#MyDressMyChoice Vs Morality in Kenya’s learning Institutions
A Student In One of Kenya's learning Institutions/Photo James Gitaka
By Cynthia Ochieng
Fashion-It is how we express ourselves and it is our way to show the world who we are, People can dress up, dress down ,wear jeans,dresses,or any type of clothing that allows them to share their individuality, this is according to “The Spectrum “a Dartmouth High School’s student Newspaper.
Immodest dressing is rapidly becoming a part of the modern society and more so in most of the Kenya’s higher learning Institutions.
In 2010 a Gallup World poll showed 48.2 Percent of Women feared that a house hold member could be sexually abused due to their way of dressing.
In 2014 a number of attacks were reported on women who wore skinny dresses especially in most parts of the country’s Matatu terminus.
The attacks sparked My Dress My choice movements giving more women the freedom to share their individuality through their clothing.
However a debate has ensued over the decay of the Country’s moral fabric largely informed by the latest fashion trends , with some claiming they could be leading to increased rates of immorality in the society.
The Trendy skinny dresses are most common among female students in colleges, polytechnics and Universities.
‘Dress to kill’ is a common phrase used by the students as they aim at looking attractive and sexy as opposed to the ancient days where women viewed their bodies as sacred therefore exposing it would have been immoral.
The higher Education institutions streets are full of strapless clothes, miniskirts, cleavage shirts, bum shorts and even sagging trousers by both young men and women. Transparent clothes that reveal body anatomy that should not be seen in public is not also strange.
“This is the 21st century. It is a free world and everyone is free to wear anything they like. I don’t care what people think of my dressing because I don’t ask anyone for money that I use to purchase my clothes with. My dress code makes me express myself better and I am comfortable with it, “said Phenny Njeri a student at Maseno University.
The dressing pattern in the society is expected to change due to the progressiveness of fashion as each day passes. However, what could be the driving force behind this indecent dressing?
Peer pressure, poor parental upbringing, social media pressure and the desire to fit in amongst a particular group of people could be the cause of indecent dressing among the students.
Most of them forget that this provocative act may greatly contribute to the increased rape incidences in the country. The African community relates indecent dressing to harlotry therefore; an indecently dressed female may be referred as a harlot even though she may not be one. This in turn gives her a bad image as it devalues her because it exposes what forms her treasure.
“Our generation is completely different from that of our folks so they should understand and support us. I wear the latest trends and even if some parts of my body are exposed and my boyfriend has no problem then why should it bother anyone?”Added Njeri.
Most incidences of sexual harassment in learning institutions by fellow students and or lecturers go unreported as they are mostly linked to indecent dressing.
Technology and current trends cannot be prevented nevertheless indecent dressing can be reduced in these institutions by imposing strict enforcement measures on dress codes in schools.
This can be achieved by joint efforts of the security, staff and the management of institutions. Parents should also teach their children how to dress decently and serve as a good example to their children and the society.
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