BBC 100 women (2015): Three generations of Somali women discuss FGM

[Duchess]

Female genital mutilation is banned in the UK and somebody carrying it out can be jailed for up to 14 years - but it still happens.

On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, three generations of Somali women talk frankly about the cultural reasons behind it and why they want to end the practice.

Law student Yasmin Ahmed, 21, persuaded her mother Aisha Mohammed and grandmother Habiba Osman to break the taboo surrounding the issue and discuss how attitudes have changed through the generations.

Our 100 Women season showcases two weeks of inspirational stories about the BBC 100 Women and others who defy stereotypes around the world.





*please, no trolling on this topic.

 

[menace]

Talk about their siil on front of a tv

What's wrong with these young girls nowadays s d why would ayeeyo agree to talk about such a topic

 

[Duchess]

Talk about their siil on front of a tv

What's wrong with these young girls nowadays s d why would ayeeyo agree to talk about such a topic

I don't see how this is embarassing? They are discussing an important issue and did so in a tasteful manner.

 

[menace]

I don't see how this is embarassing? They are discussing an important issue and did so in a tasteful manner.

Why are somali girls riding on this topic to advance their career...you had that Fatima model once say "I can't have sec bc I don't have a siil" blatant lie

How dare you @Duchess question my disgust, you haven't watched the rest of it eedosiilaanyolaugh

 

[Duchess]

Why are somali girls riding on this topic to advance their career...you had that Fatima model once say "I can't have sec bc I don't have a siil" blatant lie

You can't compare the two. In the video they're talking about how the cultural attitude towards FGM is/has shifted and continues to shift. It's not about attention or fame but about ending FGM.

Are you suggesting that FGM shouldn't be discussed at all because it's 'ceeb'?

 

[Hafez]

They fking think this is progress. Making her parents 'open' up. Why not just make everyone open up?

 

[Duchess]

How dare you @Duchess question my disgust, you haven't watched the rest of it eedosiilaanyolaugh

I've watched the full clip ( here: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-34917777 ) and, yes, it's graphic and disturbing but that's the reality of FGM. How else do you expect them to discuss this barbaric practice?

 

[Duchess]

This is a serious subject so can you guys stop trolling? Post something relevant or keep it moving. Cheeses.

 

[Hafez]

I've watched the full clip ( here: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-34917777 ) and, yes, it's graphic and disturbing but that's the reality of FGM. How else to do you expect them to discuss this barbaric practice?

Via email? Duhh

 

[menace]

I've watched the full clip ( here: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-34917777 ) and, yes, it's graphic and disturbing but that's the reality of FGM. How else to do you expect them to discuss this barbaric practice?

Why did you made me listen to it again ..this xoolad is listening to her hooyo vividly describe the form of her siil and how urine burned her and how thorn was use to attach the lips of her siil

You are @Duchess complicit in this disgraceful and shame degradation of the somali women's honor

That been said the girl is an effing dime, she look Yemeni tho

 

[Geeljire]

There is nothing to discusss it's not like the Anti-FGM crew is open for dialogue other than to hear their own lying propaganda repeated back to them.

Honestly i would be infavor of a solid muliple point of view discussion surounding this topic without using unnecessarily derogatory and divisive language such as "mutilation" and zero-tolerance policies, barbaric etc...

I know countless Somali women who don't see themselves as "mutilated", "victims", or "survivors".

In the meanwhile Good luck destroying the family privacy and the dignity of Somali women/girls. Heck wear the term ''FGM'' like badge of honor for all i care.

 

[menace]

They call this mutilation right ( not that I support it )..just to show how Western mentality messed up your intellect @Duchess .look outside the box ..when Bruce Jenner and his ilk mutilate themselves it is enlightenment ...this is what happens when people turn into sheeps..yes FGM is a problem but this girl couldve waged her campaign back home if she means it and not seeking a dam attention and she would not disrespect her own cultural norms for a western one by disregarding the alhlaaq/manners which is not to speak about your parent's private parts ...what's next ? Is this girl gonna go on tv and tell us that when she was 5 she remembers her hooyo taking it from the back ? I mean it's something that happened to a lot of kids but people have grown up to not mention that.

 

[Duchess]

Why did you made me listen to it again ..this xoolad is listening to her hooyo vividly describe the form of her siil and how urine burned her and how thorn was use to attach the lips of her siil

You are @Duchess complicit in this disgraceful and shame degradation of the somali women's honor

That been said the girl is an effing dime, she look Yemeni tho

They're describing what happened to them. I'm sure the point was to be as detailed as possible and to make you feel disturbed and uncomfortable so you don't have your own daughter(s) subjected to this barbaric cultural practice.

 

[SOMACOON]

Why do Somali women compare our culture to the Middle East?
We've had more politicians and MP's that were women in Somalia than perhaps Arabia combined?
Our women are usually the head in our households. Its rather to taboo to hit a women in Somalia, and rather okay in Arabia.
Yes, we've got some issues. But has anyone seen Arabia?

 

[Lily]

The struggle for some of these women is continues. A friend of mine was mentioning how she struggles with Her period as it doesn't come out fully, which increases the pain. Giving birth is painful enough, but these women get complications on top of their pain. Backward culture. Men more likely to lose their virginity compared to girls. So if this is done in the name of stopping zina, perhaps guys should face similar mutilation.

 

[Hafez]

The struggle for some of these women is continues. A friend of mine was mentioning how she struggles with Her period as it doesn't come out fully, which increases the pain. Giving birth is painful enough, but these women get complications on top of their pain. Backward culture. Men more likely to lose their virginity compared to girls. So if this is done in the name of stopping zina, perhaps guys should face similar mutilation.

 

[Samawada]

I know countless Somali women who don't see themselves as "mutilated", "victims", or "survivors".

In the meanwhile Good luck destroying the family privacy and the dignity of Somali women/girls. Heck wear the term ''FGM'' like badge of honor for all i care.

Agreed. I think these women think they are slick for using western platforms for their own ends, but in the end it's the west that will continue to see us as barbarians. The west doesn't want nuance or to see our beautiful dhaqan. They want to feel superior about themselves and Somalis are so... helpful.

Furthermore, since they leveled Kabul/Baghdad/etc, I question anyone in the west claiming to want to help non-western women and children.

 

[Ferrari]

There is nothing to discuss! It is barbaric and unfair and it should be stopped....how hard is it for the ladies to stop cutting these young girls? It is a practice that's exclusive to women and they have no one to blame but themselves aside from the fact that Somali fathers are weak and indifferent to this whole thing.
@Duchess discussions usually happen if there are disagreements on something but the majority of somalis agree that this is primitive, so why NOT just stop it? Besides what will sharing their stories do for them? The change must happen from within and for that reason if any discussions should be held it should be held between somalis. Somalis piss me off sometimes with their idiotic rationale!

 

[Duchess]

There is nothing to discuss! It is barbaric and unfair and it should be stopped....how hard is it for the ladies to stop cutting these young girls? It is a practice that's exclusive to women and they have no one to blame but themselves aside from the fact that Somali fathers are weak and indifferent to this whole thing.
@Duchess discussions usually happen if there are disagreements on something but the majority of somalis agree that this is primitive, so why NOT just stop it? Besides what will sharing their stories do for them? The change must happen from within and for that reason if any discussions should be held it should be held between somalis. Somalis piss me off sometimes with their idiotic rationale!

If most Somalis agree that FGM is wrong and barbaric than why does Somalia have the highest prevalence rate in the world?

 

[Ferrari]

I am going to excuse myself now.