The women of Sudan are strong women, and their strength is early measured. The first test of a Sudanese woman’s strength takes place during childhood. To maintain her family’s honor, her possibility to marry, and at the same time make sure she will never enjoy sex, she is taken to the local mid wife in early girlhood. The elder woman will stitch her labia majora together, usually after the clitoris and labia minora have been removed. A tiny hole about the size of a pea is left, so that her urine and menstruating fluids can pass. The correct term for this mutilation is Infibulation, but other common names are Faraonic or Sudanese circumcision.
Pain and Trauma
Infibulation is dangerous and extremely painful. Before stitching, parts of the labia majora have to be scraped or removed, and there is a danger of copious bleeding. Shock and infections can also cause acute complications. Some girls die. Broken bones and other injuries are also common, because the pain is so extreme that the girl will automatically struggle to get away and has to be forcibly restrained. The girl then has to stay in bed for about 40 days, while her wounds heal. Traditionally thorns are used as stitching, to keep the wound closed, and hot tea is used to prevent infections. Whilst at bed rest the girl is awarded with presents and a lot of attention, to shift the focus away from the trauma she has just experienced.
It’s tradition, not religion
What makes a woman harm her sister like this? “This is simply the way it is” and “Everyone is circumcised” are explanations I hear way too often. Here in Port Sudan I am told that it is simply their tradition and an important ritual for the Sudanese women. It is indeed a test of a woman’s strength; but then it is also revealed to me; No man will agree to marry a woman who is not “closed”. Which means the women must be strong for the sake of the men. For a man a woman will suffer.
The reason why this tradition is still being practiced in Sudan is lack of information and knowledge about the dangers of female genital mutilation. There is unfortunately little understanding for the unnecessary nature of the tradition. But facts are clear; No religion requires girls to be circumcised, female genital mutilation is done solely out of local traditions.
Women’s battle for change
The Red Crescent has several Women Centers in Port Sudan. These function as meeting places for the women in the city, where they meet to talk, learn and exchange their experiences. The centers are open during daytime, when the women can leave the house while her husband is working. Hawwa is employed by the Sudanese Red Crescent, and she works at the women centre of ‘Unquab. Hawwa teaches female health, nutrition and female rights in marriage, in addition to other things. She’s a feminist in heart, and she works hard for women’s rights and welfare among the ethnic group of Beja Women in Port Sudan.
Female genital mutilation is a sensitive topic. Every woman has her own personal story and feelings concerning her mutilation, and as a youth delegate from Norway, where we luckily are not mutilated simply for being a woman, I must be considerate and patient when addressing the issue. So I spend my time at the women center of ‘Unquab, and I try my best to get to know the women and their culture. Hopefully I will be able to join Hawwa in her work against female genital mutilation, and support her battle. The women of the Beja tribe are strong women, and they hold a powerful relationship between themselves. Hawwa tells me that by teaching these 20 – 30 women about female health issues, they will spread the information on, to other women in the society, in addition to the coming generations. And hopefully, Hawwa’s work will make a difference for the women of Sudan.