Marks & Spencer’s selling Hijabs for young children.

Black - for three year olds? Do they have it in more attractive colours? If they must have it at all for such a young age group.

I like neither children in hijabs nor children in over sexualised dress. I see no need for either. With regard to hijabs, I actually don’t like them on women either, and I believe that the wearing of one is cultural, not religious. Both the Bible and Koran call for modest dress for both men and women, hence my DH was not allowed to go into St Peter’s in Rome as he was wearing shorts. This was some twenty years ago, but last month in Florence he was allowed into the basilica despite wearing shorts (but not short shorts) whilst I had to cover my shoulders in both churches. I imagine this is what is meant by modestly. However, the covering of a tiny child’s hair is another thing altogether, and is absolutely not necessary ever. It is not even done in Saudi ( I have a friend who used to visit regularly with her small daughter who told me this) and I don’t think it should be encouraged here. I’m afraid it only reinforces prejudice in those who are prejudiced and just like sexualised clothing for young children, the hijab sexualises the young child. Just to repeat, I dislike both sexualised clothing and the hijab for young children.

There was a piece on the TV recently about a Muslim girl who has become famous first for her blog about fashion and who is now designing fashions for Muslim girls. Sadly looking at this hijab all I can think is "usual M&S dreadful design". If girls have to wear hijabs let them at least have something attractive.

The majority of children of any faith background are dressed in clothes that are practical.. both to wear and to wash!

I was showing parents of prospective reception pupils round the Infants' school ( HT recovering from surgery!) & one mother was,very worried that children were too casually dressed. I reminded her it was,dance week and so children had come to school in leggings or joggers as had teachers. She said, rather sniffily imo, " Oh well, I did wonder" How rude! Children & adults in infant schools are very active..and working inside and outside. Office wear and formal uniform are not the most practical!

Somewhere is the middle seems a good choice for children's clothes.
It needn't be one or the other.

When my DGD was 6, her trashy mother was dressing her in clothes which made her look like a miniature tart, with slogans like "I'm a sex kitten" on them. No wonder some cultures prefer to dress their children in ultra- modest clothing.

M+S is a business, they sell what people want to buy .

there not their! grr! Wish there was an edit facility!

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?

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!

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

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.

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’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.

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 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.

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 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 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.

Iam64, thankyou too .

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.