A decent image: Louis Galanos Ah, fashion. I for one love it. I love commenting on it, I love looking at it and sometimes I love thinking that I am wearing it and that everyone else is wrong. It's not always polite to comment on fashion, or someone's fashion choice. Particularly if you are going to comment on your impression of their morality from their fashion choice. But sometimes it is. There have been two cases of this recently. In one fashion comment incident a man appeared on TV to discuss the amazing Rosetta mission wearing a shirt covered in pictures of busty women with many people took issue with. In another a woman in Kenya was assaulted by a group of men for wearing 'tempting' attire. Hey, here's a quiz for Tuesday, which person deserves a group of people rushing to their defence?
Now, before you answer that perhaps I should give you a little more background. The first incident I am referring to is the TV appearance of Matt Taylor, project scientist on the Rosetta mission, who was interviewed for TV to discuss the successful landing. When dressing for the interview Taylor clearly decided to go 'smart-casual' and wore a shirt that was covered in pictures of women in unlikely poses in laced up corsets and PVC catsuits.
Hm. Not the most tasteful shirt to wear on TV but you know what it would really go with? Comments such as "She's sexy, but I never said she was easy."
This is sometimes called and excused as office banter but really it's what I'd say counts as trickle down rape culture. It's not ok to talk about women like that. Oh but they are talking about a space probe (space probe?I'll say!) not an actual woman, relax! But it is incremental. Every time we say 'oh they don't mean it' or 'it's a joke' or generally let something like this slide. But I don't think we need a scientific experiment to tell us that 'put up or shut up' doesn't work.
Hm. Not the most tasteful shirt to wear on TV but you know what it would really go with? Comments such as "She's sexy, but I never said she was easy."
This is sometimes called and excused as office banter but really it's what I'd say counts as trickle down rape culture. It's not ok to talk about women like that. Oh but they are talking about a space probe (space probe?I'll say!) not an actual woman, relax! But it is incremental. Every time we say 'oh they don't mean it' or 'it's a joke' or generally let something like this slide. But I don't think we need a scientific experiment to tell us that 'put up or shut up' doesn't work.
| It was rather interesting therefore to see many people complain about the language and the shirt that Taylor originally deemed acceptable. He has since apologised saying: "I made a big mistake and I offended many people, and I am very sorry about this." | 'shall I wear my sexist shirt today? Well I'm going to be on TV so...' |
Probably due to a mix of shame, embarrassment and tiredness (no sleep till comet!) Taylor appeared to weep. Of course it's a great shame that this incredible accomplishment has been overshadowed by a gaudy shirt but it's all a part of showing how just because sometimes sexism can go unnoticed ('shall I wear my sexist shirt today? Well I'm going to be on TV so...') doesn't mean it shouldn't go uncalled out.
Are we whining on about nothing? No. Shall I move on to the next fashion comment incident? Yes. In Nairobi awoman was attacked in Nairobi's Central Business District by a significant number of men who surrounded her and tore off her clothing before forcing her to the ground. The men defended their actions saying that the woman was "indecently dressed" and accused her of "tempting them".
Many reacted to this terrible assault by warning women to dress more modestly but yesterday a group called Kilimani Mums organised a peaceful protest to defend the woman in question, on their Facebook page they said: "This morning we as Kilimani Mums met and decided that we shall hold a peaceful procession to Accra Road.
"This is our chance to stand together as women and deliver a message to our country that sexual violence will not be tolerated."
A reported 200 people met to protest and the hashtags #MyDressMyChoice and #StrippingShame were trending over the weekend. However 20 or so men formed a counter protest and according to Kenya's Ghetto Radio the men said they would "continue to strip women who are dressed skimpily."
I hope the supportive actions of these protesters gives this woman the confidence to file a complaint. Yep. This woman, perhaps because she has not felt able to, has not reported the assault to the police, meaning they cannot investigate the crime. So, think about that before you go defending a shirt.
Squeamish Kate
Are we whining on about nothing? No. Shall I move on to the next fashion comment incident? Yes. In Nairobi awoman was attacked in Nairobi's Central Business District by a significant number of men who surrounded her and tore off her clothing before forcing her to the ground. The men defended their actions saying that the woman was "indecently dressed" and accused her of "tempting them".
Many reacted to this terrible assault by warning women to dress more modestly but yesterday a group called Kilimani Mums organised a peaceful protest to defend the woman in question, on their Facebook page they said: "This morning we as Kilimani Mums met and decided that we shall hold a peaceful procession to Accra Road.
"This is our chance to stand together as women and deliver a message to our country that sexual violence will not be tolerated."
A reported 200 people met to protest and the hashtags #MyDressMyChoice and #StrippingShame were trending over the weekend. However 20 or so men formed a counter protest and according to Kenya's Ghetto Radio the men said they would "continue to strip women who are dressed skimpily."
I hope the supportive actions of these protesters gives this woman the confidence to file a complaint. Yep. This woman, perhaps because she has not felt able to, has not reported the assault to the police, meaning they cannot investigate the crime. So, think about that before you go defending a shirt.
Squeamish Kate
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