Breast Flattening does not PROTECT but MUTILATES
Hi all,
if sexual violence, rape, pregnancy at young age are the problem, breast flattening is not a solution, but another problem at an emotional, physical, and psychological level.
Breast flattening is painful and mutilates the young girl’s breast.
Source: quazoo.com
Thanks for sharing our video texts.
Dr. phil. Milena Rampoldi – ProMosaik e.V.
Northwest
Cameroon, in this picturesque part of Africa, an unspeakable practice.
Cameroon, in this picturesque part of Africa, an unspeakable practice.
Grace Techu
is about to show how she pressed her daughter’s breasts with a hot pestle to
make her less desirable to men.
is about to show how she pressed her daughter’s breasts with a hot pestle to
make her less desirable to men.
-Is that
the right temperature? And you press them like that. And then do they flatten
them? It drives them away.
the right temperature? And you press them like that. And then do they flatten
them? It drives them away.
It’s called
breast ironing. Some mothers use hot stones, others shells. Different methods
with one objective.
breast ironing. Some mothers use hot stones, others shells. Different methods
with one objective.
-Do you
think that it helped you to be protected from boys, looking at you?
think that it helped you to be protected from boys, looking at you?
-Yes
(mother)
(mother)
-So the
boys didn’t look at her anymore?
boys didn’t look at her anymore?
-Yes.
Teresa was
9 years old. Her mother ironed her breasts every morning before school for
several weeks. One day the pestle she used was too hot.
9 years old. Her mother ironed her breasts every morning before school for
several weeks. One day the pestle she used was too hot.
-Did she
burn your breasts?
burn your breasts?
-Yes, one
time […]
time […]
Her mother
denies the incident. But Teresa is still traumatised.
denies the incident. But Teresa is still traumatised.
-One mother
who came with secondary burns in her hands because this tool she was warming to
do this breast ironing burned her.
who came with secondary burns in her hands because this tool she was warming to
do this breast ironing burned her.
Gynaecologist
Sinu Chana has seen breast lands that have been totally destroyed and even one
case of cancer.
Sinu Chana has seen breast lands that have been totally destroyed and even one
case of cancer.
-Now we
couldn’t establish whether it was the ironing which has led to this or whether
the lady had her cancer and then the ironing just came and aggravated the
situation.
couldn’t establish whether it was the ironing which has led to this or whether
the lady had her cancer and then the ironing just came and aggravated the
situation.
One of her
patients is 23 year old Cathy Aba, unable to save herself she is trying to save
other girls by confronting mothers in Cameroon about the effects of their
actions. After hearing Aba’s story, this mother is remorseful.
patients is 23 year old Cathy Aba, unable to save herself she is trying to save
other girls by confronting mothers in Cameroon about the effects of their
actions. After hearing Aba’s story, this mother is remorseful.
-There are
more that 200 ethnic in Cameroon with different norms and customs, what’s
striking about breast ironing is that it’s practised by all of them. The only
known study ever conducted on the subject has revealed that one in four girls
has been affected.
more that 200 ethnic in Cameroon with different norms and customs, what’s
striking about breast ironing is that it’s practised by all of them. The only
known study ever conducted on the subject has revealed that one in four girls
has been affected.
The high
rate of teenage pregnancy is thought to be driving mothers to such drastic
measures. Now concerned charities are trying to spread the message that the
solution lies in sex education and not breast ironing.
rate of teenage pregnancy is thought to be driving mothers to such drastic
measures. Now concerned charities are trying to spread the message that the
solution lies in sex education and not breast ironing.
-Is this
one your mother used? On you?
one your mother used? On you?
-Yes.
The
challenge is reaching parents like Techu in far-flung villages before a ritual
motivated, they say, by love, shatters more lives.
challenge is reaching parents like Techu in far-flung villages before a ritual
motivated, they say, by love, shatters more lives.
