I love my VAGINA
One of the perks of studying in an International environment is that you will get to explore various cultures round the globe (which you can never get in your home country). While, there is not only good part of it as it is a misfortune to come across some traditions that can equally shock you in your journey of being an INTERNATIONAL.
Have you heard of Female Genital Mutilation? Or let me make it simple for you, Female Genital Cutting or its simpler form- intentionally altering or cutting of female genitals for non-medical reasons in the name of tradition or culture!! Unbelievable inhumane act!! And you mustn't be surprise to know that no anesthesia is used during this barbaric act.
Just imagine you as a 9 years old girl, living your normal life, playing with your doll and enjoying your days with your friends. One day, your mother comes and tells you, "The day has come, my girl." You are merry, in cloud nine because you will be gifted with few more dolls to play and brand new dress of your choice. There will be a feast for you. You will be turned into a beautiful little doll yourself. There will be dance, music, songs, food, your relatives, your friends and you will be at the center of everyone for your day. Everyone will praise you, compliment you. Say how beautiful you look in your new dress on your day. You are over joyed with happiness.
Then you are taken to a nearby animal shed. You are happy. You think there is another surprise stored in for you. And suddenly, you are dragged by a big fat lady triple your size. She puts your little body between her legs. Takes her weapon out, the blade. You are scared and ask her what is she up to. She gives you a furious look and by the time you realize what she actually did you, you have blood running in between your legs.
You shout. You call your mother, you shout for your father. You cry in pain. You scream and screech that goes in vain. You yell for help.
There is no one, no body is there to hear you wail.
Nobody is there to hear you exclaim.
Everyone is enjoying the dance, the song, the music, the food that has been done for your day.
And suddenly, you remember your sister, a 4 years old kid who is as happy as you for her day. You try to stand, try to find her out, scream and shout and ask your sister to run away. "The big fat lady is a devil". She gives you pain. "Run away", you want to shout but your voice doesn't reach out to your sister. Your voice is unheard. You just know what will your 4 year old sister must go through. And you cannot do anything for her.
Wonder will she be able to survive the pain? The pain when the big fat old devil cuts off her genital.
Yes, this is 21st century and this is our world where genitals are cut off, just to keep a
woman's virginity alive.
Women are bled so that they don't commit infidelity.
Women are in pain because it's a tradition.
Women accept this as a ritual or their fate because they will not be chosen by a guy if their genitals aren't cut or mutilated.
Women are silent, because their voice is unheard.
What a disgust it is for us, for people who come to know about this tradition. What can women do when they have already accepted this as fate. I think it is a shame for all of us to know about it and write about it. But the bitter truth is, it is still practiced in some part of the globe.
Today, when we are lightning candles during International Women's Week and participating for the White Ribbon Campaign in our orange shirt for "Violence against Women", how many of us think to raise our voice against this brutal act? How many of us are ready to fight against the tradition that bleed kids? How many of us are ready to rebel against the blades that take away the childhood in the name of womanhood.
As I am aware of Female Genital Mutilation, I consider myself lucky to have born in Nepal, where we are isolated during menstruation. Both of them, obviously are violation of human rights but alienating us away from our own habitat because we are bleeding is far comfortable than the pain of bleeding when genitals are cut.
Having come across this so called tradition, I realize- "I love my vagina and I give no right to anyone to remove any part of my genitals". I wish FGM becomes a history soon. I wish no girl cries anymore because she has been cut. I hope and pray that every women hold a right to take charge over her own body and nobody else controls her body.
END FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION...
[The story above is taken from "Female Genital Mutilation Workshop" delivered by Sr. Lecturer, Priscilla Dike, University of Greenwich during The World Week-2015 in The University of Sheffield.]
I was completely shocked to know about Female Genital Mutilation and it is still in practice. There has been violence against women in all parts of the world; only the forms differ but women are the sufferers everywhere.
Have you heard of Female Genital Mutilation? Or let me make it simple for you, Female Genital Cutting or its simpler form- intentionally altering or cutting of female genitals for non-medical reasons in the name of tradition or culture!! Unbelievable inhumane act!! And you mustn't be surprise to know that no anesthesia is used during this barbaric act.
Just imagine you as a 9 years old girl, living your normal life, playing with your doll and enjoying your days with your friends. One day, your mother comes and tells you, "The day has come, my girl." You are merry, in cloud nine because you will be gifted with few more dolls to play and brand new dress of your choice. There will be a feast for you. You will be turned into a beautiful little doll yourself. There will be dance, music, songs, food, your relatives, your friends and you will be at the center of everyone for your day. Everyone will praise you, compliment you. Say how beautiful you look in your new dress on your day. You are over joyed with happiness.
Then you are taken to a nearby animal shed. You are happy. You think there is another surprise stored in for you. And suddenly, you are dragged by a big fat lady triple your size. She puts your little body between her legs. Takes her weapon out, the blade. You are scared and ask her what is she up to. She gives you a furious look and by the time you realize what she actually did you, you have blood running in between your legs.
You shout. You call your mother, you shout for your father. You cry in pain. You scream and screech that goes in vain. You yell for help.
There is no one, no body is there to hear you wail.
Nobody is there to hear you exclaim.
Everyone is enjoying the dance, the song, the music, the food that has been done for your day.
 |
| Let no girls cry and suffer pain. End Female Genital Mutilation. Photo credit: egyptianstreet.com |
And suddenly, you remember your sister, a 4 years old kid who is as happy as you for her day. You try to stand, try to find her out, scream and shout and ask your sister to run away. "The big fat lady is a devil". She gives you pain. "Run away", you want to shout but your voice doesn't reach out to your sister. Your voice is unheard. You just know what will your 4 year old sister must go through. And you cannot do anything for her.
Wonder will she be able to survive the pain? The pain when the big fat old devil cuts off her genital.
Yes, this is 21st century and this is our world where genitals are cut off, just to keep a
woman's virginity alive.
Women are bled so that they don't commit infidelity.
Women are in pain because it's a tradition.
Women accept this as a ritual or their fate because they will not be chosen by a guy if their genitals aren't cut or mutilated.
Women are silent, because their voice is unheard.
What a disgust it is for us, for people who come to know about this tradition. What can women do when they have already accepted this as fate. I think it is a shame for all of us to know about it and write about it. But the bitter truth is, it is still practiced in some part of the globe.
Today, when we are lightning candles during International Women's Week and participating for the White Ribbon Campaign in our orange shirt for "Violence against Women", how many of us think to raise our voice against this brutal act? How many of us are ready to fight against the tradition that bleed kids? How many of us are ready to rebel against the blades that take away the childhood in the name of womanhood.
As I am aware of Female Genital Mutilation, I consider myself lucky to have born in Nepal, where we are isolated during menstruation. Both of them, obviously are violation of human rights but alienating us away from our own habitat because we are bleeding is far comfortable than the pain of bleeding when genitals are cut.
Having come across this so called tradition, I realize- "I love my vagina and I give no right to anyone to remove any part of my genitals". I wish FGM becomes a history soon. I wish no girl cries anymore because she has been cut. I hope and pray that every women hold a right to take charge over her own body and nobody else controls her body.
END FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION...
[The story above is taken from "Female Genital Mutilation Workshop" delivered by Sr. Lecturer, Priscilla Dike, University of Greenwich during The World Week-2015 in The University of Sheffield.]
I was completely shocked to know about Female Genital Mutilation and it is still in practice. There has been violence against women in all parts of the world; only the forms differ but women are the sufferers everywhere.
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