The Naga Women Hoho Dimapur (NWHD) has taken upon itself the onerous task of moral policing on a dress code, which is not only impractical but plain stupid to say the least. The NWHD had issued a resolution directing all women (‘young and old’) to dress “modestly and decently” with a warning that it will take suitable action if any one wore “indecent dress”. And although failing to define what “indecent dressing” actually is, the NWHD made it clear that the resolutions, which include ban on sale of pornographic and Korean movies, would be implemented “strictly” from August 1. In fact for the resolution to work even better, the NWHD should have also included a ban on indecent clothes being sold in our local stores! Even better still would be to close down all beauty parlours so that our women folk are deprived of looking attractive and beautiful. The diktat on the dress code is by itself flawed and with so many unanswered question/s. And with the lack of clarity both with regard to its definition and on how to enforce it, the NWHD should do the honorable thing by exiting from doing police duty, which it is not legally sanctioned to do nor even socially acceptable to a majority of people. While the NWHD obviously has concern over rape and crime committed against women/girls, however coming out with a dress code is not the right way to address the problem of rape.
As it is turning out to be, the ‘moral’ resolutions of the NWHD is throwing up more questions than it is answering. For instance, will the ‘indecent dressing’ resolution apply only to public places or will it apply to homes also where rape incidents have been reported in the past. And if so, will the NWHD be so bold enough to enter private homes and enforce what women/girls are wearing? And since the NWHD has mentioned about receiving ‘complaints from many mothers, and even men that young Naga girls are dressing very provocatively even to weddings and church’, will it then take upon itself the job of raiding Sunday services or the hundreds and thousands of weddings taking place in Dimapur every year? Does the NWHD have enough volunteers and other logistics to go about implementing its resolution on ‘indecent dressing’?
And even if it is the case that the NWHD has the will power and capability to enforce its resolution, does it have the mandate and sanction to act? Not to forget, the layers of tribal groups, unions etc, which the NWHD will have to counter while implementing its resolution. Already there is so much of conflict, misunderstanding and distrust in Naga society. We don’t want more conflicts to emerge out of such a contentious issue, which the NWHD is trying to propagate and enforce at the risk of creating more ill will in society. It appears that such self appointed harbinger of women rights will be creating more problems rather than solving them. A few years ago another smart women organization had ordered Naga women against wearing ‘Salwar Kameez’. What happened to that particular diktat? The NWHD should work through voluntary cooperation and on the basis of goodwill rather than imposing a dictatorial, unrealistic and flawed resolution.
In the long run, unless we are able to challenge and change the rape culture that sustains it, it will continue, regardless of how our women folk dress. Gender conditioning has created a power imbalance between men and women in Naga society. There is the historical, religious and cultural beliefs that it is acceptable for Naga men to dominate and control women and children: men are the heads of the household; a man’s word is law; men lead in dancing and festivities; women take male family names when they marry; etc. When we look at who has power in society and who makes the major decisions, we see that Naga men still dominate our institutions. Rape in a sense not only reflects but reinforces gender inequality. Perhaps women groups like the NWHD should fight to change or correct the patriarchal system rather than reinforce it. By coming out with a dress code for women and girls, the NWHD has created the impression that they are not only the victims of sexual assault but also to blame for men’s aggression and act of rape (crime). This is totally unfair and unacceptable. The ‘indecent dress’ resolution of the NWHD is at best an indecent proposal, to be turned down on grounds of intolerance, discrimination and injustice to women’s rights.
As it is turning out to be, the ‘moral’ resolutions of the NWHD is throwing up more questions than it is answering. For instance, will the ‘indecent dressing’ resolution apply only to public places or will it apply to homes also where rape incidents have been reported in the past. And if so, will the NWHD be so bold enough to enter private homes and enforce what women/girls are wearing? And since the NWHD has mentioned about receiving ‘complaints from many mothers, and even men that young Naga girls are dressing very provocatively even to weddings and church’, will it then take upon itself the job of raiding Sunday services or the hundreds and thousands of weddings taking place in Dimapur every year? Does the NWHD have enough volunteers and other logistics to go about implementing its resolution on ‘indecent dressing’?
And even if it is the case that the NWHD has the will power and capability to enforce its resolution, does it have the mandate and sanction to act? Not to forget, the layers of tribal groups, unions etc, which the NWHD will have to counter while implementing its resolution. Already there is so much of conflict, misunderstanding and distrust in Naga society. We don’t want more conflicts to emerge out of such a contentious issue, which the NWHD is trying to propagate and enforce at the risk of creating more ill will in society. It appears that such self appointed harbinger of women rights will be creating more problems rather than solving them. A few years ago another smart women organization had ordered Naga women against wearing ‘Salwar Kameez’. What happened to that particular diktat? The NWHD should work through voluntary cooperation and on the basis of goodwill rather than imposing a dictatorial, unrealistic and flawed resolution.
In the long run, unless we are able to challenge and change the rape culture that sustains it, it will continue, regardless of how our women folk dress. Gender conditioning has created a power imbalance between men and women in Naga society. There is the historical, religious and cultural beliefs that it is acceptable for Naga men to dominate and control women and children: men are the heads of the household; a man’s word is law; men lead in dancing and festivities; women take male family names when they marry; etc. When we look at who has power in society and who makes the major decisions, we see that Naga men still dominate our institutions. Rape in a sense not only reflects but reinforces gender inequality. Perhaps women groups like the NWHD should fight to change or correct the patriarchal system rather than reinforce it. By coming out with a dress code for women and girls, the NWHD has created the impression that they are not only the victims of sexual assault but also to blame for men’s aggression and act of rape (crime). This is totally unfair and unacceptable. The ‘indecent dress’ resolution of the NWHD is at best an indecent proposal, to be turned down on grounds of intolerance, discrimination and injustice to women’s rights.
