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Janyanfara
Tanzania
1350 Posts |
 Posted - 25 Oct 2007 : 22:58:49
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Culled from: http://www.awid.org/go.php?stid=1623
Breast ironing: Breaking the silence
11 August, 2006 - By Kathambi Kinoti. 3075 views so far.
The Tantines (“aunts”) are a group of young women in Cameroon who have undergone reproductive health training and who in turn train other young people on reproductive health issues in order to address the issues of adolescent pregnancies and HIV/AIDS. AWID spoke to Bessem Arrey Ebanga Bissong about breast ironing, one of the reproductive health issues that the Tantines are tackling.
AWID: What is breast ironing, and why did you decide to initiate a campaign against it?
BESSEM BISSONG: Breast ironing is a traditional practice that involves massaging or pressing the breasts of adolescent girls in order to suppress the growth of the breasts. Sometimes hot objects such as stones and wooden pestles are used and sometimes other things like herbs and petrol are used. It is necessary to fight against this practice which is extremely harmful and traumatizing for the girls.
Twenty four percent of adolescent girls undergo this terrible ordeal and the practice exists in all the ten provinces of Cameroon. A group of Tantines who have undergone the practice decided to draw public attention to the psychological trauma and other ensuing health risks in order to protect young girls from this form of bodily mutilation.
AWID: Why is breast ironing carried out?
BB: Several reasons are advanced to justify this practice. Proponents say they do this to prevent men being attracted to young girls, to prevent girls themselves from pursuing men, to discourage girls from engaging in sexual intercourse at a very young age and to reduce the risk of pregnancy. They also say that they do this to so that their studies will not be interrupted.
AWID: What are the effects of breast ironing on girls?
BB: Breast ironing is terribly painful and it violates a young girl’s physical integrity. It traumatizes her and exposes her to numerous health problems such as abscesses, itching, discharge of milk, dissymmetry of the breasts, cysts, breast infections and severe fever.
AWID: Why is it that there is not much awareness about this form of violation against the girl child, while other harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation receive a lot of attention?
BB: Breast ironing is a well kept secret between the young girl and her mother and usually even her father is not aware of the torture his daughter is subjected to. The girl believes what her mother is doing is for her own good and keeps silent. This silence perpetuates the practice and all its consequences. It was during one of our training workshops for the Tantines that we realized that several of us had suffered this terrible ordeal and we therefore decided to denounce it and campaign against it.
AWID: What strategies have you adopted in your fight against the practice?
BB: We have produced some radio and television spots, and several radio and television journalists have joined us in spreading information about breast ironing. We have also produced leaflets and calendars that carry information about the objects used in breast ironing, the extent of the practice and its consequences. The different Tantines organizations play a very big role in their communities in creating awareness about the practice and why it should be stopped.
AWID: What challenges have you encountered in your campaign?
BB: The principal difficulty we encounter is the conservative mentality of the people. Just like female genital mutilation, breast ironing is considered a tradition - part of our culture, and for this reason some people are not ready to stop the practice.
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Fellow Bantaba members,
AWID DOES TRY TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF ACTIVITIES THAT ARE HARMFUL TO THEM EXPACIALLY THE ABOVE PRACTICE IN CAMEROON.
THIS IS ONE OF THE WORST THINGS i HAVE COME ACCROSS IN MY LIFE APPART FROM THE FGM WHICH IS STILL AN ISSUE IN OUR DEAR CONTINENT.
WHEN SHALL WE STOP ABUSING OUR OWN PEOPLE?
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 25 Oct 2007 : 23:28:50
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| The continent of complexities. I have never heard of this one ever in my life. KEBBA FALA KUMA SI SIMAYA DUWA. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 26 Oct 2007 : 12:04:24
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| This might be the best job for a guy... |
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mavaric
Turkmenistan
94 Posts |
Posted - 26 Oct 2007 : 12:36:15
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heh.. i was thinking this.. :
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 26 Oct 2007 : 12:52:32
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Wow is that the real stuff, I mean not the Hollywood one ? Turk don't you want this job?
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Edited by - kayjatta on 26 Oct 2007 13:03:36 |
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toubab1020
12309 Posts |
Posted - 26 Oct 2007 : 14:05:31
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Oh boy are you going to be in trouble with the feminists,racists,and other fringe groups!
Seriously though is this topic for real?,,if it is then its a bad practice,never mind about culture,its bad and thats that.I personally cannot imagine that any man within this supposed culture would welcome it,after all most men think that a woman's breast is very very erotic,I don't know of a man who likes flat chested women!
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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toubab1020
12309 Posts |
Posted - 26 Oct 2007 : 14:12:54
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quote:
Originally posted by Janyanfara
...more information, please visit http://www.tantines.org/
I HAVE TRIED THIS LINK (as one would!) AND IT ENDS UP AT AN ADVERTISING PAGE. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Its not true then JAN. ? |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 26 Oct 2007 21:45:40 |
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Momodou
Denmark
11712 Posts |
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mansasulu
997 Posts |
Posted - 26 Oct 2007 : 22:27:33
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| It appears this is happening in Cameroon. How it is became generalized for the continent as a whole escapes me. Could someone correct me that this practice is widespread because I could find it prevalence beyond cameroon. |
"...Verily, in the remembrance of Allâh do hearts find rest..." Sura Al-Rad (Chapter 13, Verse 28)
...Gambian by birth, Muslim by the grace of Allah... |
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Janyanfara
Tanzania
1350 Posts |
Posted - 26 Oct 2007 : 22:46:56
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Brother Momodou once again thanks for the wouldaful link.
folks yes this is not only practiced in Cameroon alone but in Burkina, and some part of the Federal Republic of Nigeria sharing the border with cameroon.
Another thing some African women practice, is the lip extention normally practiced ( next time I shall give you the name of the tribe that does such a practice).It is practiced in the Varley regions of Kenya and some southern African countries where women would use wide plated wood to extend their lips by making a whole and put the wood in the hole thus widening the lip.
I think some of us need to travel around Africa and see some cultures for our selves.
How about women wipping in around Kenya, Ethiopia,ect?When a man jumping the cow, sisters and other girls would request young men to wip them so well till their backs are blood covered.
Can some one correct me righ? I think even in the Gambia in our fula community around Basse, when a man is taking a bride, He is normally taken to the bush and given a hard beating? This they call "KEBBA SONDI"? Ask thos from Mansajang and soroundings.Am not sure if the practice is still in place but for sure it was. |
Edited by - Janyanfara on 26 Oct 2007 22:49:56 |
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toubab1020
12309 Posts |
Posted - 26 Oct 2007 : 23:29:08
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quote:
Originally posted by Momodou
The correct link to the article is : http://www.awid.org/go.php?stid=1623
Yes I tried that and it works alright Momodou you are clever to find the correct link for JAN,This organisation appears to be funded by many well known funders,what they say is true then.....very strange. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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toubab1020
12309 Posts |
Posted - 26 Oct 2007 : 23:49:15
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Other countries have strange ideas about their women(strange to me anyway,normal to them no doubt!) in Asia for instance if you can follow the link to the picture of the Giraffe neck women that is underneath:
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Momodou
Denmark
11712 Posts |
Posted - 27 Oct 2007 : 00:18:10
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quote:
Originally posted by toubab1020 Momodou you are clever to find the correct link for JAN...
Toubab, all I did was to search the title of the article in the Google search field at the bottom of this page. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 27 Oct 2007 : 01:35:23
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quote:
Originally posted by Janyanfara
Can some one correct me righ? I think even in the Gambia in our fula community around Basse, when a man is taking a bride, He is normally taken to the bush and given a hard beating? This they call "KEBBA SONDI"? Ask thos from Mansajang and soroundings.Am not sure if the practice is still in place but for sure it was.
Jayang
Kebba Sondi? Thats was something. There is another in mandinka called FULANDING NYA BONDO. I fully remember the twine called SAMBEWO which can send one running towards hell if hit seriously.
This used to be times when members of an age group decide that it was for a while that authority in the group was compromised and it was out for a grab. It led to individual challenges until a dominant person stands out. These challenges were done in the forest unbeknown to anyone in the village outside of the age group members.
I must admit, i never could stand the beating and quickly gave up my desire. I was the diplomat in the group prefering to negotiate rather than fight.
Even now you could hear some old people joking at the bantaba challenging their mates to go to the bush reminiscing about times gone by when they were young. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 27 Oct 2007 : 18:53:54
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| Mavaric, were is your soul, this posting was about the suffering of our african sisters and you trivialise it with this picture, WHY |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 27 Oct 2007 : 20:54:13
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| Well this is apparently getting very ugly. Remember Turk wanted this volunteer work in Africa, well Mbay apparently has also announced his interest in the job :) hey... |
Edited by - kayjatta on 28 Oct 2007 19:19:05 |
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