image from wikipedia.
FGM
“When a man denies the power of women, he is
denying his subconscious.”--Amrita Pritam.
Just the words
give me a chill--
female genital mutilation,
cutting,
surgery,
circumcision.
The practice is still found
in 30 countries
in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East;
in 200 million women.
The practice is done on girls
from birth to puberty.
They remove the clitoral hood,
the clitorus itself,
the outer and inner labia,
and close off the vulva;
after marriage,
reopening the vagina for intercourse.
Believe it or not,
this barbarity
is usually initiated and carried out
by women.
Add to that
the burka mandates
and medieval treatment
of women in Muslim countries.
Add to that
those MAGA Trumpers
on the Supreme Court,
preparing to strike down
Roe V. Wade,
and my whole body
clenches with anger.
Some of us
have always been champions
for Women’s rights-
but not enough it seems.
The world needs to consider
the fight for Women’s Rights
as important as saving the elephants,
or weaning off the fossil fuel tit,
or getting rid of the plastics
out of the ocean.
Glenn Buttkus
Posted over at d'Verse Poet's Pub
10 comments:
The barbarism in the name of culture does make my skin crawl. Couldn't agree more with the last stanza, Glenn! The day atrocities against women will stop, the world will be a better place to live.
Genuine outrage should be the only acceptable response to the subjugation of women for any reason. If men gave birth, abortion would be a sacrament for crying out loud. This touched a nerve with me as well, powerful write.
When I read about these things, its just awful that the rights of women are being taken away and disregarded. We need to educated not only women but also men too to treat and respect women as persons. Thanks for writing to the prompt.
Considering the goose and the gander scenario — it seems only fair that men, after saving enough sperm to bank, should then have their testicals removed, to wear around their neck in a little leather pouch (vinyl for vegans). Might lessen the violence in tye world.
We have come full circle Glenn. I was watching the George Carlin documentary on HBO the other night and my God- we are coming back to where we started all those years ago. The banning of women's rights- what's next- stopping us from voting? Are we entering the age of The Handmaid's Tale?
Glenn, have you ever read the book, "Egalia's Daughters"? It flips the script of gender roles and makes it crystal clear why it is so biased and ludicrous. I think we are moving towards another way, but our species will be eradicated long before we see equitable treatment of females. In other words, TOO DAMNED SLOW. This pussy footing around with endless patience gets real old.
Thank You for you advocacy for females, buddy. It is much appreciated.
It's all of a piece--women, animals, the earth. To be used and enjoyed by men. I wish more would join with you Glenn. Your powerful words need allies.
but not enough it seems.
Kind of sums it up
I almost worked FGM into my poem, too. It all makes me so angry, too--and we definitely need more men who will stand up for women. And everyone.
In reality, fighting for women's rights will also make it better for men... just like the quote says.
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