According to World Health Organization, “Even though cultural practices may appear senseless and destructive from the stand point of others, they have meaning and fulfill a function for those who practice them. However, culture is not static; it is in constant flux, adapting and reforming. People will change their behavior when they understand the hazards and indignity of harmful practices and when they realize that it is possible to give up the harmful practices without giving up the meaningful aspects of their culture”.
The
history of Female Genital Mutilation cannot be well determined but is dated to
have started back in the late 2000 years with its origin still remaining a
mystery. Some people believe that it started during the slave trade in the
ancient Arab societies while others believe it began with the arrival of Islam
in Sub Saharan Africa. Some say that the practice developed independently among
certain Ethnic groups in some parts of the Sub-Saharan Africa.
In
the U.S. the ritual is carried out during the summer months. When families take
vacations or usher their children off to camp, thousands of girls in the U. S.
are sent overseas for what’s told to them is a “rite of passage.” According to
the AHA Foundation, up to 228,000 girls and women in the U.S. are vulnerable to
what’s called “vacation cutting,” Even women living in this State during
immigration were subjected to this abuse that affects 125 million females
worldwide.
According
to BHESP executive Director Mrs Peninah mwangi”more than 28 African countries
have embraced this unjust practice despite the knowledge of the dangers it
posses in this first evolving world”. In Kenya, majority of girls undergo this
rite of passage during their holidays. Most of them face the knife at a very tender
age. At three, a girl is considered ready for the practice. They are too
innocent to know what is happening to them but they can recall this dreadful
moment for the rest of their lives, its damage, violation of their rights,
animosity of the greatest order, actually no word can describe this dreadful
ordeal they face.
Some
people believe that FGM is a method to control the woman’s sexuality as
virginity is pre-requisite for marriage and is equated to a woman’s dignity.
They say it is hygienic and those who do not undergo the cut are considered
unclean and are not allowed to handle food or water. It is a transformation to
womanhood and marks deliverance of sexes in terms of their future roles in life
and marriage. It is done in order to be identified with your culture or
otherwise you are disowned.
It’s
a culture that should be laid to rest, be erased in our thought, never to be
remembered. It’s a matter of life and death. If you escape death at that
instant you are at a high risk of death during delivery as a result of
complications from the damages done maybe 10 years back. In this 21st
century no one should be practicing this. We should all be against FGM. Let’s
all work towards safeguarding the rights and dignity of our daughters, they
deserve respect. Mrs. Mwangi further argues that there is no dignity is gained
from FGM instead the self esteem of the victims is lowered and thus affecting
the Sex work activities. The victims are in denial of themselves once they get
to understand what was done to them.