Provocative dressing and rape cases

Rape is increasingly been reported in everyday. Many have argued that most rapes cases were as a result of the provocative dressing by the victims. For a dressing to be considered indecent, it should expose stuff that ordinarily shouldn’t.

Eberechi Erege, 24, Abuja, said “Exposing sensitive body parts it can be said to be provocative or indecent dressing. Any dress that covers up body parts no matter what shape or style is absolutely not indecent. I don’t think indecent dressing is instrumental to rape. Personally for me indecent dressing is a turn off any day. Every man should have a measure of self control so that even if a woman parades herself naked before a man he should be able to work away from the situation rather than sit there savouring the piece before him. There is no excuse for such a brutal act as rape. For me it compares to murder.”

But for Hafsat Ahmed, 26, Abuja, there can be no justification for rape and abuse of toddlers as have been constantly reported in the dailies for a period now. “How sexy, enticing, indecent or provocative could the dressing of a toddler be? Let’s face facts; there are a lot of sick minds obsessed with evil thoughts. It may be that they really need medical attention or that they are just wicked.”

Reuben Agada, 30, Kaduna says “Must we all be he-goats? Can’t we refuse to see the flaunting of the she-goat? I guess it is just an excuse to justify our male promiscuity because for all the she-goat cares the he-goat is none existent in her world. We all may know how gullible the he-goat is and decide to lure him as a way of getting something out of him. Note that the she-goat does not always give in to the proposal of the male. She fights her way until she is eventually outdone and has no choice but to succumb. Doesn’t this show that it is out of the abundance of the heart the body acts? We are lucky that he-goats are not of the human race. What am I even talking about, we have heard stories of men having sex with goats, abi!”

Esther O. 53, Abuja, however believes that indecent dressing contributes immensely to the rampant rape cases. “How can one describe a situation where a mature lady dresses to expose her body figure to the public? Even a casual passerby would not fail to notice her. It is surprising that even married women and mothers are guilty of indecent exposure. It is not a matter of being too sensitive or over reacting. They should remember that they are role models to their children and the society as a whole. I remember seeing sometime ago, the photograph wife of one of the recent ex-governors in a magazine. She was wearing a brown see through lace with no inner. Her black bra and stomach were in full view of public and left nothing to the imagination of the reader. Mind you, she is famous for her fight against the trafficking of girls to Italy for prostitution. Perfect example to inspire the girls I must say. Your dressing reflects your personality.”

“Dressing is relative, so if someone feels comfortable dressing that way, to her it is decent. Some men wear tight trousers, sleeveless shirts, singlet, bud hugging tops and even trousers that sag below the waste line? Can it be said that they are provoking the girls to rape them? I don’t think that dressing is instrumental to rape. Most rapists are usually influenced by alcohol, hard drugs, Indian hemp or even mental ill health. What do you then say of those who rape little girls or married women? Were they influenced by psychotic minds?” asks Aisha, 27, Edo.

Ajiri Audu, 44, Abuja says “I don’t think ‘indecent’ or ‘provocative’ dressing encourages rape. This is because I strongly believe that people especially the men have thrown their values away. Most people cannot tell the problem from the root. Rather their arguments are based on superficial and flimsy reasons. The real African mode of dressing is nudity and the same applies to the west or wrapping one’s private area with a loin cloth. Women were usually bare chested. Did they have these cases of rapes? Or is it because we are now imbibing foreign cultures? Go to Koma and ask them if they have rape victims as they are one of the most recent to be liberated from Stone Age mannerisms.”