By Helena Selby
First impressions, they say, speaks a lot. The outward appearance, they also say, gives volumes of impression, more than the inward, which is hidden in one’s own self.
It is the right and responsibility of everyone, to put on decent clothes in order not only to cover our naked bodies, but also prevent diseases like pneumonia, from affecting us. Dressing in decent clothes, people believe, differentiates one from the mentally disordered person, dressed in either tattered clothes, or without clothes at all.
In the Ghanaian culture or society, one’s way of dressing is very important. It is expected of one to dress decently, especially women, and not expose certain parts of the body, e.g. the breasts, buttocks, private parts, etc.
In the traditional, social and religious concept, the female body is considered sacred, since it was created in a very unique form to serve certain purposes, which the male body cannot do. Generally whenever a woman refuses to dress courteously, and exposes the sacred parts of herself, she is more often considered a prostitute. The public usually scorn women in clothes which expose their breast, beads, thighs and certain parts of her body, which are supposed to attract the male sex. Prostitutes are normally what they term them to be.
Some women enjoy dressing in such manners, even though they may not be prostitutes, and when attention is drawn to the impropriety of their way of dressing, embarrass whoever it is, by acknowledging that they are aware of the effect their dressing is having on others. This has led to the term ‘I am Aware’ in Ghana.
It must be noted that women are not the only culprits of indecent dressing, but also men. On the part of men, they do not belt or fasten the trousers/pants around the waist but rather let them hang loosely ob the buttocks thus exposing half their buttocks, or their underwear. This form of dressing in Ghana is also known as ‘Otto Phister’ after a German national, who once coached the senior national team, the Black Stars.
In our social environment, a woman who dresses courteously is often considered as a woman of good values, virtue and can be a good wife and a mother as well. This is so, because apart from the woman learning to serve her husband, she also is expected to learn to teach or impact the good values she has in her children.
Being Modern/Fashion
Modernity so far has been a good teacher. It has brought about discoveries, which day in and day out, help us in our activities. It has taught people how to exercise their rights, when the occasion calls for it. Modernity has also brought about improved education, which is one of the important aspects of it. Peace in many places of the world can be said to be as a result of modernity, unlike in the olden days where wars were very rampant, and where leaders were autocratic and dictators.
It must be put to notice that the way of dressing, nowadays, mostly is as a result of modernity. Modernity has brought into existence all kinds of fashion, together with peer pressure, has resulted in the traditional way of dressing, gradually fading away. In Ghana, and many parts of Africa, ways of dressing is more often is copied blindly from the western countries.
In the western world dressing and exposing certain parts of the body, is considered normal, so people do not frown against it.
In many parts of the African society, due to the many years of colonial rule and the imposition of their values on Africans, people have developed the notion that anything, or any form of behaviour, from the west is best, so decide to imitate these things without thinking of the pros and cons of their actions. Many Ghanaians have become victims of this notion, and see those who do not agree as being old fashioned or naïve, and worst of all, ignorant.
Religion
The Christian religion, which is one of the widely known religions in the world, talks very much about the importance of a woman keeping her body hidden from the eyes of men, since her body is meant for her husband’s eyes only. A woman is supposed to cover herself properly, in order to prevent men from lusting for her, for in Christianity lust is considered to be a sin, as is temptation.
In recent times modernity has changed the way of dressing among Christian women. This can clearly be seen in our churches today, where all kinds of fashions are exhibited. Owing to the modern/fashionable way of dressing to church certain values of Christianity are fading away unknowingly. Some Christians give the explanation that the rapid advancement of the world has created certain freedoms in religion. Some justify it saying, God looks into the heart of man and not the outward appearance, so they can choose to dress anyhow they want to.
However in the case of the Muslim religion, one can say there is a strict adherence to the law of the Quaran. Though modernity and technology are speedily advancing, they still try their best to act according to their teachings, especially in their way of dressing. A Muslim woman always has to make sure she covers herself well before going into public – covering herself from top to bottom, exposing only her hands and feet - and that she exposes herself to her husband only.
The traditional religion also opposes the act of dressing indecently among the youth, especially married women, but in another vein the exposing of the breasts is not considered indecent, especially with nursing mothers. The old women also say that their breasts have dried up, so are not attractive, and therefore pose no attraction to the male. Law on indecent exposure
The Oxford Dictionary defines the Law on Indecent Exposure as “The intentional act of publicly and indecently exposing one’s body, especially the genitals.”
Obscenity in its central context includes dressing to expose the private parts, showing as well as selling of pornographic material in public. Though the law exists, some people seem ignorant about it, whereas others act against it with intent. This law is against exposing the private parts of humans in public, and the performing of certain private acts in public, e.g. having sex in all forms.
Why do people dress indecently or provocatively?
One may wonder which manner of dressing is decent, and which one is not. In our society a woman is expected to make sure her breast, thighs, waist and other provocative parts, are covered before going out. A man is supposed to wear his trousers at the right level and not expose his underwear and part of his buttocks in public.
Women would really love to stop this way of dressing, but according to some of these women, that is what really attracts the men, especially older men, popularly known as “Sugar Daddy”. According to them owing to economic hardships nowadays, they prefer dressing that way to attract men, in order for these men to help them reduce the level of hardship they are going through.
Some of these ladies are being copied by the youth, especially those in the Senior High Schools. Children not under any form of supervision, fall prey to such situations.
Results of indecent or provocative dressing
Women are created in forms, which easily attract men, so frequent exposure of their bodies to the public, creates lust in the minds of men. It is also on of the reasons for the high incidence of rape. The dignity of a woman mostly lies on her being able to keep her body from being disrespected, and having the courtesy to dress decently in order to speak well of herself.
Indecent dressing among the youth can as well bring about an insecure future of the nation. This is owing to the fact that the frequent occurrence of the youth engaging in immoral acts is very high. Youngsters indulging themselves in acts of obscenity normally have the tendency of flirting around in the future resulting in prostitution.
Males, who dress with their pants showing, normally end up becoming rascals and bullies, leading to frequent harassment of females.
Conclusion
There is the need for the society especially the religious institutions, schools, parents and guardians to monitor children, when they are growing, since a good culturing of the child would prevent him or her from acting wayward. Parents must also learn to set good examples for their wards to follow, since charity, they say, begins at home.
No comments:
Post a Comment