Baffling does not even begin to describe First Lady Sandra Granger’s deafening silence on the issue of the dress code. While it clearly doesn’t affect her—I mean, who would stop the First Lady from entering any public building in one of her array of sleeveless dresses—surely, given her position of influence some sort of verbal statement is warranted, especially since the issue affects mostly women.
Local fashion is noted for being associated with entertainment, and never with highlighting society’s duplicitousness or provoking change. Creatives are missing a real opportunity to make a ‘fashion statement’. Not least among them is Sonia Noel, whose choice to ignore the issue in totality, given her position as advisor on fashion for the cultural policy, is disappointing – to put it mildly.
As far as local First Ladies go, Mrs Granger has broken the mould – for the better. From the May 15, 2015 swearing-in of the President, when she appeared in a short-sleeved dress rather than the skirt/trouser suit much espoused by women in her position, whether she knew it or not, note was taken.
As far as challenging the stereotypes of what someone in power or a partner to someone in power should look like, Mrs Granger can be compared to Michelle Obama. They have both embraced fashion in ways that defy title and tradition, with personal flair which in turn removed the high society barrier that separates the people from their leaders. Increasing the similarities, Mrs Granger appeared on the cover of Shabeau magazine (Mrs Obama did Vogue) and was Guyana’s first First Lady to do a magazine shoot. It is worth noting that she wore a sleeveless gown.
There is no denying that as First Lady, Mrs Granger presents a softened personality, meeting the average woman and man in conversations with which all races and classes can associate. It is therefore hard to imagine why the very modernly-dressed First Lady would stay tightlipped on the archaic dress code.
It should be noted that Mrs Granger has a platform and is one of the country’s much sought after speakers. She has used that platform, without being asked, to address other rights issues, domestic violence being paramount among them.
I refuse to believe that the First Lady’s silence means she has not taken note of the impact the dress code has had/is having on women, poor and simple people and even on Guyana’s fledgling tourism industry. I also refuse to accept that the notion that people can have opinions on and fascinations with fashion and still be clever, is one she doesn’t believe in.
Is it possible that she believes her privilege to ‘bare arms’ should not be extended to the average woman? I doubt that because Sandra Granger has been openly identifying with the average woman since back in the campaign days.
Perhaps it’s because no one has specifically asked her for her opinion on the backwardness that is still inflicted on so many of us in so many places. I am now making a point of doing so. I am asking the First Lady to say what she thinks about this colonial form of punishment that sees the average person turned away from so many public offices, now excluding the Guyana Revenue Authority and the Lands and Surveys Commission.
I am not asking her to join a protest or lead a lobby, although either would be totally cool, but to speak on the issue. I am sure I am not the only woman who wants to hear what she has to say.
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