Stop the pain!

[On the Rocks]

This is despicable! Why do women have to suffer so? Is there any respite for a girl's soul? How long more does a woman have to endure?

YAOUNDE, Cameroon (Reuters) -- Worried that her daughters' budding breasts would expose them to the risk of sexual harassment and even rape, their mother Philomene Moungang started 'ironing' the girls' bosoms with a heated stone.

"I did it to my two girls when they were eight years old. I would take the grinding stone, heat it in the fire and press it hard on the breasts," Moungang said.

"They cried and said it was painful. But I explained that it was for their own good."

"Breast ironing" -- the use of hard or heated objects or other substances to try to stunt breast growth in girls -- is a traditional practice in West Africa, experts say.

Please read the full story here: http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/africa...eut/index.html

Next time a man raves about a woman not cooking for him or ironing his shirt, you should iron his face, to keep him from being desired by another woman who could take him away from you, I guess.

A mother had to iron her daughter's breast to prevent her from being desired/abused by a man? What a life!

[MrsChocT]

OTR,
I had read the story on bbc regarding breast ironing . Please view the link to see tools used in this inhumane practice. I must say I was shocked beyond belief. I wonder what Cameroon's leaders are doing to eradicate such ignorance. God help us all!!

[crimsonbabe]

na wa o, after reading this, i think i quickly promised that i will stop complaining that my 34D is too big and just enjoy my babies!

btw, why do these so called oyibo studies always say that "xyz practice is common in west africa or africa?

CB

[emj]

Otioooooooooo---ironing breast ke, just read the story, it is beyond believe, hennnnn that someone will think that beating and ironing breast with all the stated objects will stunt it's growth! It is very inhuman----product of ignorance and easy way out of talking to their daughters about their sexuality and preservation.

[Anike]

This is serious. Na real wah!

Another reason why more women need to be educated. How did Moungang manage to convince herself that she is not a wicked woman?

[Soul Sista]

Only God knows where we get some of these customs from. First, God's work is not good enough for us so we re-design the genital area. We call what God has called clean unclean and we carve it up, throw parts away and say that is how a woman should be. Then, that is not enough, we move up in the body and we start ironing the breasts. Osanobua! Ironing the breasts. I read this a while back on BBC, I think, and I was shocked.

Just wait, someone will come now and start saying we are Westernized that is why we think this is bad. Just wait o, the "tatoo and body piercing argument" people, they are coming. Anike, you have got it right: education to which I will add exposure. That is what is neccessary. If these women are educated and exposed, they will not continue these harmful practices on their daughters. I feel like crying, a little girl of 9 being scalded. And you remember, when your boobies first start growing, they are tender and slightly funny. Why would anyone think to do this?

And, if you are so interested in making the girls unattractive, how about teaching leacherous men to hands of underaged girls?


Soul Sista

[oh baby]

It was too painful ,unbearable, thinking and trying to imagine it that i could not finish to read it.

[purple]

Crimsonbabe wrote:

btw, why do these so called oyibo studies always say that "xyz practice is common in west africa or africa?

Oyinbos say this becos when it concerns Africans they love to generalize. They use blanket statements to lump us all together becos some of them think we are not worthy of been looked upon as unique individuals or people groups. Have you noticed how the western media will take the case of a white rape or murder victim and do an indepth report to 'humanize' the victim. They will interview her elementary school teacher, neighbors, grandparents, girls scouts leader, pastor etc. the story will run for weeks, even months on different meida outlet. Viewers then feel really connected to the victm and this is a good thing. But when the victim is not white, the coverage is limited and often very superficial. It is like 'another one out of the crowds of blacks or whatever ethnicity or race has been hurt'. I often feel, this disparity simply shows who is valued and who is not. So, statements such as the above quote is not suprising. Nigerian/African researchers can help by continously carrying out quality research on identified populations and stating clearly that the results cannot be generalized beyond that sample without supporting data. Unfortunately, it appears that for funding purposes, some of our own researchers fiddle with numbers and generalize to satistfy their Oyinbo masters.

Wetin person no go hear in the almighty name of culture and tradition?