According to a report submitted to a five-member committee appointed to investigate sexual harassment at Makerere University, male lecturers blamed female students’ dressing style for the increasing cases of sexual harassment at Makerere University.
The lecturers recommended that the university should enforce a strict dress code. The committee led by the Chairperson, Prof. Sylvia Tamale consisted of the School of Women and Gender Studies Assoc. Prof. Consolata Kabonesa, Ag. Principal School of Law-Assoc. Prof. Christopher Mbazira, the College of Education and External Studies’ Assoc. Prof. Betty Ezati, and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences’ Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi. The issue of female’s clothing featured prominently among the causes of sexual harassment highlighted by male and female stakeholders. While the Committee unequivocally agreed that there is no causal relationship, nevertheless it considered the issue important enough and discussed it in more detail. Below are some examples of what some of the respondents said:
“Women loitering around with their open thighs is not okay… these are devils, little temptresses who harass innocent, defenceless lecturers [Male lecturer]
“I have one seductress in this hospital. She will do everything to put the men in compromising situations and thereafter she will overturn the tables to her benefit. [Female Doctor at the University Hospital]
“Indecent dressing should not be encouraged. Parents and teachers have a duty to teach young girls and women to be decent at all times. [Male lecturer]
“This madness of women should be put to order otherwise the world is finished!” [Male lecturer]
“Not until we teach our girl child to see herself as gold which is not like sand (easily excavated) vultures will continue preying on them”. [Male lecturer]
The report also states that this deeply-ingrained complex issue of women’s dress from the lens of men as victims has historically been invoked in all societies around the world and it isn’t surprising it happens at this institution. Today, institutions such as the media, religion, education and culture play a big role in depicting women’s bodies as sexualized objects that must be covered in order to avoid the violation. These institutions do not transmit similar messages about men’s bodies or dressing. Hence, society reduces a woman to her body parts and pushes her humanity to the margins. It also places the responsibility to prevent sexual harassment and assaults squarely on a woman. Moreover, Makerere University is a secular university, which would make it difficult to impose a dress code based on religious values.
However, the fact that the majority of harassers sit in positions of authority over their victims speaks to the real problem here, that is, using women’s dressing to justify the abuse of power. The Committee, therefore, concluded that women’s clothing is not the cause of sexual harassment or abuse. The Committee also rejected the imposition of a university dress code for students and staff because research studies show that socially-sanctioned “decency” dress codes have a controlling effect, violate human rights and liberties, and are an ineffective way to combat sexual harassment.
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