Yasmine Mohammed ياسمين محمد  🦋

Tonight, my daughter saw someone on the news wearing hijab. She asked me,"why is she wearing that thing on her head? ". What is an appropriate response to and 8 year old? @YasMohammedxx

In my experience, at that age my daughter was not ready for the nuance required to explain it fully. We had that discussion when she was 10. Younger kids (mine, anyways) seem to not be able to view it it's totality

I.e. You could explain it's religious patriarchical roots, while also saying that it's important to treat all people (including hijabis) with respect, and that the hijab doesn't define its wearer, but i worry an 8yo couldn't reconcile these seemingly different thoughts

Kids tend to simplify.. "my dad said you're wearing that because your dad hates you" could be a take away from a nuanced explaination, where u said nothing of the sort

I have never experienced kids asking about hijabs but that might be because they are so normalized in our hood. I dont think the kids differentiate them from ny other headscarves. It's the full-on burkas and niqabs that have produced some difficult questions here.

I live a few blocks from an Islamic school, so, there were questions lol

I have to admit...I tend to be disingenuous about it for the younger kids. More diplomatic than my true feelings. As they get older I get more honest about it. Around 13 I start talking about the oppressive factor....around 15/16 I start talking to them like any other adult.

I'm not sure that's the best policy. I'm moreso just describing what I do by intuition. I'm not closed to the idea that we should be more Frank at younger ages....you?