To Mix or Not to Mix: Pakistani Girls in British Schools

Abstract

Fifty girls of Pakistani origin attending a single-sex school were interviewed about their views on education. Similar interviews were conducted with their mothers and fathers. The girls and their mothers were much more likely than the fathers to see the purpose of education for girls in terms of qualifications for getting a job. Approximately half the parents were in favor of establishing separate Muslim schools to help preserve their religion and culture. Only a quarter of the girls favored such schools, and these were mainly younger girls who disliked the teasing they received in a multiracial school. Parents who did not want to see Islamic schools established generally felt that existing schools were accommodating Muslim demands, while the girls stressed the importance of integration with other cultures.