Yesterday, a gender commission Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) official urged tertiary institutions to introduce a dress code for female students to reduce cases of s_xual harassment.
The suggestion has mostly been met with criticism from the Zimbabwean community on social media who have expressed shock at the idea.
Here are some of the reactions:
The focus on clothes rationalises behaviour of rapists and leads to victim blaming. Its wrong. – Amai vaFarirai
Rapists are the problem. Not clothes. – Dutch Embassy Harare 🇳🇱
Even assuming that what you are saying is true, does that become an excuse for rapist and abusive lecturers who must therefore be protected from girls? The issue is power dynamics, not dressing. It’s a cheap excuse used by weak & perverted individuals. – Alex Magaisa
Madness in some way, though as a nation we should consider that our morals have been dwarfed by our wanton for freedom to do as our heart pleases. Even if that means coming to class half dressed. – Jeiraw
WTF?! So now we’re giving predatory lecturers an excuse to rape and abuse female students? The fact that the gender commission has women (!)in it is not only insulting to ALL women but a step backwards for feminism and gender equality! Again, WTF? – Wonekayi
What the …? Should it not be promoting freedom of expression & protecting women to their bodily integrity without policing their wardrobes. Why should dressing be the focus of this policy and not men’s behaviour? Why are we as men being excused for bad behavior – samuel
A whole gender commission is saying this. We are doomed – Ladybug
Why would you want someone lecturing who can’t control themself? Remove sexual predators from environments where they are exposed to young and vulnerable women. – RS_Magic
1. The students are being held responsible for controlling the actions of grown ass predatory lecturers
2. The NUST DoS makes it sound like young women *want* to stay silent when we all know that often they have no choice &/or are afraid of the repercussionsDisgusting.
They need to explain this. The only logical explanation is that the report is inaccurate otherwise they have to explain and retract this most unfortunate statement – VeritasWomen
I remember this gender commission when it was appointed. I had problems with the ages of the commissioners. – V.
Furiously and enthusiastically back pedaling to the middle ages. Unacceptable. – APA Zimbabwe
I dont think the dress code is for campus in general but when going to a lecturer’s office. When a female student goes to a male lecturer’s office with mass cleavage showing, even the pope will feel uncomfortable or take a look. And usually this happens when assignments are due. – Emmanuel maravanyika
An incredibly problematic proposal. It perpetuates a rape culture that tells society that women’s bodies are dangerous, powerful and sexualised, and that men are biologically programmed to objectify and harass them. And that when they are raped it is their fault. – Unopa Makanyanga Unopa Makanyanga