Clothes do have something to do with decency

http://www.ngopulse.org/article/clothing-has-nothing-do-decency

Ever heard of the phrase, “clothes maketh a man”? And ‘image is everything”. I beg to differ with the Bongiwe Zwane article on the assertion that clothes have nothing to do with decency.

I’m not one to advocate for wearing miniskirts or not wearing them. Hey girl, if it makes you feel and look good, then, by all means go for it.

I, like many African women, was raised to dress in a certain way, wear clothes of certain length; and over the years I have defied most of these expectations as I’ve learned more about myself, my body, my sense of femininity, and personal style. Unlike my upbringing, I wish to raise my daughter to become a liberal young woman of grace and elegance by letting her find her inner goddess, and express it the best way she knows how.

While the issue of the mini skirt is a complex one; what we should be debating is the men’s view of what is acceptable for women to wear and what isn’t? Who or what determines acceptable wear. What we should be looking into is the very thing within men that is triggered by a mini skirt, and the edge to act on that trigger, even the women is a stranger walking down the taxi rank. And, if the miniskirt is so indecent, is assault the best and only way to ‘fix’ the problem?

I have a young daughter who is fast growing, and I cringe at the thought of her not being able to be herself, and dress the way she wants at the fear of being assaulted by a bunch of cowardly old men. I know I’m using strong labels, but really, the level of disrespect and heartlessness that our men are showing these days is appalling. Just the other day in the news, a 2 year old was raped. A 2 YEAR OLD. REALLY, A 2 YEAR OLD?

In this context, clothes do matter because they trigger something in these men that none of us can explain but them. By being rebellious and insisting to wear miniskirts regardless, aren’t we distancing ourselves from the problem? What role do we as women play in this?

Well then, these are my thoughts. What do you say?

Lady B!