In the sega bet—traditional Ethiopian steakhouses where alcohol flows freely—waitresses were sometimes required to wear miniskirts to attract customers. However, the practice is now illegal. On November 11, the Bureau of Culture, Arts, and Tourism of Addis Ababa adopted a decree prohibiting employees of hotels, restaurants, and nightclubs from wearing clothing above their knees. “It has become necessary to adopt and implement international hospitality standards,” stated Haftay Gebre-Egziabher, deputy head of the bureau.
The text also highlighted goals to preserve “Ethiopian culture and values” and to “prevent physical and psychological pressures” on waitresses. Establishments that fail to comply will face fines of 50,000 birr (approximately $410) in the coming weeks. Women’s rights associations that supported the legislation expressed mixed feelings about its content.
Practices bordering on sexual exploitation
“Waitresses are often forced to wear inappropriate clothing that disregards their comfort and safety,” explained Selamawit Kassaye, legal aid coordinator at the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association. Over the past three years, Betelehem Akalework, co-founder of the feminist platform Setaset Power, received numerous reports of harassment from waitresses compelled to dress provocatively.
“These practices verge on sexual exploitation, as employers use women’s bodies to promote their businesses,” the activist stated, noting she has conducted online campaigns against this issue. Yet, banning such outfits is insufficient if harassment and sexual violence continue to be normalized in Ethiopia’s deeply patriarchal society.
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