African Women, Fashion, and Scapegoating

Abstract

A contemporary public controversy in East and Central Africa 1 focuses on the attire and behavior of African women, what they should and shouldn't wear, what they should and shouldn't do. A barrage of criticism lambastes the use of cosmetics and the wearing of particular fashions. Popular magazines feature articles entiled : How Do You Like Your Women: This Way or That ? They display pictures of a young woman in stretch pants next to one in traditional garb. Letters to the editor of newspapers accuse women of being blantantly provocative and of having completely lost their morals. Newspaper headlines read Africa's Sex Battle : and Why Must We Ape Western Ways ? Tribal associations pass resolutions stating that short dresses and wigs should be banned because they are not in the interests of African dignity and culture. This debate might be dismissed as a tempest in a teapot, a fad that like the mini-skirt itself will soon pass into oblivion except that along with the lighthearted banter, there are darker undertones. Many remarks are clearly intended to insult, ridicule and denigrate women. The debate has reached the national level of politics where members of parliament, cabinet ministers and even presidents have made pronouncements on particular fashions, and governments have issued directives Cover-Up and Lower Hemlines or Else on matters of dress. Mini-skirts were blamed for widespread rioting in Ethiopia in which 50 persons were injured, 100 vehicles destroyed, and schools closed for