IT’S WHAT YOU WEAR, WHERE

It’s been almost a fortnight since the hashtag ‘My dress, My choice’ started making rounds through the grapevine. I would feel no different from our highly esteemed women leaders if I didn’t give my two cents on this. It’s almost unimaginable having them keep silent about such a topical issue that’s demeaning to the woman. Their job should indeed be to protect or the least support the Kenyan woman, lest they stand similar to their male counterparts in parliament. (Story for another day).

Watching a woman stripped off her clothes is by far gender violence. Everyone has their personal space radius that no one should cross without their consent. Traversing this line expresses outmost disrespect.

The victimized women from the strip videos indeed have gone through a psycho trauma that will trudge with them for the better part of their lives. Every time they walk down the streets, it will be a reminder of what a bunch of criminals subjected them to. Women have been victims of gender violence for far too long and at some point it’s got to stop.

We are currently living in a society that’s extremely sexualised. Yesterday night, I had a pep talk with my mother and she happened to mention that in the eighties, women would wear mini-skirts and it was no big deal. Whatever transformed between then and now leaves a lot in question, matters, moral grounds. No one is asking men to approve of what women wear, far from it, but whether they approve or not, women should not be violated (stripped).

When I wrapped my mind around this issue, my mind could not help but think ‘know what to wear, where.’ I took the time to keenly look at the localities where the stripping incidences took place and quite frankly, it would be fair to state that, they are the ‘ratchet’ streets .No one needs to be told that there’s a huge disparity between Ronald Ngala and Koinange street. The ambience, outlook, crowds, architecture and aura could easily be compared to heaven and earth (pun intended).

Down-town streets are characterised by loud hooting of PSV vehicles and heavy traffic. The buildings are mostly beat-up and poorly maintained. In addition, there are a significant number of people hurriedly walking to board a matatu to or from work. A closer look will make you realise that ladies hold on to their handbags as though it was a matter of life and death. Clearly, in this part of town, insecurity rates are extremely high. Talk of mobile con men and idlers loitering in every corner of such streets. Did I just slip from mentioning the hygiene conditions? Deplorable! You would need God’s grace to walk by some sections of these avenues. Need I say more?

However, Koinange Street, Moi Avenue and others of such calibre, bear a different story. What captures the eye first is the alluring architectural designs of the storey buildings. Sophistication, exquisiteness and high value is what is portrayed. Just when you’ve not had enough of eye candy, in comes the serene, soothing and calm ambience typified by somewhat low pitched conversations and expensive vehicles speeding off. Inhabited within, are high end restaurants, Kenya’s top notch companies, best healthcare clinics among other amenities. You will neither find unnecessary congestion along the pedestrian pavements nor dubious looking citizens. Most people on these streets often look busy rushing from or to the office.

My point is, the contradistinction between the two determines the kind of treatment you are likely to get based on your mode of dressing. In this case being the mini-skirt, the Moi Avenue crowd will barely notice what you are wearing. People are mostly going about their business; it’s the least of their concerns if you are wearing a short dress or skirt. If they do notice, they don’t have the time to think about it. If they happen to think about, they are too cultured to give you long annoying glares. Interesting enough, if someone dared to bash at a lady along these streets, people will look at them as though they were mad.

Of course this is not the scenario in Luthuli and River road. While I carefully avoid to stereotype, most people along these streets are morally crippled, educational dwarfs and goons. ‘Do not cross the line’ is not a phrase they uphold whatsoever. If it’s not about the cat calls, it’s harsh name calling and from the recent experiences, stripping of clothes. One would be forced to imagine, these people live to give unsolicited comments. Along these streets, it’s hardly about what a lady is wearing but an idle-sexualised-lousy-minds group mentality. However, my advice to an esteemed, fashion savvy lady is to keep the mini-skirt at bay when it comes to such parts of Nairobi. The blunt truth is that, these people have nothing to lose and will stop at nothing to humiliate you.

The law may have stipulated that a woman is at liberty to wear what she wants, but clearly, it will take a milestone before it’s implemented. In the meantime, ladies use your GPS finders to ensure your safety.