By: Faith Karimi
Published: January 20, 2012 Accessed January 22, 2012
Malawian women were attacked for wearing western clothes. Street vendors attacked the women because they believe the women are not following traditions or their cultures. Women were stripper naked and beaten for not wearing what their cultures demands. Women, who thought that they lived in a free country were put down by men. Living in a democracy did not change the way that women were and are being treated. When the president got to know about this attack he said that the street vendors should be arrested. Malawi did ban women from wearing pants and miniskirts during dictatorship. However, since 1994 women were allowed to dress how they wanted. Though women were granted equal rights, still they are not treated equally when it comes to education, employment or political power.
Words don't mean anything until they are put into action. Same goes for a constitution where it may say that women have equal rights, but in reality they are still treated as slaves. Women have the right to wear what they want, do what they want. They should not have to justify why they wore what they wore. Why are men stripping these women naked and beating them up? Does their culture, and tradition allow them to do this? A pant or miniskirt is still a piece of clothing to cover oneself. Wether the women wears long traditional skirts or pants they are still covering her body, so why make a big deal. The women should not be told what to wear or how to talk. In a democratic country they are free to do what they want, and should not be judged for it.
Vocab
Perpetrators
President Bingu wa Mutharika warned the perpetrators to stop the attacks
a person who commits an evil act
origin latin perpetratus to execute
The perpetrator kidnapped the little girl because he wanted money.
Sporadically
occasional
Attacks on women wearing pants have occurred sporadically in other African
origin latin sporadicus
The plague that hit the city happens sporadically every year or so.
Disparities
but disparities remain in almost all aspects including education,
lack of similarity or equality
origin: french desparite
The disparities among men and women in many countries is shocking.
It's quite sad that some societies still disregard women rights. I agree with the president on his decision to arrest the street vendors as they have no right to abuse these women after the new set of laws which allow women to dress up as they want.
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