Washington Post on FGM in Kurdish Iraq

[SleeplessMommy]

It is a sad story. The Post uses the term "circumcision" when "female genital mutilation" would be more accurate. Are they trying to be non judgmental?

A small quote:

"This is the practice of the Kurdish people for as long as anyone can remember," said her mother, Aisha Hameed, 30, a housewife in this ethnically mixed town 50 miles north of Baghdad. "We don't know why we do it, but we will never stop because ***** and our elders require it."

MDC members may be happier NOT reading this story. The comment period appears to be closed. The photos are very disturbing. The article is very disturbing.

"http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/28/AR2008122802005.html"

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[Seie]

Hmm I thought that was a thoughtprovoking article. It doesnt go to lengths to tell us that what is done is wrong - it describes the procedure and talks to the people involved and leaves us to form our own opinion. I think it is pretty obvious that the writer of the article thinks this is horrible. To use language that is heavily loaded with value - such as female genital mutilation - in an article like this will IMO not make for greater impact. This article IMO has such a strong impact because it seems honest and neutral.

I dont need anyone to tell me that the girl is being mutilated - I can make that out for myself reading how she screamed and how she had to be carried home.
As a rule of thumb amongst journalists go: "Dont tell it, show it!" The article and pics dont tell me that this is horrible - they show me. And that has a greater impact.

[SleeplessMommy]

Good point Seie!

[perspective]

Wow, what really struck me to the core was this one picture. It was of the main girl, after her circumcision. She has the vacant look in her face as her eyes look across the room. And there is that quote from her "I just wish that I could be the way I was before the procedure."

Its EXACTLY how I felt after really started comprehending what circumcision is. I know the two procedures are different, but it was almost startling how similar her feelings seemed to mine. I wish I could just hug that poor girl, and take that candy and throw it in the mothers face.

I also think of my girlfriend and think how grateful I am that she was not forced through the same part of American culture that I was.

[Mama Poot]

I think the use of "circumcision' as opposed to FGM is better because it ingrains into people's minds that CIRCUMCISION is BAD. All forms of circumcision are mutilation-there is no arguing that-And for the purposes of furthering our cause, I think that trying to distinguish one from the other is counterproductive. Cutting off parts of ANYONE'S genitals is unethical. We really need to stop thinking that female circumcision is somehow worse than male circumcision. Both are equally wrong and unethical.

[liseux]

I probably shouldn't have read it while pregnant, what a tearjerker! I came to oppose male circ because of studies I did in college gender classes on FGM. I had no idea the Kurds did it.

[Fellow Traveler]

I am impressed with how closely that situation mirrors ours.

[Night_Nurse]

The photos were just heartbreaking.

Jwhispers, I totally agree.