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The miniskirt invitation

Flashback Friday, a column on feminist notions...

Redi Direko picked up a talk show from a news report that a young girl wearing a miniskirt was raped by taxi drivers to punish her for dressing provocatively. Men and women at the scene cheered the taxi drivers on, saying she deserved it (...more, although I searched the Sowetan archives about the incident and found they were very eager to report the bystanders she-deserved-it-response and the probability that the taxi-drivers would get away with it, instead of reporting where what and how we can make them come to book. Sowetan also published the victim's full name so that her victimisation can continue. There right, but not their duty. No names of the taxi drivers, or 'alleged rapists', were mentioned.)

Direko followed the first show up with a second show that focused on what listeners suggest should be done. Similar incidents were mentioned by people who called in, speaking of women wearing pants. These were some of the suggestions:

  • Conscientise: National Miniskirt Day
  • Boycott that taxi rank
  • Moral re-education of taxi drivers by the taxi bosses
  • Taxi driver's wives need to speak out
  • Website for reporting taxi driver behaviour
  • Toll-free complaint number
  • Police visibility
  • Support from women and men around the incident, why did they not step in? Re-educate
  • Men, not just women, should protest.
  • Celebrities act (Marie Claire ran a spread of celebrities who stood up in support)
...
Cinnamon Gurl sparked this off. Thanks. Each week the Flashback Friday: Feminist Edition will feature a story that has something to do with being or becoming a woman or feminist. This series will continue until I run out of stories. I love having guest bloggers. If you have a story you want to tell and you want to be a guest blogger here, please email me; or feel free to link to your own story in the comments.
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