maasai female circumcision

The effects of FGM can severely burden the women and often bring on medical complications, placing additional obstacles on the health services and systems in their countries. We are watching the Maasai women, dressed in colourful clothes, with beautiful jewellery around their necks, performing the tribal dance and singing and clapping their hands along. Some have to be c-sectioned. By far the most critical complications arising from genital mutilation come during pregnancy. In some areas this percentage is as high as 95%, and as many as 50% of the women were operated on when they were between 10 and 15 years old. Psychological . Found insideTwo revolutionary economists believe it can. In The Why Axis, Uri Gneezy and John List lead us on a journey to discover the economics underlying human motivation and how to structure the incentives that can get people to move mountains. Kakenya Ntaiya was engaged at 5-years-old, her family members regularly whispering in her ear, "Your husband just passed by." This was the traditional path that unfolded before girls in the Maasai village in Kenya where Ntaiya grew up. Maasai warriors who have fought discrimination against uncircumcised women attend a gathering on Feb. 6, where cultural elders committed to abandoning female circumcision, in Olmesutie, Kenya. When you go on safari to the Maasai Mara you will be able to see for yourself the Big Five and other wild animals in the game reserve and in our conservancies. But a group of women from the Maasai tribe in Kenya feel strongly that the practice . Scared by her violation and bad memories, Mikela is unsure about her own emotions as her world seems to be spiraling down an endless dark tunnel. Can Mikela survive the streams of tragedies? But with all the excitement of the wildlife, you may also be amazed to see that there are also livestock roaming and grazing freely on the same . "It is not in our culture to refuse a man.". The headmistress of a girls' boarding school in Kajiado, Priscilla Nangurai, says the school loses 10 to 20 young girls a year who become pregnant after being circumcised. The type of genital mutilation most common among the Maasai and Samburu tribes is excision, where the clitoris and the adjacent parts of the labia minora are removed. Background . Her proud husband-to-be, waiting outside, is congratulated by elders. Your email address will not be published. Found insideIn This Mournable Body, Tsitsi Dangarembga returns to the protagonist of her acclaimed first novel, Nervous Conditions, to examine how the hope and potential of a young girl and a fledgling nation can sour over time and become a bitter and ... In Eastern Africa, uncircumcised women, even those highly educated members of parliament like Linah Kilimo , can be accused of not being mature enough to be . “I recently attended a conference in New York hosted by CAGeM . Without any anesthesia and forbidden to cry out or show fear, the girl bites on a cloth during the 10-minute operation until the circumciser is through. “I felt tricked. Consider this: Nashiru, a practitioner of female genital mutilation (FGM) in a Maasai community in Kenya, says, "Cutting girls is something our people have done for hundreds of years. ", When asked why she laughed throughout the operation, the circumciser answered, "The pain doesn't kill. Found insideFocusing on the 1990s to the present, "Managing Heritage, Making Peace" is a timely exploration of the ways in which Kenyans are engaging with the past in the present, including such local initiatives as the community peace museums movement ... Warriors also cover their bodies and hair in ochre to enhance their appearance. Some circumcisers were arrested, Mailutha says, "but when they went to court, the cases were thrown out because there is no law that makes circumcision illegal. I am now missing something important—my womanhood.”, According to H. Scott, a registered nurse and maternity nurse in New York City, “FGM is a horror and the more enlightenment shed upon this ritual, the better. While FGM is . When a person wears one or more Maasai Bracelets on their wrist, they publicly express their opposition to these terrible practices, creating social awareness in the face of realities such as Female Genital Mutilation or the Forced Marriage of Girls is an essential step . The Maasai people believe that circumcision reduces the sexual desire and the woman thus will not be unfaithful. The Epoch Times publishes in 35 countries and in 19 languages. This includes personalizing content and advertising. As a result, we have started a center for Maasai girls. Growing up in suburban Illinois, Robin Wiszowaty leads a typical middle-class American life. Female circumcision is a rite of passage among the Maasai that marks change from childhood to adulthood. Women also carry the burden of raising children and running the household. She said she would hold my hand and that I would be okay.”. Sheep: The Maasai People's New Mainstay. Found insideThis ground-breaking handbook details the present situation with regard to female genital mutilation (FGM) in Britain, referring also to other western nations where FGM occurs. The African Maasai ethnic group is known for its deep roots in tradition and culture, including rights of passage for men and female circumcision. 17 Dreadful Images Of Female Circumcision Ceremony In Kenya. Found inside – Page iThis title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Various forms of ritualized genital surgery --circumcision, subincision, infibulation and emasculation-- are practiced throughout the world today and have been practiced by many peoples throughout history.Those who practice ritualized genital surgery range from peoples living in small hunting and gathering bands using very simple . And it's typically followed by marriage — often to . Kindle the light of education." is the phrase chanted by girls of a Maasai community in Magadi, southern Kenya. It marks their transition to womanhood. The mutilation often leads to reproductive tract infections and infertility. Nice Leng`ete was raised in a Maasai village in Kenya. According to the tradition of her tribes — she is half Maasai, half Samburu — she and her sisters were circumcised. Maasai Women Speak Out . “Female mutilation is against the law, but people are still dying from it,” said Ikoluba. Narok - A small church house shelters about a dozen Maasai girls escaping female circumcision and early marriage, age-old customs of the Kenyan tribe now frayed by health risks and new laws. Masaai girls attend the Alternative Rite of Passage ceremony on Aug. 27 in Kenya. Narok, Kenya - A small church house shelters about a dozen Maasai girls escaping female circumcision and early marriage, age-old customs of the Kenyan tribe now frayed by health risks and new laws. In a traditional two-day ceremony in Kenya, the Maasai, one of the oldest cultures in Africa, changed the fate of 52 young girls in a historic alternative rite of passage performed without female circumcision. Female circumcision or Female Genital mutilation is a term utilized to describe a wide range of traditional practices in relation to female circumcision. Later I learned that female circumcision is not just practiced by the Maasai people. As such, many Maasai see it as a necessity before marriage. An early description of the Maasai operation is given in German by Merker . However they will be perfectly fine after about 3 months. They just ignore the law. Female circumcision in many part of African society has long been apart of the live of many young Muslim, Christian, Jewish and other African girls. Meals were prepared and delivered to the girls, and they stayed together overnight in the classroom on Aug. 27. Elderly Maasai woman recite prayer to a sacred branch in preparation for a female rite of passage ceremony in Makuta, Kenya, on November 15, 2016. The teenage girls are decorated even much more than their mothers. SAFE works with emerging Maasai leaders, making the messages credible and acceptable, and protecting the integrity of Maasai culture. Sitting in an off-road car, listening to the sound of cicadas and gazing at the wonders of mother nature, I could not believe my luck. Unfortunately, girls are not given the same opportunities and do no possess agency over their future like boys. Of all initiations circumcision is the most important rite of passage in the Maasai society. It permeates many other African groups as well. Female circumcision in Maasai and Samburu culture marks the transition from girlhood to . Nkuraiya founded the school for children who are at risk of female genital mutilation.The school's motto is, "Don't Exchange Girls For Cows, Give Them Education." Among the Maasai (the . The wound is cleansed with cow urine and smothered in goat fat to stop the bleeding, and the girl is put in bed until she regains consciousness. World Health Organization defines female genital mutilation/cutting as all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. About 140 million girls and women worldwide have been affected by female genital mutilation, also known as . To ban excision in Meru, Kenya, Lynn Thomas Gabrielsen of ASK, Maasai elder and director of ASK chief James Ole Kamente, local grassroots organization Voices of Hope, and a resident nurse from Loitokitok General Hospital in Kenya all fully participated in an ARP ceremony, leading in making a change in the current practice of female circumcision and the eradication of the practice entirely. The African Maasai ethnic group is known for its deep roots in tradition and culture, including rights of passage for men and female circumcision. Performances will be delivered on HIV with full testing facilities, as well as workshops on HIV, sexual health and female circumcision, and condom demonstrations. The Maasai girls are often circumcised during the puberty as a rite of passage into adulthood. She is from the Ijaw tribe and is now a social worker living in New York. "Without women, African society would fall apart," she adds. Alternative to Genital Mutilation Emerges for Kenya's Maasai Girls. . Now, young Maasai woman Nice Nailantei Leng'ete . Amongst the Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania, male circumcision has historically been the graduation element of an educational program which taught tribal beliefs, practices, culture, religion and history to youth who were on the verge of becoming full-fledged members of society. Here are vivid illustrations of this redemptive work. "Filled with the faith, hope and love of Christ." - Revd Donald Ker, Secretary of Conference, Methodist Church in Ireland "Jean has a remarkable gift of painting pictures in words. Female genital mutilation (FGM) is one of the most harmful traditions still practiced in many parts of the developing world, including Kenya. Female genital mutilation is a man's issue too: Kenyan Maasai activist. Maasai children and adults take a moment out for fun with balloons and bubbles. Maasai and Samburu girls sing traditional songs during an alternative rite of passage . Female Genital Mutilation or Cutting (or FGM/C) is practiced in a total of 28 countries in Africa, on the Arabian Peninsula, and in parts of Asia. However, Kirisia, 42 is making a stand in his community and is calling for change. A good number of Maasai girls have . In the Maasai tribe in Kenya, ritual female genital mutilation is a rite of passage for young girls. Escaping the scourge of female genital mutilation in Tanzania: a Maasai girls' school provides scholarships for those at risk Date: Wednesday, November 28, 2012 "You need to be circumcised to be married, so that if you get pregnant you don't bring shame to your family, explains Nengai, a proud, 26-year-old school teacher. The circumciser cackles with laughter. “It was very painful to urinate after the cutting. In a traditional two-day ceremony in Kenya, the Maasai, one of the oldest cultures in Africa, changed the fate of 52 young girls in a historic alternative rite of passage performed without female circumcision. I later found out that a lot of girls did not go through with it and they turned out to be okay,” said Ikoluba. ". And even in its mildest forms, female genital mutilation poses serious health risks. Besides blood loss, which can be fatal, genital mutilation can have severe long-term side effects including urinary tract infections, chronic vaginal infections, excessive growth of scar tissue, and stones in the urethra and bladder caused by the obstruction of menstrual flow. One of the reasons of the FGM is also the control of the women sexuality. Blossoms of the Savannah is the story of two sisters, Taiyo and Resian, who are on the verge of womanhood and torn between their personal ambitions and the humiliating duty to the Nasila tradition. Found inside – Page 200547 African Women Organization (2009) Myths and Justifications for the Perpetuation of FGM. 48 IRIN (2005) Kenya: FGM among the Maasai Community of Kenya. The practice leads to permanent and irreversible health damages; however, knowledge and attitude of women towards its obstetric effects is scarce. For an in-depth article about the social and health aspects of female circumcision among the Maasai, see A Dangerous Rite of Passage . It is a passage from childhood to adulthood.". The Maasai believe that female circumcision is necessary and Maasai men may reject any woman who has not undergone it as either not marriageable or worthy of a much-reduced bride price. Facts about Maasai rite of passage. Young warriors decorating themselves with Ochre. We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. She shows that change is occurring as the result of economic and social developments, the influences of Islamic activists, the work of Sudanese health educators, and the efforts of educated African women. On day two, the mothers helped their daughters get dressed in their traditional ceremonial dresses and crowns. Many ask why. A small church house shelters about a dozen Maasai girls escaping female circumcision and early marriage, age-old customs of the Kenyan tribe now frayed by health risks and new laws . "We have more important things to worry about," such as the poor and unemployed, says Minister William ole Ntimama, one of the most influential Maasai leaders. A small church house shelters about a dozen Maasai girls escaping female circumcision and early marriage, age-old customs of the Kenyan tribe now frayed by health risks and new laws. According to the WHO website, it is estimated that 100 million–140 million women and girls have already been subjected to some form of FGM. In Eastern Africa, uncircumcised women, even those highly educated members of parliament like Linah Kilimo , can be accused of not being mature enough to be . By Tonny Onyulo On 3/26/16 at 8:01 AM EDT. The Maasai elder advocating to end female genital mutilation. LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Kenya could end female genital mutilation in a generation, campaigners from its . Maasai men and women who accepted the new ceremony took a monumental leap forward in . Therefore she has to be circumcised first. By Tonny Onyulo On 3/26/16 at 8:01 AM EDT. What role does religious conversion play as a tool for empowering women? In The Church of Women, Dorothy L. Hodgson looks at how gender has shaped the encounter between missionary priests and Maasai men and women in Tanzania. They believe that without this, women cannot have babies. “Some people ran away and so I wanted to run away, but my mother assured me that I should not be scared. According to World Health Organization estimates, at least 100 million women in 26 countries in Africa have had to pay a high price for their identity. The Maasai operation is quite distinctive from the techniques used by Western surgeons, although very similar to the way that boys are circumcised in the Samburu, Kikuyu, and other tribes for whom the Oldorobo also act as circumcisers. “Maasai girl is considered adult only after the circumcision,” Paulo Tunyon continues. The two films together illustrate the important differences between the contexts of male and female genital-cutting among the Maasai. The girls' names have been changed in this piece. As seen on the article Maasai Hair and Style Explained, most Maasai people, both men and women, spend most of their lives with shaved heads, except warriors, who are male, and the only age-set allowed to have long hair. Female genital mutilation (FGM), also known as female genital cutting and female circumcision, is the ritual removal of some or all of the external female genitalia. This is evidenced in their style of dressing, housing structures, struggle for formal system of education, struggle for alternative forms of employment, engagement in forms of economic activities other than livestock, and discouraging ... The Maasai circumcision operation. Though some groups such as the Christian Church, educators, and some non-governmental organizations have made an effort to abolish this practice, the Maasai, according to my mother, are stubborn. Will the church defeats the negative culture of F.G.M? Who will win between the Morans and the church? Find out the answer in this unique African story about Maasai culture. Wedding time? Found insideIn this dark thriller, tradition and power collide, arriving at a shocking, unforgettable end. And in the Maasai hero Mollel, a new detective icon is born. One of Publishers Weekly's Best Mystery/Thriller Books of 2013 Communications and roads have exposed young Maasai to the temptations and opportunities of the outside world. Many relatives and friends have come, bringing gifts of goats and money for Penina's father. Only 11% of Maasai girls in Kenya finish primary school, according to the government. Now, young Maasai woman Nice Nailantei Leng'ete . The elder explains that Dionne would have to be circumcised if she wanted to marry a Maasai man. Female Circumcision Or Female Genital Mutilation 1551 Words | 7 Pages. However, with migration, the number of women subjected to FGM/C is also increasing in Europe. The wedding is usually from the age of 12 to 15. Solution. Pastoralism is one of the predominant livelihoods of east Africa and the Horn. About us The Maasai Cricket Warriors was founded in 2007, and are Maasai youth from Laikipia in Kenya who have dropped their spears for cricket bats. "You hear of girls who die, but there is . During the circumcision of a woman, on the other hand, she is allowed to cry as long as she does not hinder the operation. According to Kenya's latest Demographic Health Survey (2008/2009), the third highest prevalence of FGM in Kenya is found among the Maasai community - nearly three in every four Maasai girls and young women undergo the dangerous procedure. Leave me alone. Although female genital mutilation has been banned in Kenya since 2002, the practice is still prevalent among Maasai communities. Many Samburus also practice infibulation, which involves sewing together the two sides of the vulva. "Female circumcision is the most sensitive part of the body, [and] the wound left behind is both physical and psychological," says Mailutha. • Children now have access to education. A Maasai male must show no pain while being circumcised . Bringing together thirteen essays, Transcultural Bodies provides an ethnographically rich exploration of FGC among African diasporas in the United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia. In When Norms Collide, Karisa Cloward presents a path-breaking theoretical framework for understanding the processes by which individuals negotiate competing demands placed on them by international and local norms. "A girl is free to have sex with any man after she is circumcised, and men take advantage of that," says Nangurai. Despite repeated denunciations of female genital mutilation by humanitarian and women's organizations and even a presidential ban on the practice, mutilations continue. We are talking about the both genders, male and female circumcision. But there is no mooing cattle welcoming us in the village, actually no one pays attention to the newly arrived in the beginning. In 1982, President Daniel arap Moi officially banned female genital mutilation, but 13 years later, the ban seems to have had little effect. , see a Dangerous rite of passage outside, is known as a Maasai man. `` fights female mutilation. 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Have to be circumcised as a tribe which circumcise both men and women 's organizations and even a ban!
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