By Dedunie De Silva
Never a dull moment with our wonderful ‘yahapalana’ government – of the larger macro issues prevalent in our country, like the significant reduction in foreign investment due to a non-conducive economic and political climate, reduction in tourism due to national health epidemics, continuance of post-war displacement/disappearance related issues, strikes at every corner etc. – the “national question” boggling the nation at the moment appears to be, whether or not adult women can purchase, consume or be associated with “alcohol”!!
It is not so much the content of this regulation, as to what it represents to women, and her freedom of choice with regard to her own life and body, much like the age-old controversial debate on abortion! Clearly everyone, other than the woman herself, is in a better position to dictate how her life should be run. There is always this constant and “convenient” relegation of the woman to being the cornerstone of the house, upholder of all that is virtuous, pure and morally just, to ensure her submissive place and role in society and in the family is firmly and irrevocably rooted!
This is extremely ironic in the current context, considering it is the soi-disant “lawfully entitled” male, who has displayed (and continues to do so) that he is clearly unable to ‘hold’ his alcohol, on account of the countless alcohol-related abuse, public brawls, crime etc. taking place.
Notwithstanding, it is unfortunately more ironic, that the Constitution of the country, which is supposed to uphold and protect ‘equality’ amongst all people, has latent sexism enshrined within it. Though Article 12 provides ‘equal protection under the law’, sub-section (4) enables ‘special provision’ or ‘executive action’ to be taken for the “advancement of women and children” – Who determines what constitutes ‘advancement’ for women would undoubtedly be the next “national question!”. Article 15 (7) provides a further proviso to ‘equality’ in the “interest and protection of public health and morality..”, which point is being used aptly by all our overt and covert male chauvinists to justify and defend this ban.
However, the real “national question” should be – Why women alone need to carry and be responsible for the burden of a country’s ‘morality’, whilst its men and boys, who are the biggest perpetrators of it, are legally permitted to run amok??