To learn more see Female Genital Mutilation part 1
Coming across a story on the news about 5 girls being arrested after undergoing female genital mutilation today. Showed me how detached we are from the issue that is female genital mutilation and how deep it runs..
Let me give you a quick story," A couple of years ago i witnessed a bunch of girls sitting combing each others hair under a tree . On a scorching hot , saturday afternoon. I remember the details so clearly because what I heard shook me to my core.
These girls where from a region that still practices FGM.
They where discussing female circumcision and one of the older girls was describing what happens . She was talking about it bold and proudly.. she said, "I am a woman now. I am clean and will get a husband soon."
The smile on her face and the look in her eyes giving two very contradicting stories.
The girls around her sat in awe .That's when I noticed a much older from the group started crying, saying," I haven't been circumcised, my parents have refused for me to go through it. (One of the blessings of coming from Nairobi is that some parents have turned down the custom) She had tears in her eyes. She felt like it was irrational and wrong of them to want to deny her womanhood. She felt betrayed. She wanted to be like her peers.
Not knowing that her parents loved her enough to say No.
What does this have in common with the story on the news is simple.
When you have been brought up knowing 1+1 equals two 1's. It's hard for someone to come along and tell you you where wrong all along that 1+1 is actually 2.
How do we expect young girls who are brought up in these practices to see it as wrong?
How can a girl who is seen as weak stand up and say No?
How can a practice that is considered crucial end yet we are surrounded with ignorant ,self serving ,money minded police?
How does arresting a girl who has gone through the cut stop it from happening ?
Fear of arrest? No when something is deeply rooted within you it is impossible to have it stopped.
I feel like you have to go directly to those that still preach its importance.
