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Mashua speaks out against religious, cultural FGM customs FGM
By: Brittany Logan
Issue date: 11/6/08 Section: News
Lucy Mashua, 29, originally from Kenya, spoke about female genital mutilation on Monday.
In 1999, she made a decision to fight these customs and become an activist against the practices. "They call me hard headed," Mashua said. "Speaking out is part of my healing."
FGM involves the amputation of part or all of women's sex organs, which is a ritual driven by some religious and cultural beliefs. Most human rights organizations, such as the Amnesty International are against the practices.
It is being done in about 20 percent of African, Middle Eastern and European groups, within several tribes throughout west, central and east Africa. Over 130 million women are estimated to be victims of this practice, with more than 2 million new operations performed every year.
The practice of female genital cutting is part of some cultural and religious traditions, which is the first step toward forced arranged marriages, and, if necessary, forced abortions if the woman's first child is female instead of male.
Depending on the tribe, a woman could undergo the operation as young as 3 or as late as her teenage years.
There are three types of mutilation: 1. Clitoridectomy-cutting the top of the clitoris so it is flat. 2. Excision-cutting or total removing the clitoris and the labia minora. 3. Infibulation-narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal.
Mashua had an excision at 9. "I have seen other women's marks, and I am so lucky and blessed," she said.
When she was 12, the man paying her father, came for her. She was 13 when she became pregnant with a baby girl. Their goal was to have a baby boy. When she was 7 months pregnant, they had to break the water, and she delivered her baby. At 15, she became pregnant again and experienced complications that time.
"I delivered my babies by myself, and I was separated with my young girl when she was three weeks old," Mashua said.
She escaped Kenya in 2004, leaving her children behind, and came to America in 2006. She will become a U.S. citizen in three years.
Mashua wants to raise enough money to bring her two children to this country. She calls daily to check up on them.
"As long as I am alive, I have a purpose," Mashua said.
Mashua's speaking tour is sponsored by Amnesty International. To make a donation to the Lucy Mashua Fund, visit The Center for Life Enrichment web site.
blogan@thepinelog.com
In 1999, she made a decision to fight these customs and become an activist against the practices. "They call me hard headed," Mashua said. "Speaking out is part of my healing."
FGM involves the amputation of part or all of women's sex organs, which is a ritual driven by some religious and cultural beliefs. Most human rights organizations, such as the Amnesty International are against the practices.
It is being done in about 20 percent of African, Middle Eastern and European groups, within several tribes throughout west, central and east Africa. Over 130 million women are estimated to be victims of this practice, with more than 2 million new operations performed every year.
The practice of female genital cutting is part of some cultural and religious traditions, which is the first step toward forced arranged marriages, and, if necessary, forced abortions if the woman's first child is female instead of male.
Depending on the tribe, a woman could undergo the operation as young as 3 or as late as her teenage years.
There are three types of mutilation: 1. Clitoridectomy-cutting the top of the clitoris so it is flat. 2. Excision-cutting or total removing the clitoris and the labia minora. 3. Infibulation-narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal.
Mashua had an excision at 9. "I have seen other women's marks, and I am so lucky and blessed," she said.
When she was 12, the man paying her father, came for her. She was 13 when she became pregnant with a baby girl. Their goal was to have a baby boy. When she was 7 months pregnant, they had to break the water, and she delivered her baby. At 15, she became pregnant again and experienced complications that time.
"I delivered my babies by myself, and I was separated with my young girl when she was three weeks old," Mashua said.
She escaped Kenya in 2004, leaving her children behind, and came to America in 2006. She will become a U.S. citizen in three years.
Mashua wants to raise enough money to bring her two children to this country. She calls daily to check up on them.
"As long as I am alive, I have a purpose," Mashua said.
Mashua's speaking tour is sponsored by Amnesty International. To make a donation to the Lucy Mashua Fund, visit The Center for Life Enrichment web site.
blogan@thepinelog.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Debbie Al-Harbi
posted 11/06/08 @ 9:36 PM CST
You are a very brave woman to stand up and speak against this horrific practice. people need to be educated about how it doesn't make the woman more promiscuous if they don't have it and it shouldn't be a right of passage for woman there are other things you could do to mark a womans rite of passage. (Continued…)
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