Johann Hari: Witch-Hunt: The Hidden War on African Women »
Posted By Ciera-Marie 8 months ago in NewsAcross Africa, a war is being waged on women -- but we are refusing to hear the screams. Over the past fortnight, I have traveled into the secretive shadow world that mutilates millions of African women at the beginning of their lives, and at the end. As girls, they face having their genitalia sliced out with razors, to destroy their "filthy" sexuality and keep them "pure". As old women, they face being hacked to death as "witches", blamed for every virus and sickness blowing across the savannah.
Read Full Story at huffingtonpost.com »
298 Views Share Story 19 Comments Report
Submitted By:
Ciera-Marie
We should love nature by relating to it in the same basic way we relate to other people; that is with respect and care. Sallie ...
Other Related Articles:
RSS Join the Discussion
+ Add CommentComments So Far: 19 (view all)
-
100%
Ciera-Marie8 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
I wasn't sure where to put this. However after the submission by bizexpert yesterday I had, rather was compelled to get the information that was missing.
Reply
What was missing is this. In Kenya there are two types of women labeled as witches. Widowed women are labeled because they own the home they built. They own crops...have an income.
Women who have been abandoned by their husbands. They've been abandoned by them because they either couldn't carry the baby to term or miscarried. Due to the severe after effects of female circumcision. Because their husbands abandoned them their families won't take them in.
That is what I learned in the article I submitted. I also learned that if a woman's family members or anyone comes to her defense they are accused too and murdered too.
Sadly, while searching for the information to the video it is also happening in Papua New Guina. I also learned that those in the video that was posted yesterday died last year in May.
One of the shining rays of hope is there is a woman trying to show them the errors in their superstitious beliefs.-
100%
memestryker8 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Just like similar attacks on women in cultures throughout history. Money talks, and if a woman has wealth, then those stronger or more powerful or manipulative will do anything to steal her wealth. This is one reason I am firmly pro-second amendment. That is the only thing that levels the playing field for women or the weak. In those villages in Africa and many other countries where women are raped or killed as witches, they lack the means of self-defense.
Reply
I personally wouldn't use the politically correct term "female circumcision." Call it what it is--female genital mutilation. It causes permanent damage and women have trouble with sex, menstruation, childbirth, and even elimination as a result.
Superstition exists in all cultures, even in the U.S. And there will always be a large percentage of the population who lack the intellectual skills to change belief on a large scale.
And a fairly constant percentage of all populations is made up of sociopaths who seek to manipulate and dominate others. That hasn't changed in the history of humankind. So we need to be realistic about what is possible as far as effecting human behavior.
We've learned that people are most impressionable between the ages of 2 and 5.
-
-
100%
DarkWizard8 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
I have known about the mutilations for some time now, but didn't know about the witch killings. I am glad that educating the people of these areas is having a positive effect. It is sad that it has taken so long for something to be done about these horrific practices. Thank you for posting this article CM.
Reply -
-
100%
lvrofwolves8 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
I've also known about these things, the mutilations, the burnings. To read about it was one horrible thing, it really was, but to actually see a video of it....there are no words to describe.
Reply
And how do the people who are video tapping these things get away from not being called a witch? or why couldn't they do something to stop this? what kind of person could film such things without being psychologically traumatized? It's just almost to unbelievable to believe, if that makes sense.
I hope with more public awareness, no matter how shocking, it will help in stopping these heinous practices.
I'm generally not for going and changing a culture...but this goes way beyond what is right and wrong. -
100%
gamahuche8 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
I can't help but observe the contrast in the amount of attention that this issue receives compared with the Aids crisis in Africa.
Reply
The arguments and battle-cries concerning the criteria for support against Aids deaw headlines contunuously but these archaic and [should be]obsolete ongoing practices rarely get a mention in the mainstream media. I guess female genital mutilation doesn't sell papers and obviously won't get shown on TV - which advertisers would sponsor THAT kind of stuff?! -
100%
PainGoddess8 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
The things that happen to these women rarely make it into the mainstream media. It seems that there has been a blind eye for a lot of suffering. Their beliefs and strict belief in the local elders perpetuate ignorance and the brutal treatment of women. They are not usually classified a citizens but chattel and property.Until they (the men and women)are educated which will never happen ( it has been going on for thousands of years) this will continue.
Reply -
100%
UnusualSuspect8 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Sad article...
Reply
Why is it that the majority of some groups of people can abandon beliefs like the ones described in this article, in the span of hundreds of years, while it can take thousands of years for other groups?
Will their time of learning and understanding ever come, or are they doomed to repeat what we consider cruel and brutal treatment of women for an eternity? -
-
100%
Will13138 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
sure did.. i posted above..
Reply
but since you ask...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwkb9_zB2Pg
-
Add a Comment
Sign In With Your Propeller Account
Please keep your comments relevant to this story.
To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br /> tags.