As
we continue campaigning against the horrific practice of female genital
mutilation, most known activists are women. Well, that does not sound right! Of
course men are involved in this campaign. Some of the cited reasons why this
practice continues include enhancing male sexual pleasure (???), controlling
women, stopping women from enjoying sex etc. It s a familiar tale. It has to be
remembered however that when female genital mutilation takes place whether its
(clitoridectomy, excision or infibulations), men are usually not present. In
the case of Type 1V (pulling or cauterization etc), men are always to be kept
in the dark. This is seen as purely a women business. We know that both in
Africa and Europe , men are as disgusted as
women by this practice.
Here is my story:
I
had just got home from work when my phone rang. It was a frantic father who
wanted my help. The conversation between us went as follows,
‘Abbie, please help me! I do not want my daughter to
be cut. This is a useless, unnecessary and painful practice that I don’t wish
on any child’. The father was
concerned that her wife was likely to have their daughter cut. At the time when
I received the call, the wife had disappeared with the kids, a boy and a girl.
The couple both came from a country where female genital mutilation is highly
prevalent. While the husband embraced change, the wife who had been cut twenty
years before believed the young girl should have to go through the same
procedure which resulted in their constant arguing.
Action
had to be taken.
I won’t
go into detail except to say that there are fathers and brothers who are really
against female genital mutilation.
Working
together is key!
No comments:
Post a Comment