Ivorians call for an end to low-rise jeans

Photo posted on this blog.

Many Ivorian women won't leave the house without a pair of low-riding, figure-hugging, hipster jeans pulled half-way up their.... The wardrobe essential is not favoured by everyone in the country however, where some find the attire "disrespectful".

For a large part of the population, the style is so treasured, that entire songs have been devoted to it. Ivorian bars host "Miss low-rise" evenings, where girls compete to wear ever lower cuts and are rewarded with presents. But for some months now, criticism of low-rise attire has been mounting.

Homage to low-rise jeans. Posted on YouTube.

"For some parents, wearing low-rise jeans is a clear signal of prostitution"

Suy Kahofi is a blogger from Abidjan. He's against low-rise jeans.

Low-rise jeans are becoming increasingly lower here; it really is shocking to see. Girls dare to turn up at church wearing them! Church-goers complain that when they kneel down to pray, they're faced with the naked behind of the young woman in front of them.

For some parents, wearing low-rise jeans is a clear signal from the woman that she is open to prostitution. Because of that, a lot of girls leave the house wearing something decent, and then change into their low-rises once they get to school. Teachers are sick of seeing them. In the centre of the country, a group of girls were actually sent home from school because of it. But in Abidjan, nobody dares do that.

The wearers do not react well to remarks about their choice, especially when they're in a group. They say it's fashion, and things like ‘it's my body; I can do what I want with it'.

Personally I'd like to see women wearing a more respectful style of clothing. We need to call on parents, TV channels and clothes shops to crack down on this disrespectful style.

Women should respect their bodies. The African continent does not have to follow Western fashion."