Activists Seek to End Breast Ironing in Cameroon

A national network of mothers in Cameroon is forming a coalition with other agencies and journalists to call attention to the controversial cultural practice of breast ironing.  Designed to make pubescent girls less sexually attractive, breast ironing involves the pounding of a girl's breasts with a hot grinding stone for hours each day until they flatten out and stop growing.  Pestles, belts and other heated objects can also be used.  An estimated 50 per cent of women in the region of Douala, Cameroon have had it done and the practice remains shrouded in silence.  Typically viewed as a secret between mothers and daughters, many girls are believed to endure the pain in silence despite the trauma associated with the practice.    While traditionalists defend breast ironing as a way to prevent early pregnancy, the psychological effect can be devastating for young girls who can develop serious emotional and physical problems later in life (including breast cancer, abscesses, and inability to breastfeed). 

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Comments

[Shela Mills]

Even though there isn’t any focus on the role of boys and men; and the state of the South African government. Both of which can be attributed to the fact that bizarre practices of this sort are still being performed. In my opinion these mothers are only doing the best they can with what little resources and support they have access to. Sure, a mother can very well talk to her daughter, but about what really? The same things she had to face growing up are the same things her daughter faces as she grows up, things haven’t changed from back in her day, because for her back, in the days is the same as today. She is only trying to protect her daughter the best and maybe only way she knows. Educating the mothers and encouraging them to talk about sex is great, buts lets look at the big picture. When you live in a society where domestic violence and sexual assault against women are normal what advice can you really give her? Young girls often have very little or no control over who, when, and even where they have sex, let alone being able to ask their “dominating sex partners” to wear a condom. I feel the issue starts with woman’s rights and equality in Africa, and then maybe these mothers won’t be so desperate to protect the daughters, that they actually do more harm than help

[Shela Mills]

Even though there isn’t any focus on the role of boys and men; and the state of the South African government. Both of which can be attributed to the fact that bizarre practices of this sort are still being performed. In my opinion these mothers are only doing the best they can with what little resources and support they have access to. Sure, a mother can very well talk to her daughter, but about what really? The same things she had to face growing up are the same things her daughter faces as she grows up, things haven’t changed from back in her day, because for her back, in the days is the same as today. She is only trying to protect her daughter the best and maybe only way she knows. Educating the mothers and encouraging them to talk about sex is great, buts lets look at the big picture. When you live in a society where domestic violence and sexual assault against women are normal what advice can you really give her? Young girls often have very little or no control over who, when, and even where they have sex, let alone being able to ask their “dominating sex partners” to wear a condom. I feel the issue starts with woman’s rights and equality in Africa, and then maybe these mothers won’t be so desperate to protect the daughters, that they actually do more harm than help

[Romeo Vitelli]

Unfortunately, there are all sorts of questionable practices that are often justified by being in the child's best interest. Education may be the answer but it's still an uphill battle.

[Breast cancer brachytherapy]

What kind of education is going to be provided to these mothers? Do we really have right to interfere? It is exactly the point where you decide - either we are postmodern supporters of "equal cultures has equal value" principle or we go back to Victorian times principle "you are not allowed to eat each other cause I have a machine gun and i mean it!"

[Romeo Vitelli]

Breast ironing isn't about cultural traditions. It's meant as a way of protecting young girls from rape. Providing girls and their mothers with viable alternatives may be the best way of eradicating the practice.