Parents of daughters: School Uniforms & Modesty

[M_was_here]

Re: Parents of daughters: School Uniforms & Modesty

@hareem01

Pakistan’s national dress is shalwar kameez so it’s like saying “it’s sad that Indian girls wear saris”.

Besides, these days girls from burger families are wearing everything, skirts, shorts…you name it.

But that’s the thing, Indian girls dont wear saris. In fact, their uniforms are either skirts or shalwar Kameez also. Saris are put aside for the mature girls or the married women, which is what I meant by chador-style dupattas being enforced on these girls as young as 6. I know most these schools are in the Northern areas or rural areas because the city schools or convents usually have dress pants, skirts and in some cases shalwar kameez. I love shalwar kameez and never go anywhere w/out my dupatta, I just dont see why little girls have to take on womanly responsibilities and wear chadors IN SCHOOL, and they’re as young 6. I find it disturbing.

Also, shorts are worn as well, the ones I have seen were usually slightly above the knee and in the more metropolitan areas but still, they are worn.

@Decent_6Chora

and what make me sad is to see parent and kids worrying about brands and whats in and whats out. It make me kinda sad to see that they dont get to be kid and rather a fashion icon or statement.

Um, who is talking about brands and what is in and out? I think uniforms are great and help kids be “one” without parents having to worry about being able to afford expensive/brand name clothing. I just have a problem with the overtly woman-fying the little girls. Why cant they wear dresses/trousers/shalawar kameez without having to cover their heads in oversized chadors? Why cant they just run around and be kids and not have to worry about adjusting their chadors and having the freedom to not think about “male nazars” and all that? Now I know schools in Pakistan do not have a head-covering policy except the Islamic ones and these restrictions are usually in the rural/Northern schools BUT still.

@Jolie

This.

This type of thinking is exactly whats corroding Pakistani social structure, and making it such a shallow, idle, inferior complex ridden society completely devoid of self respect. You have burger kids from all Holy “American” and “British” schools looking down at kids from government schools and their uniforms which happens to be damned shalwar kameez. Them kids in shalwar kameez for the burger crowd is a symbol of supression, low class, backwardness etc etc.

The amount of superficiality and ‘materialistic morality’ that exists within the Pakistani youth is simply digusting.

Don’t take it just another thread in life1…this is a story of Pakistan.

Again, the issue is NOT with shalwar kameez. It’s with the undeclared rule that even little girls have to wear chadors. That is the look I am against. They can wear chadors or cover their heads when they hit puberty if that is what they decide, why do they have to worry about such things at such a young age? Again, this is NOT in all schools. Also, I wear shalwar kameez all the time, in fact that is what I wear mostly at home. I have no problem with shalwar kameez, it’s the thought that these girls dont get to be girls.

[M_was_here]

Re: Parents of daughters: School Uniforms & Modesty

im sorry but i have to confirm -

so you are saying are ok/fine with knee length skirts for girls?

what do you mean when you say you dont see a big deal in girls wearing swim suits?

Yes, I am fine with girls wearing knee-lenth skirts to school and they have socks which cover most of the legs anyway. Second, swim suits (not the ones with undies, but with shorts) are fine. It's for a sport, I dont see what the issue is. The girls are on the Pakistani swim teams wear swim suits (one pieces) and these girls are not from elite families, just regular everyday-Pakistani families and they've made sense of the fact that it's a sport and thats it.

@theBadCook

Whether in pakistan or england, i wouldnt be comfortable with my little girl wearing a skirt, even if it up to her knees. Id rather she be protected from the eyes of paedophiles than look "fashionable". The world is a bad place and modesty is more for our own protection than for expressing our faith.

Like someone said, pedos dont care how children are dressed. Second, this isn't to look fashionable.

@soconfused

A lot of pakistani families in Pakistan are so caught up with this whole fashion/westernization concept that they've started equating being "MODREN" with vulgarity. You can be modern in a shalwar kameez following Islamic rules and you can be a jahil, backwards, close-minded animal even if you're dressed in the most expensive western wear available.

Shalwar kameez is Pakistan's libaas, why should anyone look down on anyone else wearing it? It actually makes me sad that when I go to Pakistan I look like a fool because I'm the one trying hard to speak Urdu and wear shalwar kameez.

Okay, rant done. (I just came back from Lahore and I'm more than a little frustrated at how ridiculous Pakistani mentality is getting...something that I was exposed to a little too much considering I was there for Eid). On the topic: no I would not let my girl wear shorts or skirts or bathing suits after 5 or 6. up to 16 is far too old. Islamically once you hit puberty you're an adult and obligated to follow all rulings and that's how I intend to raise my children, iA. I wasn't allowed to wear shorts or capris or sleeveless growing up--after the age of 6--and I think I'm modern enough and function fine in American society.

Did anyone bother reading what I said? It has nothing to do with shalwar kameez. And personally, I think you're taking it too seriously because ypu've taken on the burden of being modern and still Islamic. Just be yourself, who cares what the people in pakistan want to do or not do? When I go back home, I've talked with a few of my cousin's burger bachi friends and yes, they only talk in English even if I reply back in Urdu. Makes me laugh and possibly cringe but I'm not gonna be up in arms because they (they being a selective group of youth) choose to be like that.

@STA

are you using gs android application. it sucks. :@:

Nope, the one for iPhones/Touch, it's awesome.

[Doppleganger]

Re: Parents of daughters: School Uniforms & Modesty

I remember using an app and it was crap. I don’t think there is one for windows phone, so I must have used it for the iphone which didn’t work as well since I couldn’t see any thread in new subforums etc.

As for swimming, it makes me remember of some burka women who were floating in the pool as they didn’t want to take off their burqas yet wanted to swim as well! One doesn’t have to be in a string bikini, but you have to realize you will expose skin by swimming (nature of the activity).

[Deeba1234]

Re: Parents of daughters: School Uniforms & Modesty

^Wouldn't it be a bit dangerous swimming in a burqa? Better just to find somewhere more private imo..

[soconfused]

Re: Parents of daughters: School Uniforms & Modesty

I understand what you're saying M but I have a four year old niece who is being taught to dress modestly right now and I think its correct.

A lot of these things have to start at a young age because otherwise they don't and won't become part of our kids' upbringing.

exactly. My parents decided to have us stop wearing shorts/skirts/tanks after 5-6 because they wanted modest dress code to be "ingrained" by the time we got older.

[hareem01]

Re: Parents of daughters: School Uniforms & Modesty

I understand what you're saying M but I have a four year old niece who is being taught to dress modestly right now and I think its correct.

A lot of these things have to start at a young age because otherwise they don't and won't become part of our kids' upbringing.

totally agree.

[hareem01]

Re: Parents of daughters: School Uniforms & Modesty

But that's the thing, Indian girls dont wear saris. In fact, their uniforms are either skirts or shalwar Kameez also. Saris are put aside for the mature girls or the married women, which is what I meant by chador-style dupattas being enforced on these girls as young as 6. I know most these schools are in the Northern areas or rural areas because the city schools or convents usually have dress pants, skirts and in some cases shalwar kameez. I love shalwar kameez and never go anywhere w/out my dupatta, I just dont see why little girls have to take on womanly responsibilities and wear chadors IN SCHOOL, and they're as young 6. I find it disturbing.

Also, shorts are worn as well, the ones I have seen were usually slightly above the knee and in the more metropolitan areas but still, they are worn.

You're talking about the rural areas...well at least they're getting educated. :/

[M_was_here]

Re: Parents of daughters: School Uniforms & Modesty

But still, why cant they be schooled on confidence rather than treated like women who need to do purda and be covered to such degrees? Of course not even the rural schools have these kinds of enforcements and often the chador comes from the parents, but still. I find it sad.

This, IMO, is perfect:

Now although this is rare and not in every Pakistani/Indian school but just a tiny bit scary, I almost confused it for…Afghanistan but schools in Northern Pakistan or in India close to the Himalayas tend to have uniforms like this or in some cases chadors:

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[Milly]

Re: Parents of daughters: School Uniforms & Modesty

The amount of or which type of clothing one wears does not dictate how much learning/education is taking place.

These children do not need anyones sadface, if one feels so badly for them, donate money to the schools so they can buy books and stationary.

[Deeba1234]

Re: Parents of daughters: School Uniforms & Modesty

Those who mentioned stopping your daughters wearing tank tops etc. at a young age, do you apply that at home as well?

[Deeba1234]

Re: Parents of daughters: School Uniforms & Modesty

@M_was_here

I wouldn’t have a problem with older school girls choosing to wear this but making it compulsory for younger girls does bother me..

[NomiCA]

Re: Parents of daughters: School Uniforms & Modesty

^uniforms are always compulsory…

[Deeba1234]

Re: Parents of daughters: School Uniforms & Modesty

^Those particular uniforms

[Milly]

Re: Parents of daughters: School Uniforms & Modesty

This image right here is what is scary.

What kind of school do they do to and what exactly are they learning?

[stoppit]

Re: Parents of daughters: School Uniforms & Modesty

Those who mentioned stopping your daughters wearing tank tops etc. at a young age, do you apply that at home as well?

I would yes. Values like modesty start at home.

[hareem01]

Re: Parents of daughters: School Uniforms & Modesty

@M_was_here

OMG that’s really sad. Little girls wearing chadors? :eek:

When I was young I used to dress up like that for namaz and for reading Quran…sad, isn’t it?

[Jolie]

Re: Parents of daughters: School Uniforms & Modesty

@Milly

This image right here is what is scary.

What kind of school do they do to and what exactly are they learning?

They look vulgar.

Mini ‘look at me’ aunties.

[hareem01]

Re: Parents of daughters: School Uniforms & Modesty

@Milly

This image right here is what is scary.

What kind of school do they do to and what exactly are they learning?

disturbing.

[Milly]

Re: Parents of daughters: School Uniforms & Modesty

@hareem01

OMG that’s really sad. Little girls wearing chadors?

When I was young I used to dress up like that for namaz and for reading Quran…sad, isn’t it?

It’s even more sadface that some of us STILL wear chadors when praying. Sad times, sad times.

[Demilitarize]

Re: Parents of daughters: School Uniforms & Modesty

There is nothing wrong with those values. This "fear of the chador" which initiates such threads is probably absolutely absent in these young girls whose uniform is inclusive of a chador. For them, it is just headgear. And it does not take away from childhood.

What it DOES do, is ingrain proper dressing sense in them from the beginning. It removes the "fear" of the hijaab. I'd happily send my daughter to such a school.