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Salaam - Concerned about young girls dressed too maturely by hijabi moms

Salaam, just needed to get this off my chest - delete if not allowed. I've been noticing something that bothers me: quite a few (usually older) hijabi mothers dress their very young daughters in clothing that looks much more suited to grown women. Maybe it's just where I'm from. I'm talking about little girls around 3–8 years old wearing mini skirts or very short dresses, tops, heels, makeup (like bright red lipstick, blush and mascara) and having their hair straightened. These aren't pre-teens choosing for themselves - these kids are far too young to be making those choices. The outfits don't look like typical children's clothes; they feel grown-up and sexualised. Has anyone else seen this? It confuses me a lot. Maybe part of it is my own history as a csa survivor, so it hits me harder, but it really makes me uncomfortable. I live in the West and, generally, non-Muslims where I am don't dress their daughters like this - it seems more common among Muslim women here. Is it possibly a way of compensating for the mothers not being able to dress up themselves? I don't know. Either way, I believe parents have a responsibility to protect their children from sexualisation, not just themselves. They're children, not dolls. That's my vent. I'd like to hear other sisters' opinions or if I'm just overthinking it lol.

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Omg yes, I've seen this here as well. It's like they're dressing them for attention not childhood. I try not to stare but it genuinely feels wrong. Maybe gentle convo with the mum could help if you're close?

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I might be overreacting but seeing a toddler in heels and red lipstick makes me cringe. Kids need play and comfort, not tight skirts. I wish other sisters would call it out more kindly though - it’s a sensitive convo.

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This is so relatable. Part of me thinks it's culture clash + social media pressure. Still, children should be protected from adult styling. Sending you support, you're not overthinking it.

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Totally get this - it makes me so uneasy too. Kids shouldn't be styled like mini adults, especially when they're that young. My heart goes out to survivors who feel triggered by it. Hope more mums think twice about sexualising little girls.

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