This one's for SOLOMONSYDELLE and others interested in Nigerian affairs and gender equality.
In Nigeria's immorality is about hypocrisy, not miniskirts, author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie examines issues surrounding a bill that porposes to regulate what women wear in Nigeria. As Adichie points out, the bill is not only absurd but would have a disproportionate impact on "women who do not have cars, who have to hitch up their skirts to climb on okadas (motorbike taxis), who do not know a Big Man or Big Woman to call for help, who will be vulnerable to rape at police stations". She also argues that "this bill is, in a larger sense, about societies for whom women are safe scapegoats, and Nigeria is only one example. The country is immoral, and we must legislate morality by imprisoning women in miniskirts. (Most Nigerians use 'immoral' to mean sexual. They rarely use the word to refer to real immorality: institutional corruption.) Adichie provides a reasoned a critical examination of the bill and speaks to the underlying issues of sexuality, culture, gender, and gender roles, as well as actual evidence of immorality in the form of corruption and hypocrisy.
The article reminded me of a debate that I had with a friend while in Nigeria in which I expressed the view that no one has the right to assault, harass, or a abuse a woman based on the clothes she chooses to wear. In cases of sexual assault and harassment, it is the aggressor who is at fault, not the victim. His (or her) lack of self-control causes the crime to take place. A woman wearing a tube top and short-shorts has the same right to personal security and freedom from violence as does a woman dressed in a long skirt and a long-sleeved shirt. Naked, partially clothed, or 'fully' clothed, we all possess the same rights to be free from violence. Any bill or policy that tries to make us believe otherwise is a threat to human rights.
To read Adichie's article, click on the link above.
Other articles on this topic:
The Indecent Dressing Bill - Women Against Women
An article from This Day which provides a compelling case against the bill. I particularly liked the scenario presented at the outset of the article in which a victim of a robbery is unfairly blamed for encouraging the crime that was carried out against him. The article also cites examples of sexual violence against women, thereby emphasizing the point that victims must not be regarded in any way responsible for the actions of their aggressors.
Nigeria: Senate Bill on indecent dressing - Press release
A press release from the Nigerian Feminists Forum (NFF) which addresses critical areas of importance related to gender equality, women's empowerment, and human rights. I fully support the NFF's position that "a Bill on indecent dressing with an attendant jail term of six months for a female offender (bearing in mind that there is a high violence record against female prisoners in our current prisons) is a gross violation on the fundamental human rights of citizens."
In Nigeria's immorality is about hypocrisy, not miniskirts, author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie examines issues surrounding a bill that porposes to regulate what women wear in Nigeria. As Adichie points out, the bill is not only absurd but would have a disproportionate impact on "women who do not have cars, who have to hitch up their skirts to climb on okadas (motorbike taxis), who do not know a Big Man or Big Woman to call for help, who will be vulnerable to rape at police stations". She also argues that "this bill is, in a larger sense, about societies for whom women are safe scapegoats, and Nigeria is only one example. The country is immoral, and we must legislate morality by imprisoning women in miniskirts. (Most Nigerians use 'immoral' to mean sexual. They rarely use the word to refer to real immorality: institutional corruption.) Adichie provides a reasoned a critical examination of the bill and speaks to the underlying issues of sexuality, culture, gender, and gender roles, as well as actual evidence of immorality in the form of corruption and hypocrisy.
The article reminded me of a debate that I had with a friend while in Nigeria in which I expressed the view that no one has the right to assault, harass, or a abuse a woman based on the clothes she chooses to wear. In cases of sexual assault and harassment, it is the aggressor who is at fault, not the victim. His (or her) lack of self-control causes the crime to take place. A woman wearing a tube top and short-shorts has the same right to personal security and freedom from violence as does a woman dressed in a long skirt and a long-sleeved shirt. Naked, partially clothed, or 'fully' clothed, we all possess the same rights to be free from violence. Any bill or policy that tries to make us believe otherwise is a threat to human rights.
To read Adichie's article, click on the link above.
Other articles on this topic:
The Indecent Dressing Bill - Women Against Women
An article from This Day which provides a compelling case against the bill. I particularly liked the scenario presented at the outset of the article in which a victim of a robbery is unfairly blamed for encouraging the crime that was carried out against him. The article also cites examples of sexual violence against women, thereby emphasizing the point that victims must not be regarded in any way responsible for the actions of their aggressors.
Nigeria: Senate Bill on indecent dressing - Press release
A press release from the Nigerian Feminists Forum (NFF) which addresses critical areas of importance related to gender equality, women's empowerment, and human rights. I fully support the NFF's position that "a Bill on indecent dressing with an attendant jail term of six months for a female offender (bearing in mind that there is a high violence record against female prisoners in our current prisons) is a gross violation on the fundamental human rights of citizens."
1 comment:
Yes, all these claims that the way women dress should be immoral and banned are absolutely baseless and simply a means to limit women's rights in Nigeria. Sometimes, by women themselves. It is a shame, really.
Thanks for writing this post. If I may suggest, could you link to me (or a post of mine) if you ever need to catch my attention? I could have been here to comment a long time ago. I was just doing a blog check and saw this.
Anyway, nice post and am off to catch up on anyother missed posts.
BTW, feel free to stop by
NIGERIAN CURIOSITY where we are having a lively conversation about the recent Brutish Airways incident. I would really appreciate you stopping by sometime. Take care!
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