Hijab Controversy: Revisiting Discourse on School Uniforms

Abstract

While analysing the hijab controversy, the paper attempts to discuss the significance of ‘uniforms’ in an educational institution. Employing sociological perspectives, it looks at the institution of education as a social institution and locates the sociocultural context of educational policies including the policy on uniforms. Attempt is to understand how political ideologies associated with nation- building promoted by the state, shape these policies. The paper looks at how and when changes in the policies are accommodated and where are these resisted. Exploring the trajectory of state, community and patriarchy, the paper attempts to comprehend what caused the hijab dispute and looks at some of the implications of the same on society, especially Muslim women. Theoretical framework of the paper is drawn on the critical understanding of uniforms as developed in sociology though the paper also draws from the Parsonian functional school of thought. The paper aims to show how the state uses the institution of education with support from other institutions of society, to promote its hegemonic agenda and how uniforms support this process. Secondary sources have been utilised for the data collection.