HARMFUL SOCIAL PRACTICES

EFFORTS TO FIGHT BREAST IRONING

I received some comments about breast ironing and some people wished to know efforts being taken to tackle it. Actually the first article was introducing breast ironing and its effects but did not delve much on the steps taken to fight it. The strange thing about this practice is that it is not cultural per se, although it has existed for a long time no one can tell how it originated. It is being practice mostly in the urban areas than in villages and Cameroonian men just recently became aware of it due to the growth of recent campaigns against it.

However, in Cameroon organizations such as Réseau National des Associations de Tantines (RENATA), translated in English as - the National Network of the Association of Aunties, the Ministry of Women Empowerment and the Family, and the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit, GTZ) are leading the campaign to educate mothers and daughters about the dangers involved, and the better ways to prevent teen pregnancy.

The National Network of the Association of Aunties- RENATA, is made up of members who have undergone the practice, and they are trying to stop breast ironing by drawing public attention to its dangers in radio and television spots and by disseminating leaflets.Their next mission is to make breast ironing illegal and eradicate the practice.

The UN says that 3.8 million West and Central African girls are at risk of this painful form of body mutilation.In Cameroon where the practice is most widespread, 50% of adolescent girls in cities and a quarter of all girls nationwide have their breasts 'ironed,' often by their mothers. While some reports proclaim One-quarter of all Cameroonian women are said to have been victims of this painful "breast-ironing".

Ironically, the tradition was a mystery to many in the West African nation until a recent campaign to stop the potentially dangerous practice, aimed at delaying a young girl's natural development was launched.

Nevertheless breast ironing is widespread and interestingly, the high prevalence in cities attributed to the effects of urbanization.

Flavien Ndonko, an anthropologist with GTZ's German-Cameroon HIV/AIDS health programme, noted that this painful form of mutilation could not only have negative health consequences for the girls, but was also a futile form of sex education.

"Many of the RENATA girls, who are young mothers, say they were subjected to 'ironing', and this clearly proves that it does not work ‘as pregnancy prevention’ and that it is a futile and traumatic experience imposed on them,".

Young people make up most of the 5.5 percent of the population living with HIV, and teenage pregnancy is a growing concern. One-third of the 20 to 30 percent of girls with unwanted pregnancies are between 13 and 25 years of age, with more than half of them having fallen pregnant after their first sexual encounter, according to GTZ.

Addressing the general lack of information about sex in the family ran counter to acceptable social norms, GTZ and RENATA pointed out.
"For the parents, it is very difficult to talk of sexuality due to modesty or for cultural reasons, so they prefer to get rid of the bodily signs of sexuality in this way," Ndonko commented. "However, the onset of adolescence is exactly the right time to start this discussion."
Because the topic of sex was taboo, young girls remained ignorant of how to protect themselves from HIV infection and were even more vulnerable to the virus, said Bessem Arrey Ebanga Bisong, Executive secretary of RENATA.

Nonetheless, support for the opposition to the tradition remains evenly balanced. According to a survey 39 percent of women opposed it while 41 percent expressed support and 26 percent were indifferent.

For Ndonko, the campaign is a battle to respect the physical intergrity of young girls, with broader implications for human rights. “If nothing was done today, tomorrow the very parents may even resolve to slice off the nose, the mouth or any other part of the girl which they think is making her attractive to men.”

Despite the campaigns some women still hold fast to it that their mothers did it to them as such they will do it to their own children.

Watch a video about Breast Ironing in Cameroon presented by Nina Garthwaite at - http://current.com/items/88852332/breast_ironing.htm

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY CELEBRATIONS IN CAMEROON

Today March 8th is the International Women’s Day and I guess almost every aspect now has a day to commemorate. However, Cameroonian women are not left out in the global ambience and they are always so colourfully dressed looking gay and exquisite; unfortunately some of them have a negative perception of this day.

In Cameroon there is an international women’s day cloth or material, which women use to sew different outfits some – pants/trousers, skirts long or short and tops or blouses, dresses, a traditional free wear design known as ‘Kaba’ and a traditional mode to tie a plain loin cloth from waist downwards to the ankle known as ‘wrapper’ or call it a wrap accompanied by a top known as ‘buba’. And it is an issue or a big deal if some men do not purchase this cloth for their wives, girlfriends or concubines. But those women who are employed in public or private services the office usually purchases the materials for their female staff. However, cultural groups and social groups usually have their uniforms which they dress up with as an identification of that particular group.

Before the day proper, there are various activities ranging from sports competitions, Arts and craft exhibitions, gastronomy exhibitions featuring the rich cultural meals of the different ethnic groups in Cameroon and also portraying the byproducts of some of our food crops and also as a means to demonstrating methods of conservation and preservation and an agricultural show for rural women.

Agric shows and other activities are also organised during World Rural Women’s Day – October 15, The World Food Day – October 16 and African Women’s day - July 31. Since the World Food Day is a Day after World Rural Women’s Day; they have decided to conjoin the celebration of these two days in Cameroon since the same officials are to preside - the Agriculture and Women Empower and Family Services.
There are also choral, cultural dance and drama presentations. The day proper comprises of speeches from officials and women representatives, marched pass of various cultural, official and social groups and presentation of prizes to individuals and groups who won in the various competitions.

In Cameroon as I observed most women have misconstrued the whole idea and concept of Women’s day. I have tried to get diverse views and opinions from both men and women about women’s day.

Some women would endeavour to put their houses in order and provide for her family during her absence like preparing the meal for the day; if there is no big child or house help to perform the task. But some women who are perverse are so excited about the day and claim that it is their day so they are the man of the house as such the man is to do all the house chores. They leave their homes in the morning to assembly at the celebration grounds. Each town has their own grounds where such festivities are carried out. After marched pass and the entire celebrations there is what we call in Cameroon ‘Item 11’ – reception; each women’s group assemble in their own arranged spot to eat, drink and dance.

Women who are cautious go back home on time meanwhile some even married women get themselves too drunk by consuming to much alcohol, they misbehave by talking and acting unruly and put up recalcitrant attitudes like dancing indecently. There are always stories of women who do not even spend that March 8 night at home and for some women, they never go back to their marital homes. From such attitudes and misconduct by some women during International Women’s Day celebrations most men now harbour adverse feelings. Some uphold women use the day to spite and disrespect men as a result commemorating the day have no positive impact or prospect. Some men even complain some women are insolent for when women gather in bars or beer parlours they ask the men to leave because today is the day for women.

Despite lots of sensitization some women only know that Women’s Day is a day billed for women to enjoy and feel free. I feel anguish when I see and hear how women exhibit negative tendencies, I then question if they are suppose to act by being contumacious or women are instead to demonstrate a better example. We know off course two wrongs don’t make a right.

I pray and hope more women should be educated and sensitized about the real need and essence of the International Women Day instead of them to abuse the precept, ideals and principles of an International Day for Women.

Personally, I hold no keen interest on any day for women. I belief everyday is my day and only those who are in bondage or rather have allowed themselves to be in bondage seek liberation and for me the need for advocating for women’s rights consist of a matter for everyday. Please, don’t misunderstand my point for I am also in the know that situations cause some women to undergo a lot and these needs to be address. But in my opinion if all the women should know and understand their rights and also stand up and stick to it then I guess we must have attained gender equality. Unfortunately some women are still naïve and stick to the patriarchal African society where men rule, hence they refuse to denounce or go against their man no matter the abuse or violence they face from their men. Perhaps their intention is to evince true love, submissiveness and gender humility.

HARMFUL TRADITIONAL PRACTICES

ABOUT BREAST IRONING

When I just got in to secondary school that was in the early eighties I heard some few girls talking about using objects like a wooden spatula, placed over hot flames to massage their breast to prevent them from growing big. I never took them seriously; I guess I considered it a faux pas, not until recently that the prevalence of breast ironing in Cameroon has become a lime- light issue due to the fact that it is a harmful ritual imposed on the nation’s pre-pubescent women. Local non- governmental Organisations are trying to call attention to this practice and stop it.

Breast ironing, known as a form of mutilation is another weird practiced whereby pubescent girls breasts are flatten. This involves pounding and massaging the developing breasts of young girls from about eight years with hot objects to try to make them disappear.

The objects used are wooden tools like pestles and spatulas, grinding stone, oranges, banana, coconut shells and belts. These heated objects and breast band are used to press or beat down the forming breasts.

The practice performed usually by mothers chiefly in urban areas than villages is believed to be an efficient means of delaying pregnancy; by “removing” signs of puberty, these girls are thought to no-longer appear sexually attractive to men. Hence, it helps prevent rape, early marriage and some mothers are equally worried that their daughters’ budding breast would expose them to the risk of sexual harassment.

While there is little research on the health effects of the practice, it is considered that the practice can cause tissue damage in addition to the pain of the ironing process. Other possible side effects include breast infections, malformed breast and the possible complete eradication of one or two breast. Even so, the practice can inhibit or prevent successful breast feeding.

According to a BBC report of June 23, 2006 titled – Cameroon Girls Battle ‘Breast Ironing’ by Randy Joe Sa’ah, statistic show that 26% of Cameroonian girls at puberty undergo it, as many mothers believe it protects their daughters from the sexual advances of boys and men who think children are ripe for sex once their breasts begin to grow. The most widely used instrument to flatten the breast is a wooden pestle, used for pounding tubers in the kitchen. Heated bananas and coconut shells are also used.

Many mothers have no regrets about ironing their daughter's breasts. "Breast ironing is not a new thing. Some women hold they are happy they protected their daughters. To them they could not stand the thought of boys spoiling her with sex before she completed school," one woman explained. "Unfortunately, television is encouraging all sorts of sexual immorality in our children."

Another report by CRIN – Children’s Right Information Network of July 13, 2006 captioned – Millions of Cameroonian Girls Suffer ‘breast ironing’ - “Breast ironing” – the use of hard or heated objects or other substances to try to stunt breast growth in girls – is a traditional practice in West Africa, expert say. A new survey has revealed it is shockingly widespread in Cameroon, where one in four teenagers is subjected to the traumatic process relatives, often hoping to lessen their sexual attractiveness.

Breast ironing is an age-old practice in Cameroon, as well as in many other countries in West and Central Africa, including Chad, Togo, Benin, Guinea – Conakry, just to name a few, “ said Flavien Ndonko, an Anthropologist and local representative of German Development Agency GTZ, which sponsored the survey.

“If society has been silent about it up to now is because, like other harmful practices done to women such as female genital mutilation, it was thought to be good for the girl” said Ndonko. “Even the victims themselves thought it was good for them.”

However, the practice has many side effects, including severe pain and abscesses, infections, breast cancer, and even the complete disappearance of one or both breasts.
The survey of more than 5,000 girls and women aged between 10 and 82 from throughout Cameroon, published last month, estimated that 4 million women in the central African country have suffered the process.

Another report captioned - Women in Africa Bear a Painful Tradition by Roxy Varza, Assistant Editor states that the practice, which was initially thought to improve a mother’s breast-milk, is now inflicted upon 24% of all Cameroonian women as young as the age of nine. While the practice is commonly performed by family members, 58% of the time by the mother, these young and naïve girls buy into its reasoning and often continue inflicting the practice upon their own bodies.
Aside from breast ironing being extremely painful, there are a serious number of physical and mental health complications that can ensue: the most serious include an elevated cancer risk, the inability to produce breast-milk, and psychological problems; many girls grow so fearful of their families that they flee their homes. If pounding is involved, related heart problems can also ensue. Despite the 42% of women touched by this practice who believe their breasts to have developed normally, a good 18% believe their breasts to have become prematurely “saggy” or deformed. Others suffer from infections, cysts, or lesions, which often lead to cancer as early as the age of 25.

Breast ironing affects women in all 10 of Cameroon’s provinces, crossing ethnic and religious boundaries. The practice is most prevalent in the Littoral province (53%), which houses Cameroon’s largest city of Douala; numbers are generally higher in urban areas, where sexual advances are more common. Possibly due to the differences in attire, breast ironing is less common in the nation’s north (7%), where the population is primarily Muslim. However, regardless of location, religion, or ethnicity, the risk of undergoing breast ironing doubles amongst girls who show signs of puberty before the age of nine.

Unlike other many other African nations, Cameroon enjoys general political stability, has a high-ranking educational system and one of the highest literacy rates in Africa (79% as of 2003). While teen pregnancy rates have declined since 1996, with 60% of all teens experiencing one or more pregnancies, to 20% in 2003, numbers are still high and have obviously not been reduced by the breast ironing. The rationale behind breast ironing, which is to protect young girls from sexual advances, conflicts with the reality that these girls can still become pregnant. The 5,661 women between the ages of 9 and 82, who were touched by breast ironing in 2005, sheds light upon a desperate need for sex education in a country where the topic is still very taboo.

Despite the problems with breast ironing, it has not yet been banned by authorities. While victims do have protection under law, very few cases are taken to court. If it is concluded that damage has been done to the victim, the responsible party can face up to 3 years in prison. Victims, however, are often too young and very unlikely to report their family members.

GENDER ISSUES

WOMEN AS BREADWINNERS

Most women go through thick and thin to be able to feed and provide for their household and equally see their children through their education. This might not seem strange but the line of businesses some of these women undertake to be able to meet up with their engagements is what matters and the end they wear off looking older than their husbands who where several years ahead before they were married to them.
As I observed in my county Cameroon, in as mush as most men uphold powers and authority as a man, they neglect and avoid those duties and responsibilities a man is suppose to perform as the head of the family.

This is common with those men who migrate from rural settings to township and are able to secure clerical and cleaning jobs which usually not sum up to a comfortable pay check. In effect these men when they decide to marry go back to their villages to get a wife, usually lass. The village fathers knowing he is from the city and judging from his conservative dressing which most of them put on to show off they are from the city and to portray they are financially okay, fathers readily propose and offer their young daughters.
When these women eventually join their husbands, they realize the condition of the man is not as blissful.

They are given money to purchase food and house needs at the market, the money is never enough and if they dare complain the respond from the man is “Manage, this is not the village where you have food in abundance from your farms, here we buy everything.” Situation gets worst when they start making children then the reality of taking the upper hand strokes - they are to be the breadwinner of their household.

To therefore act as breadwinners, especially those women who are determined that, their offspring should have better opportunities than they ever had these women are compelled to engage in tedious and risky businesses like going to the bush market to buy food stuff and retail at town markets. Such women are referred to in Cameroon as ‘Buyyam Sellam’ just from the mere sense that they buy and sell. These women sell foodstuff like plantains, yams, cocoyam, cassava, vegetables, fruits etc.

In Cameroon towns have particular days known as market days, usually twice or thrice a week, or some towns having more than one market have varied days within the week as such that town can have about five market days within the week. Some of the markets operate daily but on market days traders come from around and afar as such commodities and items are cheaper to acquire than in ordinary days.

The bush markets are rural markets where these women buy directly from farmers mostly women too, who till and toil under the sun and rain from dawn to dusk and at the same caring for their babies and toddlers they couldn’t leave behind. If the farm is far they spend some days in the farm house. The ‘Buyyam Sellam’ women leave their homes sometimes as early as 3am depending on which bush market they are going and their line of business from the aforementioned different kinds of foodstuff they deal in. To get to these bush markets some board trucks and others smaller vehicles.

Trucks with single cabins instead of two, three women sit in the front seats and trucks with double cabins instead of 3 women to sit at the back seats about 5 to 6 women cram in while others take their places behind the truck. Even when the truck is loaded, these women can be seen sitting on their goods no matter the distance or the condition of the road.
Those who go by smaller vehicles from my own assessment faces greater risk for, the drivers are usually overzealous as such they careless about the comfort of passengers but how much they could make. In front, the driver share his own seat with a passenger and two others share a seat bring the total to four in front. Then behind instead of 3 there are five or six passengers. That’s not all some people sit on the roof or bonnet of the car and mark you their loads are included. And they are plying on usually curvy, bumpy roads that have not been tarred and these women endure all this to make ends meet.

These women have a target day to get their goods to the market, but things turn sour when the wagon heavy laden with their goods breakdown. If the fault is such that a part need to be replaced the driver will now wait for any available vehicle heading town wards to purchase the part. As such these women will then spend two, three or four days sleeping on the road depending on their distance from town.
The women are compelled to stay and wait around the truck so that their goods would not been stolen. Each of them has special marks on their bags or bunches of plantain to be able to differentiate their goods. If there is no stream around then they stay without having any shower for those number of days. If it is plantains, vegetables or fruit, they stand the risk of working on a deficit, because the vegetables or fruits might get bad or the plantains get over ripe for sale. Some of them go through all these with a child strapped on their back. Before they leave their homes if they don’t have bigger children, then they must have prepared and kept enough food in the house for their husbands and children.

Those who are not into foodstuff business cook and sell food. Again they get up in the early hours of the morning so that by 7, 8, 9 am latest they should be at their selling point. Others who roast fish or fry puff-puff (balls), or ripe plantains (dodo) and cooked beans or pap at night by the road side start by 6 or 7pm latest till the early hours of morning depending oh how lucrative business was on that particular day. Sometimes their children stay with them to help out.

Women without selling points go about from place to place like bars, construction sites, parks carrying their basin on their heads. Such women sell scotch eggs, boiled eggs; cow skin (canda) fried with tomatoes and sometimes prepared also with liver, pancreases (fop-fop) and large intestine also tripes (towel).
Cow skin locally known as ‘canda’ is like a delicacy for those from the English part of Cameroon. Cameroon is a bilingual country and officially speaks French and English. Eight of the ten provinces speak French known as Francophones while the remaining two are known as Anglophones.

There are women who trade on this cow skin only. If they are in small towns where they don’t kill many cows, they travel to bigger towns to buy the skin. When they get back to their homes, they make large fire to burn the hair off the skin. While it is burning they are scraping. Then they will steep it in water for a couple of days. They later clean it until it obtains a yellowish brown colour before they take to the market. Some other women also roast plantain, cocoyam and corn by the roadside usually during the day.

These women undergo all this just to keep life going for their families meanwhile most of their men use their earnings to indulge in drinking sprees, womanizing and socializing. As such, the women assume responsibilities as a mother and father for children whom they have no say to decide on how many they are to give birth too.

Polygamy is also a cultural practice as a result some men marry up to six women or even more. Each woman has the responsibility to provide their offspring and at the same time have specific days to put food on their husbands table. He is less concern on how they manage and go about it after all he is the man of the house- ‘he who must be obeyed’.

By Cecile Enie