worldreligionnews.com: FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR NUSRAT QADIR RESPONDS TO A FRENCH SCHOOL’S DECISION TO SEND A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL HOME FROM SCHOOL BECAUSE HER SKIRT WAS TOO LONG AND COULD BE CONSTRUED AS A RELIGIOUS GARMENT.
While the it is obvious to some that wearing a yamulke or hijab is a sign of religious affiliation, France has also determined that wearing a skirt is offensive to their secular beliefs. According to French media reports a 15-year-old girl was banned from her class twice for wearing a skirt that was too long and was seen as an obvious display of religion. Despite this Muslim young lady abiding by Frances’ strict secular laws not to wear a religious symbol in institutions of education, she was still reprimanded with her choice of modest attire in wearing a long skirt. Modest attire is something that many women choose for their own sanctity including the long skirt, leaving many perplexed as to when the long skirt became a sign of religious affiliation for Muslim women.
Paris has long since been established as a trendsetter for fashion. Now France has contradicted itself by deeming the long skirt as a religious garment, while the full length skirt has long since been deemed as vogue by the fashion capital. Skirts are one of the oldest garments known to both male and female attire. The skirt in general takes many shapes and sizes and has never been associated with any religion. Clothing in general is typically inspired by nationality, culture, economics as well as religion. There were eras within Europe during which women wore solely dresses and skirts especially by the upper class. Prior to the 19th century, skirts were consistently voluminous and long.