What Was She Wearing Really?
- Audey
- Jul 27
- 2 min read
In the early days of July this year; around the 2nd or 3rd, the tragic news of Shanaaz Yusuf’s death began circulating on social media. She was allegedly found dead along a river near where she lived. Reports say she was raped, brutally murdered and dumped like she didn’t matter. But she did. She was a person. A woman. And now, she’s gone.
Police have since arrested the suspects, according to media reports (Malawi Police Report). The pain is still there, not just for her family, but for every woman who fears for her safety and every girl taught to shrink herself in the name of survival instead of just living.
In the midst of shocking stories like these and many others involving children, it is sad that we still hear that haunting, dismissive question: What was she wearing? Should we assume Shanaaz dressed “wrong” that day? What of the children? Were they attacked because of how they looked? The answer is clearly no.
Rape has never been about clothing. It’s about power, entitlement and violence. But society continues to shift blame onto victims by questioning their choices instead of confronting the people who destroy lives. For instance questions like the famous ‘what was she wearing’, ‘why was she at a certain place’, or ‘why was she alone’ etc.
It’s time to stop asking some of these questions and start asking real questions like ‘why do rapists feel safe here despite the law?’ and ‘why are women and children left unprotected?’
Shanaaz deserved to live. So do everyone; young and old who fall victim to these horrors. Until we change the narrative, until we hold the right people accountable, this violence will continue. And we’ll keep losing lives—one Shanaaz at a time.
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