes slogans on the front like "WAG in training" or "Proper Little Madam in training" ?

trisher if I were the banning Tsar, well yes I would ban young girls from wearing such skimpy tops. What's the relevance of your question?

Jalima - who's "supposed" to cover up?
- those whom are told to I presume. Check it out.
Others may choose to.

trisher wasn't there a case not long ago about a female employee in this country who was told to dress in high heeled shoes?

Just googled it; here is the link
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-36264229

"Proper Little Madam in training" ?
I think that has taken on a new meaning from the Clark's shoes advert

I think this thread illustrates that feminism is tricky.

So ignoring the under 16s do I feel uncomfortable seeing women in burkas? Yes I do. Totally.

I find it offensive, mysogynistic and depressing But have I a right to tell other women how to dress??

My whole soul says no but a part of me says in Britain it’s unacceptable to see women so marginalised and covered for no
Good reason whilst the men and boys wear shorts and western dress.

It’s either complicated or bloody simple. I hope that makes sense to some of you.