Tuesday, May 31, 2022

FGM



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:

paeansunplugged said...

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.

Christopher Reilley said...

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.

Grace said...

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.

robkistner said...

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.

Linda Lee Lyberg said...

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?

JadeLi said...

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.

Kerfe said...

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.

Reena Saxena said...

but not enough it seems.

Kind of sums it up

Merril D. Smith said...


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.

brudberg said...

In reality, fighting for women's rights will also make it better for men... just like the quote says.