Nusuk introduces new services to enhance pilgrims' experience    Saudi Crown Prince holds wide-ranging talks with US Secretary of State in Riyadh    THE AMAZON.SA 'RAMADAN SALE' starts on February 17: Incredible Savings, Thousands of deals, Plus Exclusive Benefits with Prime, and Ways to Give Back    Saudi FM meets US Secretary of State Rubio in Riyadh; discusses regional situation    Al-Ibrahim: Emerging markets successful in creating opportunities for growth    14 Yemenis arrested in Riyadh for exploiting children to beg in public places    Spouse of Crown Prince launches Misk Heritage Museum 'Asaan' in Diriyah    Netanyahu praises Trump's 'bold vision' for Gaza at Rubio meeting    South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron, 24, found dead    Democrats confront their powerlessness as Trump flexes authority    Dar wa Emaar Real Estate Investment and Development launches "Tala al Seef" Show Villa, reinforcing its leadership in the Real Estate Market    Conclave and The Brutalist win big at the Baftas    Yanmar strengthens its commitment to Saudi Arabia with the establishment of Yanmar office at Riyadh    3 expat women who practiced prostitution in a hotel arrested in Riyadh    Al Ittihad CEO calls for fairness as Al Hilal raises officiating concerns ahead of Saudi Classico    Benzema shines with goal and two assists as Al Ittihad dominate Al Wehda French star leads Al Ittihad to 4-1 victory, extending lead over Al Hilal ahead of top-of-the-table clash    Al Hilal held to controversial 1-1 draw against Al Riyadh, missing chance to reclaim top spot    Al Hilal accuses SPL's Michael Emenalo of bias and SFF's Manuel Navarro of pressuring team to accept local referees Club criticizes officiating, calls for elite foreign referees in Saudi Pro League    Maya Diab joins Arab stars and celebrities in celebrating the Centrepoint Ramadan 2025 collection launch at Riyadh Boulevard    Oilatum tackles rise in Eczema and Dry Skin in Saudi Arabia    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Gender-neutral uniform for Kerala schoolgirls sparks row
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 22 - 12 - 2021

A row has broken out in the southern Indian state of Kerala after a government school allowed teenage female students to wear trousers. The BBC's Geeta Pandey in Delhi and Ashraf Padanna in Kerala explain the controversy over clothes.
On Wednesday morning, when Sringi CK waited at the bus stop to catch a bus to school in her brand new uniform, a compliment from an unknown woman made her feel special.
"This lady told me that I looked very smart and I felt very proud," the 17-year-old, who studies in class 11 at the Government Girls Higher Secondary School in the town of Balussery, told the BBC.
But once Sringi reached school, she had to make her way through a throng of protesters - kept in check by dozens of policemen - who were unhappy that girls could now wear trousers and shirts, just like the boys.
Until the changeover, female students wore traditional long tunics, loose fitting trousers and waistcoats.
School principal Indu R told the BBC that last year girls, who are now in class 12, suggested they should be allowed to wear the same uniform as the boys.
She said she saw merit in their proposal since "most of our students wear jeans and tops outside like teenage girls anywhere else in the world" and the waistcoat was not suited for Kerala's humid weather.
"So we discussed it with the staff and then called a meeting of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). The majority agreed so we decided to switch," Indu said.
"Only one or two parents expressed concern about the gender-neutral uniform and we told them that girls could wear longer shirts with full sleeves, they could wear a headscarf and even the waistcoat if they wanted.
"But very few girls have chosen them," she added.
Indu sent the BBC photos of a group of students in their new uniform, taking selfies, doing fist bumps, laughing and literally jumping for joy.
Sringi, who's part of the group, says she loves her new uniform because it's "very comfortable" and allows her to be "very flexible".
"Ours is the first government higher secondary school that's gone for the unisex uniform. I feel like I'm part of a revolution," she adds.
The uniform change has the blessings of the Kerala government.
"The dress code and the entire system of schooling should change with the times," Education Minister V. Sivankutty told the BBC. "We hope more schools will join the initiative to create awareness among teenage students against gender discrimination early."
But the new uniform has not gone down well with conservative Muslim groups who say their children are being "forced" to wear the new outfits.
"The decision was taken without calling a general body meeting of the PTA and now our girls are being forced to wear trousers and shirts like boys. It's also a huge financial burden on poor families," said Mujahid Balussery, a member of the Muslim Coordination Committee against unisex uniforms.
But a bigger concern for Balussery is his belief that a uniform change is part of the state's Communist government "agenda to impose their atheistic ideology on children".
"We cannot compromise on our faith," he says. "Girls and boys must keep their distinctive identities. Allowing girls to dress up like boys ... will lead to sexual liberation by ending gender differentiation."
Similar comments by other Muslim groups in the past week have evoked sharp criticism from many in Kerala and the rest of India, with critics saying it is an attempt by orthodox groups to impose restrictions on girls.
Kerala is often described as India's most literate and progressive state. It's often cited as the only state in the country that has achieved 100% literacy.
Girls make up 48.96% of total student enrolments in schools and a majority go on to acquire university degrees.
But critics say deep-rooted misogyny makes Kerala as patriarchal as the rest of India.
Principal Indu says the fuss over the new uniform is especially surprising since female students in many private schools in Kerala already wear trousers, and a government junior school had switched to unisex uniforms for younger children in 2018.
The idea behind introducing the new uniform, she says, is only "gender neutrality".
"From the time children are born, we differentiate between boys and girls - we buy them different toys, boys get guns and cars while girls get dolls, boys are dressed in blue while girls wear pink, and as they grow, their shoes and clothes become different too.
"But I think if girls feel more comfortable and confident in trousers and shirts, then they should be allowed to wear them. I feel all children should be given the same freedoms and same opportunities." — BBC


Clic here to read the story from its source.