Breast Ironing Tradition Targeted In Cameroon [Cultural Barbarism]

CNN ^ | July 27,2011 | Nkepile Mabuse

[Steelfish]

Breast Ironing Tradition Targeted In Cameroon From Nkepile Mabuse, CNN July 27, 2011

Activists fight breast ironing tradition

1 in 4 girls in Cameroon are affected, a study found All of the more than 200 ethnic groups use the practice

The U.S. State Department assails the practice Charities want to show mothers in Cameroon that sex education, not the ironing, is the solution

(CNN) -- Every morning before school, nine-year-old Terisia Techu would undergo a painful procedure. Her mother would take a burning hot pestle straight out of a fire and use it to press her breasts. With tears in her eyes as she recalls what it was like, Terisia tells CNN that one day the pestle was so hot, it burned her, leaving a mark. Now 18, she is still traumatized.

Her mother, Grace, denies the incident. But she proudly demonstrates the method she used on her daughter for several weeks, saying the goal was to make her less desirable to boys -- and stave off pregnancy. A study found that one in four girls in Cameroon have been affected by the practice.

The U.S. State Department, in its 2010 human rights report on Cameroon, cited news reports and said breast ironing "victimized numerous girls in the country" and in some cases "resulted in burns, deformities, and psychological problems."

There are more than 200 ethnic groups in Cameroon with different norms and customs. Breast ironing is practiced by all of them.

[Steelfish]

Cultural practices like abortion of females and dowry-less bride burning in India, as is genital mutilation and honor killing, and breast ironing are tacitly carried out with political support. Often times these practices are intertwined with Muslim and polytheistic beliefs. Allowing immigrants from such societies into the US is a futile attempt to mix oil and water. In terms of religion, cultural practices, religious beliefs, and dress, ritual, and sandpaper language accents, the differences are too large to be accommodated within the American cultural milieu.

[PGR88]

I’ve never been to Africa, but it seems that if you are a young woman - you should pretty much expect to be raped at some point.

[GeronL]

**every culure is equal my fat ____**

[Steelfish]

LaRaza, SEIU, NAACP, Maxine Waters, Villairagosa.......hope they are listening.

[GeronL]

*Must not comment*

[Frank_2001]

So, who needs wrinkly breasts???/sarcasm

[crazyhorse691]

I had never even contemplated the existence of such a practice until I read this article...the things we learn on Free Republic.

[QBFimi]

Hey, ain’t multiculturalism wonderful?

[TigersEye]

Her mother would take a burning hot pestle straight out of a fire and use it to press her breasts. With tears in her eyes as she recalls what it was like, Terisia tells CNN that one day the pestle was so hot, it burned her, leaving a mark.

If a burning hot pestle was used every day why did it only burn the girl one time? BTW, what is a "sandpaper language accent?"

[SF_Redux]

how did they know babies were female UNTIL they were born

[org.whodat]

We have more than enough nuts in the united states, so why wonder all over the world concerned about what nuts in other places are doing.

[bert]

The girls in Cameroon should be like the American girls.

Go ahead, have sex, enjoy it and the favors of the boy. If pregnant, not to worry, kill the baby. That’s the way to have sex and enjoy and not fear pregnancy

[SmackDabber]

CNN unconditionally advocates multiculturalism, routinely pointing out how the West’s perception of other cultures’ worth is tainted by Euro-centrism. In light of this report it’s necessary that Mika Brzezinski and Contessa Brewer be required to undergo this procedure in order better to appreciate how our Western stereotypical perceptions about it are flawed. They can subsequently present a report on how we overlook its obvious benefits. We might even need a Breast-Flattening Czar to make sure we embrace this practice.

Really, it’s the only way we’re going to grow as a people who consist of a glorious mosaic of cultures. If you feel your resolve weakening, just remember AlGore’s unique translation of our national motto: Out of one, Many. Repeat that to yourself a few hundred times a day, and eventually you’ll see the light.

[GraceG]

Multi-Racial = Good

Multi-Cultural = Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad...

We used to be a “Multi-Racial, Uni-Cultural Nation” Remember the Melting pot?

Now it is like a tossed salad, that is half rotten and makes you want to toss your cookies.

[GraceG]

I saw something about this on a Nat Geo Program, it was funny to see how the narrator tried to appear “tolerant” and try to not defend this barbaric practice.

PC speak is nothing but mental censorship.

[patriot08]

Ignorant savages!

Warning; graphic video

http://www.youtube.com/verify_age?next_url=http%3A//www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3Du5upAAPk_3I

[Steelfish]

“Sandpaper-language accent”
Grating. Korean, Chinese, Hindi, Tamil.

[TigersEye]

You left out German.