Antisexist/Antiracist Education ‐‐ a False Dilemma: a Reply to Walkling and Brannigan

Abstract

Writing in the January 1986 issue of the Journal of Moral Education, Walkling and Brannigan draw attention to an apparent conflict between antiracist and antisexist education. They argue that antiracists, by accepting demands from sections of the Muslim community for single‐sex and denominational schools, may be seen as inhibiting the emancipation of Muslim girls. We attempt to highlight the conservative implications of their argument and show, among otherthings, that it is premissed upon an impoverished understanding of both antiracist and antisexist initiatives, a simplistic and misleading portrayal of Muslim culture (and in particular family life), and a specious juxtaposition of state education as ‘transformative’ and single‐sex Muslim schools as ‘transmissionist’.

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Notes on contributors

Barry Troyna

Barry Troyna is Reader in Education, Faculty of Education, Sunderland Polytechnic, Hammerton Hall, Gray Road, Sunderland SR2 7EE, and Bruce Carrington is Lecturer in Education, School of Education, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, St. Thomas Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU.