News
SPRING SEMESTER
Febuary 2006
Pg.3
Birth control option^ or Violence against women
' ‘ - have variety of choices for protection, such
as cavalier condoms.
Feminist movements have also
permitted women to make their own
choices regarding healthcare and
alternative lifestyles. So, on the annual
visit to the gynecologist will women
consider this new way of birth control. I
should hope not!
Information on Female
By Ashli Robinson
The Voice
There's a new (actually very old)
way of protecting yourself against disease
and pregnancy. What is it? In some
cultures it is a procedure that has been
used for centuries; most women
who endure this crucial sacrifice
and disposition recognize this
procedure as female mutilation.
Usually women in East
Africa and the Middle East
who wish to be married must
undergo painful procedures of
female castration. Close
relatives, midwives
Dayas’(religious leaders), and
physicians usually perform
the castration procedures.
During the
castration, no anesthetics are
used making the procedure dangerous and
in some instances fatal! A woman’s vaginal
opening (labia minora) is sewn together
only leaving enough room to menstmate
and urinate.
Her outer labia is cut off and
clitoris is cut and scrapped until the entire
organ is removed. Clitoral removal ensures
no sexual pleasure or promiscuous
behaviors.
One woman who endured this
proceedure recalls the event.
"I was terrified to say No. I dare not say
NO! I wasn't fully comprehending what
was happening to me.
“I cried and screamed for help
one helped. I cried like mad... ”
wanted someone very much to explain
what was being done to me in vain. I was
shocked and never was I able to
comprehend until it was over.
Please don't make me remember
what happened, I am trying to forget. I
cried and screamed for help and no one
helped. I cried like mad, shouting 'You all
and no ” (Then the respondent
wept silently with a choking
voice.) "They told me: ‘You must
be purified like the rest of
your sisters, you are no
exception. ’ They attacked
me by surprise.
I saw the Daya holding
a razor, then she hurt me. I
couldn't believe my mother
was with them; they all
attacked me one early
morning while I was still
sleeping.” (Testimonial
courtesy of
"http://www.nocirc.org/symposia/").
These procedures are performed
on females as early as age eight. Most
children haven’t even had the traditional
sex talk!
Fortunately, American women
Circumcision
Female genital cutting is today mainly
practiced in African countries. It is common in
a band that stretches fivm Senegal in West
Africa to Somalia on the East coast, as well as
from Egy’pt in the north to Tanzania in the
south. In these regions, it is estimated that
more than 95% of all women have undergone
this procedure. It is also practiced by some
groups in the Arabian peninsula [10],
especially among a minority’ (20%) in Yemen.
Although it is practiced by African Christians,
Jews and Muslims alike, it is also known to
exist throughout the Middle East, though it is
veiled in secrecy, unlike in parts of Africa,
where it is practiced relatively openly.
Information from- www.wikipedia.org
Words of
ive in all of us
How will you share
them with the world?
■
in support of Black History Month,
Alltel Wireless is inviting HBCU students
to enter our Words of Wisdom Essay Contest.
Write an essay with this question in mind...
“What words of wisdom wilt you pass on to those who come
after you?’’ Winners will receive a scholarship to the HBCU of
their choice.
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