FOR MARRIED WOMEN ONLY: Society decries misuse of wedding shawl

The Holy Matrimony Society this week expressed concern over unmarried individuals who publicly wear white shawls usually meant for married women during wedding ceremonies.

They regard this as disrespectful to the institution of marriage. The society says those prohibited from wearing such shawls, surprisingly use them inappropriately like tying babies on their backs.

Representing the society, Holy Matrimony Director Charity Keobokile Opelo asserts that these actions show disrespect to culture and tradition. She said it has also become common that such special shawls are often worn in other cultural events besides marriage ceremonies.“All we want is for unmarried people to show a bit of respect to the shawl.

We are asking the government and community leaders to help curb this disturbing habit by introducing some form of punishment for those who break the cultural rule that prohibits misuse of the shawl,” Opelo pleaded. The Holy Matrimony Society has been in existence for nearly a decade and boasts 11 branches across the country. It comprises of married couples united by a common goal. Their primary objective is to foster lasting marriages and safeguard the significance of marriage and cultural heritage. The society believes that it is crucial for the marriage shawl to be treated with respect, as it should give pride to those within the institution of marriage. When approached for comment regarding their perspectives on the wedding shawl, married women collectively expressed concerns about its misuse, attributing it as a contributing factor in the many divorces. Several women pointed out that even among married individuals, there’s a lack of regard for the shawl’s significance, as it is often excessively worn by unmarried individuals. This overuse diminishes its symbolic value and undermines the sense of respect associated with it. Elderly Masego Modukanele, who has been married for 45 years, recounted receiving the wedding shawl from her mother-in-law. “I got married in Kgatleng, and upon arriving at my mother-in-law’s home, before I even entered her yard, she draped the shawl around me,” she reminisced. She described the shawl as more than just a garment but a symbolic blanket that instils perseverance in women to remain committed to their marriages despite challenges. Sethunya Badireng, a 23 year-old, explained that she reserves the use of the shawl exclusively for weddings. “I acquired one last year for my wedding, and I only bring out the small blanket for wedding occasions,” she explained. Commenting on this, Kanye marriage officer, Gladys Mogatwane concurred that some Batswana do not respect the significance of the wedding shawl, emphasising that it should be worn exclusively during weddings and not repurposed for other uses. She highlighted that such actions undermine the sanctity of the marriage institution itself. “Some individuals even disregard its importance by placing it on the ground and sitting on top of it, which is highly inappropriate. Despite its widespread availability in various shops, there is little being done to address this issue, but I do acknowledge that many Batswana fail to demonstrate proper reverence for the wedding shawl,” she stated.