EXAMINING THE ASSERTION THAT THE ‘ḤIJĀB’ SEXUALIZES CHILDREN AND THE EXPERIENCE OF MUSLIM GIRLS WEARING HIJAB IN 21ST CENTURY UK

Abstract

This research seeks to examine assertions by Amanda Spielman, UK chief school inspector, that expectations on young girls to wear a Ḥijāb (Islamic headscarf), sexualizes them. Spielman issued a new policy of interrogating prepubescent schoolchildren about Ḥijāb in November 2017. The research further explored the impact of Ḥijāb on the lived experiences of girls in the UK. Spielman’s interviews, speeches, reports, along with contemporaneous events, global conflicts, and government policies were examined for context. Simultaneously, Islamic scriptures (Qur’ān), traditions of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and scholarly exegesis on the topic were reviewed. Census data, conception data and government data on sexualization of schoolgirls were also analysed for trends related to Ḥijāb. The study found little evidence to support Spielman’s assertions on sexualization by Ḥijāb. Islamic scripture was found to consistently oppose and mitigate the sexualization and abuse of girls. New primary data was obtained through 150 survey interviews, predominantly of Ḥijāb-wearing women on their experience of Ḥijāb and sexualization. Rather, trends of reduced sexualization, and increased islamophobia were significantly observed in participant testimonies. Contemporary literature further traced sexualized imagery of the Ḥijāb to orientalist war propaganda, feminism, and colonialist portrayals of Muslims. Data on the sexualization of girls in the west and underage conception rate data for the UK indicated that Muslim girls suffered less sexualization than others. This research aims to critically examine policies targeting Muslims in UK schools. It also establishes a replicable survey that can give voice to Ḥijāb-wearing women and to track the consistency of these findings or any changing trends over time and geography.