School uniform weirdness

[verylisa]

Eris is considering Footscray City College as an option for secondary school, mostly because of their film and TV facilities.

Since Eris cares deeply about whether she has to wear school uniform, I have looked at their uniform policy and discovered this weirdness.

GIRLS’ UNIFORM
FCC polo shirt
FCC long sleeved white shirt
FCC short sleeved white shirt
..

Comments

[kitling]

I agree totally on the separate boys and girls uniform thing - it should be separated in this day and age and I'd totally want to wear pants given an option - my school it was skirts or dresses for girls. I'd also want the long black skirt.

But on the head scarf thing. This is something I don't know and am genuinely curious about. Given its a religious item of clothing (as is in the wearing is proscribed by the religion) - is it disrespectful to wear it if you are not of that faith.

I love a lot of the traditional Islamic clothing - especially the full body bathing suit the local pool sells - but have refrained from wearing them as I suspect it would be disrespectful...

[sly_girl]

The specific items of clothing are not religiously mandated. Hijab states that men and women dress modestly and has a metaphysical aspect to it as well.

Female visitors to Islamic countries often wear some form of hijab as a sign of respect - just watch any BBC overseas news story. I don't see how wearing any specific item of clothing would be disrespectful, since the requirement is for all men and women to dress modestly.

[verylisa]

It never occurred to me that it might be disrespectful. I've worn a headscarf quite often, never had anything but a positive response from hijab wearers. I'd quite like to try the full body bathing suit too.

To clarify, the girls at Footscray City College have the option to wear skirts or pants, but the boys only have the pants option.

[entheo]

From my expeeinces travelling thorugh many Islamic countries, its not disrespectful at all to waer their clothing, they regard it as disrespectful and arrogant NOT to wear their style clothing (really, I found that out in Pakistan, where they regard all Westerners as arrogant).

[eyebrowofdoom]

I would guess it's because uniforms are not meant to cater to personal choice, they're meant to take it away. However, religion is a legally protected category of personal difference, whereas arbitrary personal clothing preference isn't. I think it's a stretch to claim this oppresses non-Muslims, any more than uniforms in general oppress anyone (which is a non-zero amount, but that's what you sign up for).

There were no pants for girls, Islamic options or - wow - polo shirts, when I went to state school in the early 90s, so it sounds pretty progressive to me!