Kenyan women could soon be banned from straddling motorcycles or bicycles behind the driver because it is "demeaning" and is undermining traditional culture.
Women in Kisumu County in western Kenya may be forced to sit sideways on the vehicles if a proposed law is passed. Many people in Kisumu City, which borders Lake Victoria, use motorbike taxis because they are cheaper than cars. One driver interviewed said he was so distracted by women sitting behind him, he found it hard to drive.
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The county assembly debated a report that said Kisumu's culture was in decline due to the influence of western values that support "permissive conduct". The assembly was told that the sitting position, which includes women holding
the motorcycle rider from behind, was in bad taste, according to the Luo
culture.
"Piki piki [bicycles] and boda boda [motorbikes] have now brought a culture that is really demeaning to our women," county assembly member for Kisumu North, Caroline Owen said. The sitting position is called ‘bet angewa’ and it portrays a bad image of
the women, which is not allowed in Luo culture,” said Ms Owen.
3 comments:
Making a woman ride side-saddle on a motorcycle? If we were to go with the premise that it is to protect a woman's dignity, would not some kind of modesty shield between the woman and the driver be much safer and make more sense?
Oh, wait, I forgot - this isn't about making sense.
If Kisumu's culture is in "decline" it's because it's losing the war of ideas and this sexist - misogynist - proposal is a prime example of not only why it's losing but why it should lose.
Golda Meir, Israel's first female Prime Minister, was once asked to approve a curfew on women to help put a stop to a series of rapes that were occurring. She refused by saying, "But it is the men who are attacking the women. If there is to be a curfew, let the men stay at home". If you can't drive a fucking motorbike taxi because you're so "distracted" by a woman sitting behind you you should probably stay at home and let the women do the work.
I've seen women in several parts of africa riding on boda-bodas sitting "side-sadle" and it was scary to watch, especially when the roads are in bad condition.
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