  We explore the dielectric properties of spinor condensates. Gases with vector
(nematic) order, such as spin-1 condensates with ferromagnetic
(antiferromagnetic) interactions, display optical activity (birefringence).
This optical activity/birefringence is respectively seen for light detuned from
resonance by a frequency which is not too large compared with the
fine/hyperfine structure. Careful tuning of the light frequency can isolate
either of these two effects. These features can be used to image spin textures
in clouds of spin 1 bosons, and to discern states showing different types of
spin order.
