There's a war going on in Africa but it's not taking over the headlines like other wars. It's a silent war that women are fighting everyday; they are fighting for their physical freedom but their voices are not loud enough on their own. Women are fighting for their physical freedom and protection of their bodies from societal norms and traditions. Female genital mutilation is the tradition that has harmed over 130 million girls worldwide. Female genital mutilation, or what I will be referring to as FGM, is the act of changing the vagina from its natural appearance, normally by removing some or all of the external genitalia. It is a traditional rite of passage into womanhood and marks a female as being legitimate for marriage by ensuring her virginity for a suitor. There are no health benefits of FGM and the health consequences are so severe that many women face death after being subjected to this practice. Women in African countries are trying to end the practice of FGM to not only protect themselves but the future generations of women in their countries. But since these countries run on patriarchal systems, women do not have the power and control to end FGM right away. Although some people have heard of FGM, there are a lot of people who are unaware of what it the practice is and how negatively impactful the practice can be on women and children. I had never heard of FGM before going to college and it makes me feel like I take my natural freedom for granted. With the help of social media and people with a passion for helping others, the world can now hear the voices of these helpless women who might not have the access to technology that many of us in the United States have. We as free women in the United States need to use our first amendment rights to speak out for these women and let their suffering be known by everyone so that they have the support they need to take one step closer to ending FGM once and for all. References
World Health Organization. 2016. Female genital mutilation. Key facts. Retrieved from: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/
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Gabrielle McIntyre
I am a communication student learning about how communication exists in this vast universe in hopes of using my voice to help change the lives of others. ArchivesCategories |