Excellent overview of the situation. I have a particular problem with the concept of "gender based violence" when applied to genital cutting practices. When it is done to a female child, it is called "Female genital mutilation," and when it is done to a male child, it is called "circumcision" and is attributed to "culture or religion" (the medical rational, is pure rationalization). Boys die from this, even in the United States. Boys are held down while having part of their genitals cut off without anesthetic, and even in the United States anesthetic is optional. Yet, somehow, it is only "gender based violence" when it is done to a female child. It is as though being born male somehow makes victimhood impossible. Even though more than 10 times the number of boys are cut, the violence done to them is invisible. There are far fewer cultures that cut girls genitals, and all cultures practicing female genital cutting also have a parallel practice of cutting boys at the same time, and under similar circumstance. However, somehow only the cutting of girls is "gender based violence." I prefer to describe the non-voluntary cutting of children's genitals for what it is: Violence Against Children! Paradoxically, I believe those fighting for girls rights to genital self-determination, just as those fighting for girls and women to be free of violence done to them, will have a quicker results if they work for a non-violent culture for girls, boy, men, women, and intersex persons. We all deserve to live free from violence. This is the other side of the patriarchy that continues to be supported by both those clinging to conservative gender roles AND, unfortunately, many feminists as well. This idea is that women need protection and are vulnerable, while men (and boys by extension) are powerful (often dangerous) but are also impervious to pain and incapable of victimhood. It is certainly so when discussing the genital cutting of children, all of whom are powerless over what was done to them. Boys and men are capable of suffering, just like girls and women. Furthermore, this aspect of the patriarchy (supported again by both those clinging to conservative gender roles AND many feminists) is intolerant of men and boys who speak out about their own experiences of abuse (in my case genital mutilation), and intolerant of those that support these men and boys. This societally enforced silence only adds injury to the original harm.
Excellent video. Thanks for speaking the truth in a world that is asleep to the reality of domestic violence.
Excellent overview of the situation.
I have a particular problem with the concept of "gender based violence" when applied to genital cutting practices. When it is done to a female child, it is called "Female genital mutilation," and when it is done to a male child, it is called "circumcision" and is attributed to "culture or religion" (the medical rational, is pure rationalization). Boys die from this, even in the United States. Boys are held down while having part of their genitals cut off without anesthetic, and even in the United States anesthetic is optional. Yet, somehow, it is only "gender based violence" when it is done to a female child. It is as though being born male somehow makes victimhood impossible. Even though more than 10 times the number of boys are cut, the violence done to them is invisible. There are far fewer cultures that cut girls genitals, and all cultures practicing female genital cutting also have a parallel practice of cutting boys at the same time, and under similar circumstance. However, somehow only the cutting of girls is "gender based violence." I prefer to describe the non-voluntary cutting of children's genitals for what it is: Violence Against Children!
Paradoxically, I believe those fighting for girls rights to genital self-determination, just as those fighting for girls and women to be free of violence done to them, will have a quicker results if they work for a non-violent culture for girls, boy, men, women, and intersex persons. We all deserve to live free from violence.
This is the other side of the patriarchy that continues to be supported by both those clinging to conservative gender roles AND, unfortunately, many feminists as well. This idea is that women need protection and are vulnerable, while men (and boys by extension) are powerful (often dangerous) but are also impervious to pain and incapable of victimhood. It is certainly so when discussing the genital cutting of children, all of whom are powerless over what was done to them. Boys and men are capable of suffering, just like girls and women.
Furthermore, this aspect of the patriarchy (supported again by both those clinging to conservative gender roles AND many feminists) is intolerant of men and boys who speak out about their own experiences of abuse (in my case genital mutilation), and intolerant of those that support these men and boys. This societally enforced silence only adds injury to the original harm.