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North Korea enforces an anti-shorts law - but it's only affecting women

North Korea bans shorts - but only for women

https://www.euronews.com/culture/2023/08/15/north-korea-enforces-an-anti-shorts-law-but-its-only-affecting-women

The Asian nation is well known for their bans, but the forbidding of shorts might be the oddest one yet - especially during a heatwave.

North Korea bans shorts - but only for women

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/1517933

Archived version: https://archive.ph/soqYt
Archived version: https://web.archive.org/web/20230816125643/https://www.euronews.com/culture/2023/08/15/north-korea-enforces-an-anti-shorts-law-but-its-only-affecting-women

24 comments

autotldr

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This is the best summary I could come up with:

Radio Free Asia, a broadcasting service which aims to get the bottom of propaganda put out by totalitarian countries, interviewed an anonymous resident.

Although the regime in North Korea demands total loyalty to Jong-Un, one ‘subject’ told the radio station that 10 women had been arrested in the country, simply for wearing above-the-knee trousers.

At the time, a north Pyongan resident revealed that two women had been fined for smoking outside while they ate and were warned that if they were caught again, they could be imprisoned at a disciplinary labour centre for a month.

In Japan, authority figures have long imposed strict regulations on what school students can wear - down to the colour of their underwear, the length of their socks and even hairstyles.

Girls are banned from wearing their hair in ponytails as it’s thought, bizarrely, that exposing the nape of their necks could ‘sexually excite’ male students.

Some schools are so tough on the latter that they demand photographic proof from students of their natural hair colour and texture, if it isn’t strictly black and straight.

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queermunist

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This sounds extremely fake.

iridaniotter

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Video uploaded August 14 by a north Korean showing Koreans wearing shorts.

https://youtu.be/tq7iUQu0Y2g

I am a more qualified journalist than Saskia O'Donoghue it seems.

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Deceptichum

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The Reactionary Ideology and Culture Rejection Act of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was amended August 19th.

You’re apparently a shit journalist.

iridaniotter

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August 19 is in the future

iridaniotter

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Post the law's text from an official source then.

DessertStorms

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Tankies are out in full force today I see..

I'm as anti American as they get, but to go from that to pretending that any and all reports about places that happen to be anti-American (but in no shape or form pro anyone but the dictator and his minions) must be false because "CIA" (who actually do legit horrific things but tankies sleep during those) is the most not only ridiculous (and so so fucking western, which is ironic af), but actively counterproductive stance I could imagine taking.

LibertyLizard

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I understand why people are skeptical. The source is Radio Free Asia which is literal US propaganda. I’m not super familiar with their reporting standards though. Even propaganda can have different levels of trustworthiness.

Edit: looks like they editorialize but reporting is largely factual, assuming this source is accurate: https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/radio-free-asia/

DessertStorms

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The only people who dismiss Radio Free Asia are those looking to deny the Uyghur genocide.

LibertyLizard

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I don’t think it should be dismissed but it’s important to keep in mind that its primary goal is to promote the interests of the US government. That doesn’t mean it’s false but what stories they cover and the way they are covered will reflect that agenda.

DessertStorms

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No shit, but every story covered by any outlet reflects a fucking agenda, that's the point of propaganda.

That still doesn't explain the apologist tankie dumpster fire happening in these comments.

Seriously, what does it take in someone's brain to switch and go "I know, today I'll make excuses for an evil authoritarian regime!", and what does it take to then be a level down and make excuses for them?

LibertyLizard

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Not all news is propaganda. But yes, every news outlet has a particular viewpoint they are reporting from. For some that shines through stronger than others. Awareness of what that viewpoint is and what their goals are is an important part of media literacy. I don’t see discussions on that as making excuses for anyone, it’s just useful information.

freagle

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LOL radio free Asia is LITERALLY a military intelligence operation. What are you fucking talking about? Everyone and their mother should be dismissing RFA for literally everything.

For example, this article written by an operative that uses an anonymous interview as their sole source. Let's do some basic critical thinking here. How long have women worn shorts in DPRK do you think? How many pairs of shorts exist in the DPRK?

Now, what is the point of sanctions? It's to create discontent in the masses so they will be more willing to undermine the country's leadership. What would banning shorts for women, after decades of shorts wearing, do to the level of contentedness of women and the men who support them? It would decrease their contentedness making them more susceptible to US influence. This move would be very much not in keeping with any former moves by the DPRK who is focused entirely on keeping their people content enough to not revolt.

But how do sanctions work? Economic hardship, reduced access to materials and goods. What happens when you ban shorts for half your pop? They all need to obtain more pants and skirts. So now you have an economic pressure to expend more labor and more resources just to deal with a whimsical ban for the purposes of oppressing half your nation?

No. This is a stupid concept at every single level and only raging orientalists who suckle at the teat of Western anti-Asian propaganda would believe it, let alone get angry at people for not believing it immediately

iridaniotter

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Bro is so brainwashed they think North Korea banned shorts 💀

BlahajEnjoyer

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Good. Short content is brain rotting

iridaniotter

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BrikoX you posted Radio Free Asia. 💀

KrimsonBun

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I hate north korea as much as the next guy but this don't sound too real to me brotha imma be honest

DessertStorms

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"I hate this dictatorship as much as the next person, but I find it extremely hard to believe that it would impose arbitrary rules that marginalise women"

What world do you live in where misogynistic dress codes imposed by a patriarchal society (so essentially all of them) are somehow "unbelievable"?

Like, this isn't even accusing them of the serious crimes they commit, why are you people so quick to defend an oppressive state? (E: especially considering the flag in your profile which should mean you think all states are oppressive, which makes the whole thing even more bizarre)

renownedballoonthief

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Why are you so quick to believe RFA propaganda?

Pili

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why are you people so quick to defend an oppressive state?

Seriously? Doubting a ridiculous article about fashion with absolutely no sources is "defense of an oppressive state"? Is critical thinking now considered wrongthink here?

Deceptichum

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Because tankies can’t accept that these regimes aren’t actually good for the people living under them.

queermunist

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I think this is fake because it's stupid af

awwwyissss

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They also banned skinny jeans in 2021 for the same reason:

https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2021/may/26/north-korea-bans-skinny-jeans

Can't keep their authoritarian bullshit going without brainwashing and extreme control of those poor Koreans.

Shah_of_Iran

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A don doesn't wear shorts

HellAwaits

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