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FGM Awareness-Raising And Redefining Femininity – Paul D. Lowe & Bridget Kigambo
On this episode of the World Game-Changers podcast, Paul is joined by Bridget Kigambo to talk about the comparing the circumstances and situations faced by previous generations of Ugandan women, and women around the world, to those faced by the current generation around femininity, with specific reference to FGM (female genital mutilation).
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- In Uganda we have tribes that practice FGM. Mostly it happens in Northern Uganda and it is a cultural way of cutting (or circumcision), because our ancestors and traditional leaders believed you had to be circumcised to get married. In most cases, in a typical family, at 5 years old your mother can send you to your aunt's place where they take you through the initiation of why you should be cut and how it will benefit you as a woman. With the wrong tools that they carry out that activity, sometimes it’s so painful that they have to tie the girls to the table and the cultural leader (who is a female) comes and slices you with either a razor blade or a knife.
- With the help from civil society organisations and NGOs like Unicef, UNU, NFTA and other international organisations that invest funds to create awareness and train communities about how it is a human rights abuse to circumcise young women, especially children because it deprives them of sexual pleasure and it disfigures the reproductive parts of a woman. If god created you with a full vagina with a clitoris inside and the culture says you need to cut it off, it somehow dismantles the whole reproductive system of a woman and causes several diseases, not forgetting the trauma that comes with the circumcision. Through these programmes and activities, I see organisations creating awareness on how FGM not only deprives women of their divinity or their ability to carry on with their work or lead lives normally, but it’s not a must that every woman who has to get married has to go through FGM.
- Redefining femininity for me would mean being in a female-friendly community where I can fully exploit my potential, full access to all the basic needs I need as a woman to not only be a woman but also reach out to the spaces where before women were not allowed.
- Traditionally, African families were expected to invest more in their boys, no matter how many girls you had, because they believed that when the kids are old enough for marriage the women take all the glory, wealth and knowledge that they receive to the next family – they don’t belong to the families they are born into. But currently, I would say most families are more invested in supporting all girls in a way that they should go to school the same as the boys.
BEST MOMENTS
‘My family doesn’t believe in FGM, but from the stories that we hear FGM somehow contributes to your divinity as a woman because if you’re not circumcised, or cut, you most definitely won’t get married or get a husband.’
‘With the kind of awareness and knowledge sharing that we are having, we’re noticing reduced cases especially in the North. It’s better now and we’re getting there to a point where FGM will not be there anymore.’
‘We have women MPs as well as men MPs, even in religious structures that used to be so rigid that they wouldn’t allow religious leaders to be women, we’re starting to see some institutions providing platforms and opportunities for women to lead, which is a great way for us to redefine femininity.’
‘We are working towards enabling young women and girls to not only identify their skills and potentials, but also manage them to see what they can do towards creating gender inclusion and equality in our communities.’
VALUABLE RESOURCES
- Paul’s Story: Emerging From The Forest (UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Emerging-Forest-Pain-Purpose-Mastering/dp/1719373272
- Paul’s Story: Emerging From The Forest (USA): https://www.amazon.com/Emerging-Forest-Pain-Purpose-Mastering/dp/1719373272
- Mastering The Game Of Life Book (UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mastering-Game-Life-Paul-Lowe/dp/1782227679
- Mastering The Game Of Life Book (USA): https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Game-Life-Paul-Lowe/dp/1782227679
- Speaking From Our Hearts Books: Volumes 1-3 (Available on Amazon)
- World Game-Changers Group
ABOUT THE GUEST
Bridget Kigambo is the founder of the Girl Care Centre, founder of Girl Power Connect, an architect, entrepreneur, illustrator/cartoonist at Youth Scroll Lock, and the proprietor at Green Shero Ltd.
Websites: https://girlpotentialcarecenter.org/ and http://youthscrolllock.com/
Social Media: @girlpotentialcarecenter
ABOUT THE HOST
Paul has made a remarkable transformation from existing for many years in dark, desperate despair; to now living a really healthy, happy and fulfilling life.
From an early age, he was in the vice-like clutches of the demon drink and constantly embroiled within a dark cocktail of toxic beliefs, self-hate and destructive violence.
Along with his empathetic and dedicated team of world-class coaches and mentors, Paul’s purpose is deeply transformational:
Contributing Significantly To World Peace…
He is extremely passionate about helping others to find their purpose, have a voice and ultimately, make a real difference. This has been built on a long and distinguished history of heart-centred coaching and mentoring. He has also been responsible for raising significant amounts of funds for many charities and good causes around the world; positively impacting and inspiring thousands of children – mainly from challenging backgrounds – within the UK & worldwide.
Through this World Game-Changers podcast and books, he has been involved in – including being a best-selling co-author – Paul also helps others to get their own inspirational messages and stories out into the world; as well as offering support to many charitable organisations, in their development & fund-raising.
CONTACT METHODS
Tel: +44 (0) 7958 042 155
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: https://www.Paul-Lowe.com
Web: https://www.worldgamechangers.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IamPaulLowe/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-d-lowe-7a78332a/
View all episodes
By Paul D. LoweOn this episode of the World Game-Changers podcast, Paul is joined by Bridget Kigambo to talk about the comparing the circumstances and situations faced by previous generations of Ugandan women, and women around the world, to those faced by the current generation around femininity, with specific reference to FGM (female genital mutilation).
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- In Uganda we have tribes that practice FGM. Mostly it happens in Northern Uganda and it is a cultural way of cutting (or circumcision), because our ancestors and traditional leaders believed you had to be circumcised to get married. In most cases, in a typical family, at 5 years old your mother can send you to your aunt's place where they take you through the initiation of why you should be cut and how it will benefit you as a woman. With the wrong tools that they carry out that activity, sometimes it’s so painful that they have to tie the girls to the table and the cultural leader (who is a female) comes and slices you with either a razor blade or a knife.
- With the help from civil society organisations and NGOs like Unicef, UNU, NFTA and other international organisations that invest funds to create awareness and train communities about how it is a human rights abuse to circumcise young women, especially children because it deprives them of sexual pleasure and it disfigures the reproductive parts of a woman. If god created you with a full vagina with a clitoris inside and the culture says you need to cut it off, it somehow dismantles the whole reproductive system of a woman and causes several diseases, not forgetting the trauma that comes with the circumcision. Through these programmes and activities, I see organisations creating awareness on how FGM not only deprives women of their divinity or their ability to carry on with their work or lead lives normally, but it’s not a must that every woman who has to get married has to go through FGM.
- Redefining femininity for me would mean being in a female-friendly community where I can fully exploit my potential, full access to all the basic needs I need as a woman to not only be a woman but also reach out to the spaces where before women were not allowed.
- Traditionally, African families were expected to invest more in their boys, no matter how many girls you had, because they believed that when the kids are old enough for marriage the women take all the glory, wealth and knowledge that they receive to the next family – they don’t belong to the families they are born into. But currently, I would say most families are more invested in supporting all girls in a way that they should go to school the same as the boys.
BEST MOMENTS
‘My family doesn’t believe in FGM, but from the stories that we hear FGM somehow contributes to your divinity as a woman because if you’re not circumcised, or cut, you most definitely won’t get married or get a husband.’
‘With the kind of awareness and knowledge sharing that we are having, we’re noticing reduced cases especially in the North. It’s better now and we’re getting there to a point where FGM will not be there anymore.’
‘We have women MPs as well as men MPs, even in religious structures that used to be so rigid that they wouldn’t allow religious leaders to be women, we’re starting to see some institutions providing platforms and opportunities for women to lead, which is a great way for us to redefine femininity.’
‘We are working towards enabling young women and girls to not only identify their skills and potentials, but also manage them to see what they can do towards creating gender inclusion and equality in our communities.’
VALUABLE RESOURCES
- Paul’s Story: Emerging From The Forest (UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Emerging-Forest-Pain-Purpose-Mastering/dp/1719373272
- Paul’s Story: Emerging From The Forest (USA): https://www.amazon.com/Emerging-Forest-Pain-Purpose-Mastering/dp/1719373272
- Mastering The Game Of Life Book (UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mastering-Game-Life-Paul-Lowe/dp/1782227679
- Mastering The Game Of Life Book (USA): https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Game-Life-Paul-Lowe/dp/1782227679
- Speaking From Our Hearts Books: Volumes 1-3 (Available on Amazon)
- World Game-Changers Group
ABOUT THE GUEST
Bridget Kigambo is the founder of the Girl Care Centre, founder of Girl Power Connect, an architect, entrepreneur, illustrator/cartoonist at Youth Scroll Lock, and the proprietor at Green Shero Ltd.
Websites: https://girlpotentialcarecenter.org/ and http://youthscrolllock.com/
Social Media: @girlpotentialcarecenter
ABOUT THE HOST
Paul has made a remarkable transformation from existing for many years in dark, desperate despair; to now living a really healthy, happy and fulfilling life.
From an early age, he was in the vice-like clutches of the demon drink and constantly embroiled within a dark cocktail of toxic beliefs, self-hate and destructive violence.
Along with his empathetic and dedicated team of world-class coaches and mentors, Paul’s purpose is deeply transformational:
Contributing Significantly To World Peace…
He is extremely passionate about helping others to find their purpose, have a voice and ultimately, make a real difference. This has been built on a long and distinguished history of heart-centred coaching and mentoring. He has also been responsible for raising significant amounts of funds for many charities and good causes around the world; positively impacting and inspiring thousands of children – mainly from challenging backgrounds – within the UK & worldwide.
Through this World Game-Changers podcast and books, he has been involved in – including being a best-selling co-author – Paul also helps others to get their own inspirational messages and stories out into the world; as well as offering support to many charitable organisations, in their development & fund-raising.
CONTACT METHODS
Tel: +44 (0) 7958 042 155
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: https://www.Paul-Lowe.com
Web: https://www.worldgamechangers.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IamPaulLowe/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-d-lowe-7a78332a/