Say no to the knife in Kenia - World Humanism Day 2009

This report is one of the five portraits that were produced by VPRO Metropolis TV for World Humanism Day 2009. You can watch many more reports on www.metropolistv.nl

June 21st is World Humanism Day. For this occasion, five filmmakers from diferent parts of the world present to us a remarkable citizen in their home country that has taken control over his or her own life.

In Kenya female genital mutilation is still practiced in some tribes. Makena visited a brave young girl who refused to be circumcised and got banned from her village because of this.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• kenia
• circumcision
• abuse
• protest

[IbnNero]

these people are the real sufferers from the male genital surgery norm in usa.mgm coaperates with FGM in all levels of society whatever those rich jews say

[psandbergnz]

lynncan, you may well be right that female circumcision does not get enough publicity. But neither does the fact that the USA subjects most of its newborn boys to circumcision (frequently without any anesthesia) get the publicity and it deserves.

Most of us Europeans react with shock that this happens in the USA on such a grand scale. I'm glad I'm not from the USA, but if I were, I would be ashamed of my country.

[manduhpandaaa]

Yes, I agree that it is not publicized. Another thing to note is the level of feminist movements in America (Tannen, Ch. 3). We make such a huge deal making sure that women and men have equal righs in our own country, but are completely unaware of the violation of women's rights in other countries. I am also impressed that the girl's mother allowed her the choice (although she was outcasted from society). According to other stories, women--even girls--do not have much option.

[lynncan23]

I really appreciated this girl's strength in refusing to allow herself to be mutilated. Female circumcision is definately an issue that does not get enough publicity. Perhaps the unsung hero in this story is the girl's mother. She probably risked a lot to try to give her daughter a choice.

[manduhpandaaa]

I admire about this Kenyan girl's situation is that she was able to get out of being circumcized. She was outcasted in her society, but she was able to make her own decision. Based on other articles, such as the Egyptian mom determining whether or not to circumcize her two daughters, many young women do not have the choice. This is similar to women's rights movements that were used in America. Hopefully what this young woman is doing will make a difference for other young women to come.

[jjjed53]

I enjoyed your video. The female "host" is absolutely beautiful, You could be a star. The story would be better if there were a little description of what female circumcised involves.