John Lewis's new line, hijabs to wear at school

I really can't wait until 100% of the human population can drop the bullcrap fairy stories. **** them. Eventually it will all come out in the wash. We've grown more intelligent with each generation ( http://blog.ted.com/2013/09/26/further-reading-on-the-flynn-effect/ ) and now with globalisation and the Internet perhaps it will accelerate. With enough people capable of critical thinking to counter the idiots perhaps eventually religion will die.

i seriously don't know why people emphasise this matter so much and give it so much attention. If people want their kids to wear this, they are free to do so. Although i don't agree with it we shouldn't be telling people what and what not to wear.

i seriously don't know why people emphasise this matter so much and give it so much attention. If people want their kids to wear this, they are free to do so. Although i don't agree with it we shouldn't be telling people what and what not to wear.

John Lewis's new line, hijabs to wear at school: Department store signs contract with schools in London and Liverpool to offer conservative Islamic clothing

John Lewis is offering the hijab in its school uniform department for the first time.
The headdress is to be sold in the company’s stores in London and Liverpool after it signed contracts with two schools – one which was set up to educate Muslim girls and a second that welcomes pupils from all religious communities.
The hijab covers the head and chest and is worn by Muslim women after the onset of puberty as a sign of modesty in the presence of men who are outside their immediate family.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2726390/John-Lewiss-new-line-hijabs-wear-school-Department-store-signs-contract-schools-London-Liverpool-offer-Conservative-Islamic-clothing.html


A smart two-piece plain hijab that is perfect for school.

People in this thread saying children shouldn't be forced to wear this are stupid. Parents have the right to make decisions they think are in the best interest for their children, and as their children are under their protection and are their responsibility they can make them where whatever (within reason). Secondly, personal choice doesn't apply to children because they're children, they don't have the mental maturity to make decisions on their own. The hijab represents an important idea- a value, and just because some people don't agree with the value or the idea the hijab represents it doesn't mean that other parents aren't allowed to implement this value in their household. As for John Lewis selling the hijab, I'm glad they've realised that supply and demand is far more important than the questionable rhetoric perpetuated by those who dislike the hijab.

Oh no, not like you ever see Sikhs in turbans or Jews wearing tallits and kippahs.

How, then, is it acceptable for Muslim parents to tell their daughters to wear the hijab?

They often still like/dislike some of their clothes but that's besides the point, children usually don't care, they wear whatever their parents give them and as long as they fit in they won't care. A young Muslim girl won't get that choice, she'll be told to wear something the other girls aren't wearing, and a headscarf is simply part of modesty - she'll be given all the other rules about dress, you can't show any skin, you can't wear summer dresses etc.

I don't necessarily think we should dictate dress or beliefs either, but I think it's a little naïve to suggest it's not an important topic of discussion, or that this is simply about clothing.

The hijab represents an idea, and one that many people see as being closely linked to indoctrination, intolerance and other dangerous qualities. In most families it's entirely harmless - a matter of personal choice. However, it represents something that we should be wary of. Not all values can coexist, and there is a strong case for saying even large chains like John Lewis have a certain level of social responsibility.

As above, I don't necessarily disagree with you, but I think this is an issue to at least watch closely.

Its curious because it's not a religious requirement. Also no other religion does anything remotely similar.

Probably because, up until the time when their children are independent, it is a parent's duty to decide what is in the best interests of their children? How is it acceptable that, when I was a young child, my mother never let me go to school in my pyjamas?

I would say, however, that your mother not letting you go to school in your pyjamas is not an example of oppressive cultural indoctrination with roots in a patriarchal, misogynistic society based on religion – it's just common sense.

I'm not sure the attitude of Muslim parents towards their daughters wearing the hijab is cultural indoctrination, but I will tell you that Muslim girls have a damn sight less choice about clothing than you did when you were dependent on your family, and that that's not a good thing. Apologies if I assume incorrectly you don't wear the hijab and/or aren't dependent on your family.

Perhaps, but that's exactly what many Muslim parents would say about the hijab too. They have no intention of oppressing anybody (lack of the right to choose your own clothing as a child is hardly oppression; see below). For them, it's just common sense, that when God commands you to do something, you do it.

When I went to school, I had no choice whatsoever regarding what clothing I wore. There was a strict school uniform, and that was that. But having my clothing entirely dictated by other people was hardly the end of the world. Muslim girls have no less choice about what to wear to school than I ever did. In fact many have more choice about it.

I don't think any parent ever has the intention of oppressing their child, but that certainly doesn't mean they don't – the hijab isn't the result of the choices of individual parents, but of a culture that is justifiably called misogynistic today.

And if common sense is anything that you think God commands you to do, what's stopping me from wearing a colander on my head to school if I hear voices in my head while I'm sleeping?

Forget school, I'm talking about the rest of your life. It's inaccurate to say that Muslim girls have more choice about clothing than you did; and in fact I would call it an insult to them.

It is the choice of individual parents as to whether or not they decide that the culture you speak of has the right idea about how people should dress.

Nothing; it's up to you to weigh up the pros and cons of doing that for yourself (or for your child when you send them to school), and make a decision. Although I expect the "cons" will include the fact that the school won't permit it and you'll be asked to leave, as well as a bit of hassle when getting called in for a psychiatric assessment. For people who want to wear a hijab, it tends to be easier than that.

I thought this discussion was regarding hijabs being sold for use at school.