Parents of daughters: School Uniforms & Modesty

[M_was_here]

Re: Parents of daughters: School Uniforms & Modesty

@Khalil KhaaN FaaKhta

in India, almost ALL schools have shalwar qameez and DupaTTaa as their uniforms while MOST ‘English Medium’ private schools have skirt [up to the knees] with half/full sleeves shirts. liberal Muslim girls in the missionary and non-missionary ‘English medium’ Private schools wear knee length skirts with long socks and FULL sleeve shirts. those very religious Muslim families do NOT send their daughters to such schools where their Islamic dress-codes could be compromised.

That is very interesting to know. It’s pretty much the same way in Pakistan as well, although there aren’t that many schools which have skirts as uniforms for older girls. Another interesting uniform in Pakistan is the sari at the Army Medical College which I find really elegant.

@chaibiskut

The above would’ve made for a better point and a less tangential thread. The added issue of skirts and swimsuits has people conflating the issue of teaching modesty with the broader point of not sexualizing little girls - i.e. prematurely catapulting children into womanhood and sexual maturity (whether that’s leaving no skin/hair uncovered or channeling a midget Britney Spears. Both extremes have psychological consequences). With regards to the above quote, I agree. With kids already hitting puberty earlier than ever, 3 - 8 year olds shouldn’t have to worry about constantly drawing dupattas over their chests and heads. Besides, if they’re already dressed in shalwar kameez with a little clipped-on stole in observance of the national costume, they can concentrate on their books and play freely during break. Castigating children over exposed strands of hair mars their childhood and has no religious basis.

That said, if the issue concerns Northern/tribal area schools, chadors are the least of your problems if you happen to be a girl child. With already low female percentages of school attendance, if wearing a chador means the patriarchs of your family will allow you to get a basic education before marrying you off in your mid-teens, you take what you can get. Trying to ‘liberate’ women from the chador when they don’t have basic rights to education, health, and life itself inadvertently trivializes bigger injustices.

Okay, I agree. I could have articulated myself better but you worded exactly the point I was trying to get across along with mentioning one very important thing which I should have thought about also, “Trying to ‘liberate’ women from the chador when they don’t have basic rights to education, health, and life itself inadvertently trivializes bigger injustices”. :k: