Women
Still On Female Circumcision
In today’s society, there
are still some harmful cultural practices which impede on the rights of the girl child.
Observers say that such practices include Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), otherwise known as female circumcision.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines Female Genital Mutilation as “all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
“It is practised as a cultural ritual by ethnic groups in 27 countries in sub-Saharan and Northeast Africa, and to a lesser extent in Asia, the Middle East and within immigrant communities elsewhere”.
Reports indicate that not less than 140 million women worldwide have been subjected to FGM, while three million girls are at risk each year.
“This practice is an abuse of human rights and it causes serious health complications, including fatal bleeding,’’ says the United Nations (UN) in a report.
The journal of Annals of Medical Health Sciences Research (2012) says that the subjection of girls and women to obscure traditional practices in Nigeria is legendary.
It adds that FGM is an unhealthy traditional practice inflicted on girls and women worldwide which is recognised as a violation of human rights.
“FGM is widely practiced in Nigeria, as the country has the highest absolute number of cases in the world; accounting for about one-quarter of the estimated 115 to 130 million circumcised women worldwide”.
Decrying the dangers of female circumcision, Dr Maureen Ume, a gynaecologist at National Hospital, Abuja, insists that female circumcision is a death trap for women.
According to her, FGM includes procedures which intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
She explains that these procedures can lead to severe bleeding and urinary problems.
“It can also lead to complications in childbirth and increased risk of newborn deaths,’’ she adds.
The gynaecologist says that some women or children are exposed to some immediate complications, including bleeding, tetanus infection, urine retention, open sores in the genital region and injury to nearby genital tissues.
“The long-term consequences can include recurrent bladder and urinary tract infections, cysts, infertility, increased risks of childbirth complications and newborn deaths,” she says.
Ume also notes that some women could experience painful intercourse, thereby requiring surgery in the clitoris.
She says that FGM procedures are mostly carried out on young girls, ranging from months’ old infants to 15-year-old teens, and occasionally on adult women.
She emphasises that FGM has no health benefits, insisting that it harms girls and women in many ways, as it involves removing and damaging healthy and normal female genital tissues, while interfering with the natural functions of the victims’ bodies.
“Most of the time, it is done without anaesthesia for a child of that tender age, as the child is exposed to chronic pain and bleeding; sometimes leading to death.
“The woman goes through repeated opening and closing procedures of surgery, further increasing and repeating both immediate and long-term risks,’’ Ume says.
The gynaecologist says that the practice is mostly carried out by traditional circumcisers, who often play other central roles in communities, such as birth attendants.
Ume says that FGM has been recognised internationally as a violation of the fundamental human rights of girls and women.
“It reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women.
“It is nearly always carried out on minors and it is a violation of the rights of children. The practice also violates a person’s rights to health, security and physical integrity.
“Such rights include the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and the right to life when the procedure results in death,’’ she says.
Ume particularly calls for increased public awareness activities on the dangers of FGM as part of efforts to stop the cruel practice in the country.
Sharing similar sentiments, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, the Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Health Care Board, says that female circumcision is of four types.
“There is the partial or total removal of the clitoris and/or the prepuce; partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora; narrowing of the vaginal orifice with creation of a covering seal,’’ he says.
He adds that the fourth type involves all other harmful procedures on the female genitalia such as pricking and piercing.
Mohammed, who frowns at the practice, says that young girls are subjected to circumcision because of the erroneous notion that it “reduces sexual desires, in order to curtail promiscuity and promote virginity before marriage”.
He says that other reasons include promoting social integration and initiation of girls into womanhood.
The executive secretary says that female circumcision could result in Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF).
“Female circumcision is a social problem like HIV; it makes a woman feel inferior and incomplete,” he says.
Mohammed discloses that the FCT Primary Health Care Board has already embarked on a public enlightenment campaign to dissuade the people from engaging in FGM.
“Religious and traditional leaders are being educated on the dangers of female circumcision and we are sure this will help us in our efforts to bring female circumcision to an end,|” he says.
Mohammed, nonetheless, calls on the Federal Government to review the National Policy and Plan of Action on the Elimination of FGM in Nigeria so as to restructure it to be in line with global trends.
With Nigeria having FGM national prevalence rate of 30 per cent, experts say that elimination of female circumcision is crucial to efforts to attain national and international health goals.
“Eliminating FGM will promote gender equality, reduce infant mortality rate, improve maternal health and help control HIV/AIDS in Nigeria,” some of them say.
Besides, the experts say the fight against female circumcision will strengthen calls for the passage of the Violence against Persons Prohibition Bill.
All the same, the WHO says it is committed to the elimination of FGM in the society, adding that it is, therefore, focusing on advocacy, research and guidance for health professionals and health systems.
Sharang is of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Naomi Sharang
Mothers breastfeeding their babies Photo: Nwiueh Donatus Ken
IVY-K Fashion by Igiebor Daddy Lucky, a Nigerian-born designer now based in the UK, has launched the latest menswear line, Dapper Man.
One of the collection’s strengths is its classic, clean aesthetic. Dapper Man delivers sharp, structured suits in a timeless black and white color scheme that exudes a sense of luxury and professionalism. The use of high-quality fabrics like wool and silk ensures that the suits not only look high-end but also feel luxurious to the wearer. The designer’s focus on detail is evident in the meticulous tailoring, with fitted blazers and crisp trousers forming the foundation of the collection.
Where IVY-K Fashion shines is in the subtle yet elegant touches. The inclusion of beads as embellishments on lapels and cuffs adds a unique flair, blending traditional craft with modern tailoring. This nod to African heritage gives the collection a distinct identity, offering something more personal and culturally significant than your standard menswear line.
However, despite the elegance of the Dapper Man collection, there is a lingering sense of missed opportunity. The black-and-white color palette, while classic, feels overly safe. In a fashion landscape where bold colors and daring patterns often make the strongest impact, the collection could benefit from incorporating more vibrant hues or experimenting with unconventional fabrics. Pushing the envelope with color or texture could elevate these designs from simply elegant to truly memorable.
In addition, while the tailoring of the blazers and trousers is immaculate, the collection lacks a sense of playfulness or modern edge that many contemporary menswear lines are embracing. The suits are undoubtedly stylish, but the collection as a whole leans heavily on tradition. Experimenting with asymmetrical cuts, bold patterns, or even layering could add an exciting dimension to Dapper Man. The challenge is to maintain the sleek sophistication of the collection while infusing it with a fresh, innovative spirit.
Another area that could use improvement is the overall cohesion of the collection. While the suits are well-crafted, there is a feeling of repetition across the pieces. More variation in design, such as different lapel styles, pocket configurations, or even bolder accessories, would give the collection greater diversity and visual interest.
In conclusion, Dapper Man by Igiebor Daddy Lucky showcases the designer’s strong grasp of classic tailoring and elegant design, but to truly capture the attention of a broader audience, IVY-K Fashion would benefit from more daring choices. By infusing the collection with bold colors, unexpected textures, and a more modern edge, Dapper Man could move from a well-crafted line to a trendsetting force in men’s fashion. With such a solid foundation, there’s no doubt that Igiebor Daddy Lucky has the potential to lead his brand toward greater heights
The trend of indecent dressing all in the name of fashion is fast becoming a norm in our generation and society at large. Most married women embrace this fashion as competition with single ladies.
Different scholars have given an in depth insight about dressing as a tool of communication. Non-verbal communication has been asserted as the communication between people by the means of signs or symbols. It conveys what we wish to disseminate to the public as either intentionally or not.
According to Paul Ekman and Michael Argyle, communication is carried out through what has been classified as “Presentational Code”. He listed nine codes of non-verbal communication, as body contact, facial expression, gestures, postures, eye movement, proximity, orientation, head nods and appearance.
This, being stated, married and single ladies should understand that their mode of dressing is communicative be it directly or indirectly as such body parts we call “private” are now being made public because of the trends or wearing of transparent dresses and this in turn calls on the attention of men who are weak and prone to illicit thoughts thus, resulting to most rape cases in our society.
This indecent dressing by most ladies has denied many their future husbands. The truth is that a man is attracted to his kind; his desires in marriage. It is often asserted that decency and beauty are in the eyes of the beholder, yet, in trending times of this 21st century, dress code and fashion in nudity form is gaining popularity.
This has become complicated as most men tend to toggle between their emotions (lust) and sanity (rationality) in terms of marriage, thereby setting a wrong foundation upon which most marriages are consummated.
On the other hand, most married women have embraced the trend of indecent dressing nipping it on the state of it being the choice dressing, approved by their spouses, leaving society with the question of what “responsible” man would prefer that the secrecy of the benefit of his marital vow has become the centre of attraction and viewership by the general public.
Hence, communicating with their dressing gas given licence to every male gender who is interested or attracted to what they see to make unsolicited sexual passes at them, which might be considered embarrassing.
At this juncture, it is important to state that ladies should dress decently knowing that they are the epitome of nation-building, they are nation-builders, character moulders and pacesetters not just in the lives of their families but to the society at large.
In most occasions, there are no clear border lines between the married women and the single ladies because of the rate of scanty dressing which has close the gap of differences.
Women and girls should embrace this call awakening to decent mode of dressing. Dresses that are meant to be worn indoors should remain indoors.
It is worrisome to see ladies wear shorts that are supposed to be worn in the living room on the streets without shame. This is an awakening call to our ladies, married and singles that the opposite sex do not expose their private body parts for the public. Sometimes, the ladies go about in the streets without wearing brazziers as to showcase their nipples.
The society should be sanitised of the menace of indecent dressing that is lurking and taking over the entire nooks and crannies of the society and the nation at large.
Let it be known that he or she is addressed in the manner he or she is dressed. There may be no room for a second impression. To the single ladies, your dressing decently will not stop you from meeting your Mr Right rather, it will increase your stake and place you on the list of most valued women in the society.
Dressing speaks louder than words.
Kate Chisom Isiocha
Isiocha is an OND final year student of Temple Gate Polytechnic.
