Ugandan women will soon be imprisoned for showing cleavage and wearing miniskirts if the wishes of the “Ethic and Integrity” Minister, Rev. Simon Lokodo come true. This is because he has crafted a bill tabled in the parliament this week and has given many interviews saying, “that women in miniskirts are distracting to society.” Well, forget telling men to look the other way when a beautiful woman or “hot chic” as my little brother would say, passes or nears them. Telling women what to wear is the right and just thing to do according to Rev. Lokodo.
Rev.Simon Lokodo
I cannot say that women in Uganda are controlled or held down in oppression in what to wear. Hello, this is 2013, RIGHT! However, I suppose that men can learn how to control themselves, where is the law that says if a man is caught looking at a women, they too should be convicted for a sexual crime, I want to see that law. Unless of course Rev. Lokodo wants to tell us that men are immune from seducing women into sexual acts.
Fr. Okolodo has lost his sense and is not in touch with the real issues of what a young woman faces in Uganda day to day. In a country where a woman is asked for sexual favors from a hiring boss for a simple job like housekeeping and young girls in Hillary Clinton look-a-like suites are asked for sexual favors at job interviews. Little girls are defiled left and right by religious groups, witchdoctors, family members, etc., regardless of how they are dressed, and this guy wants to tell us that oppressing a person from dressing how they want will cure men’s natural sexual instincts.
The NRM leadership in Uganda is beginning to prove right to our generation what many others believe, that it is an oppressive regime, it has to control everything. It goes to show that the NRM government is on high horse ridden by the so called old wise men like Minister Okolodo.
This is not just about the miniskirts that are in danger here, soon it will be what music you can’t listen to, then it will be your Facebook, your Twitter, your Youtube, your internet in general. One would agree that if the bill passes it will pave way to limiting those other things because they too will be considered vessels of teaching Ugandans what they are not supposed to do.
jjemba@facebook.com
As a matter of fact, dressing is the immediate channel of communication. The first impression is always derived from one's facial looks and dressing. So, are the usual comments like she/he is warm-spirited, looks professional, could be middle age, etc. And it is for the very reason that people tend to dress differently for different occasions. Like many societies worldwide, dressing is also associated with culture. Among the Arabs, hijab is a signature. Yet among the Karimajong/Masai it is a wrap or none at all; and all acceptable.
ReplyDeleteNow, is wearing mini-skirts appropriate? My conscience says, NO but in some circumstances yes. I've no problem with a girl going to the bar or night club putting on a mini; just like I don't mind seeing one in a bikini on the beach. But a bikini to the office or a mini to a Sunday school/church; it will sincerely bother me. To some women, such situations as stated above don't apply; and it is the basis for such upcoming controlling proposals. Do we need regulations? Yes we do. But the presentation and implementation stirs the reaction. Our culture, Buganda, in particular, does not permit such dressing. No lady goes to pay loyalty to the King in mini dresses; though not written or enforced. Now, one wonders why the outcry at the moment. Firstly I would think its the pop-culture that has gone global and now being interpreted as freedom. Well, it may be freedom but we need to know our roots. Secondly, the government's role in fighting and failing cultural institutions is the biggest hurdle. Since we failed to promote our culture, we cannot again start complaining of what we allowed to infiltrate our own society. The pop-culture has come and we may have to dance to the tune. Mini-skirts are not appropriate but we jumped onto the wagon of the global train, and have to live accordingly. Otherwise it becomes a worldwide concern just as it is already.
I agree with you Paul...thanks for reading
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