Breast Ironing: A Harmful Practice

Introduction:
Breast ironing, a harmful cultural practice predominantly prevalent in parts of Africa, particularly Cameroon, is a deeply concerning phenomenon that poses serious risks to the physical and mental health of young girls. This article aims to explore the origins, methods, impacts, and broader implications of breast ironing, shedding light on the urgent need for awareness, advocacy, and intervention to eradicate this harmful practice.

Origins and Methods:
Breast ironing, also known as breast flattening or breast sweeping, traces its origins to cultural beliefs and traditions aimed at delaying the onset of puberty and deterring male attention. Typically performed by older female family members or traditional healers, breast ironing involves the use of heated objects, such as stones, spatulas, or rods, to massage, press, or flatten the developing breasts of prepubescent girls. This painful and traumatic practice is often carried out in secrecy and without the consent or understanding of the young girls subjected to it.

Impacts on Physical Health:
Breast ironing inflicts severe physical harm on young girls, resulting in a range of immediate and long-term health consequences. The intense pressure and heat applied to the delicate breast tissue can lead to tissue damage, scarring, infections, and deformities. In some cases, the practice may impede breast development, disrupt hormonal balance, and increase the risk of breast cancer and other reproductive health issues later in life. Additionally, the emotional and psychological trauma associated with breast ironing can have profound and lasting effects on the mental well-being of survivors.

Impacts on Mental Health:
The psychological toll of breast ironing extends far beyond the physical pain and scars, leaving deep emotional scars that can last a lifetime. Young girls subjected to this practice often experience feelings of shame, guilt, worthlessness, and betrayal, leading to low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The secrecy and silence surrounding breast ironing further compound the mental health impact, as survivors may feel isolated, stigmatized, and unable to seek help or support.

Broader Implications:
Beyond its immediate effects on individual girls, breast ironing has broader implications for gender equality, human rights, and public health. This harmful practice reinforces harmful gender stereotypes and norms that prioritize male desires and control over female bodies. It perpetuates cycles of gender-based violence, discrimination, and oppression, undermining efforts to achieve gender equality and empower women and girls. From a public health perspective, breast ironing contributes to a range of reproductive health issues and undermines efforts to promote sexual and reproductive rights, education, and access to healthcare services.

Addressing Breast Ironing:
Addressing breast ironing requires a multifaceted approach that addresses its root causes, challenges harmful beliefs and attitudes, and provides support and resources to survivors. Key strategies include community education and awareness-raising campaigns to challenge harmful myths and traditions, legal reforms to prohibit and penalize the practice, and comprehensive support services for survivors, including access to healthcare, counseling, and legal assistance. Empowering girls with knowledge, skills, and agency is also critical in preventing breast ironing and promoting gender equality and women's rights.

Conclusion:
Breast ironing is a harmful and deeply entrenched practice that has no place in any society. It violates the rights and dignity of young girls, inflicting physical and psychological harm that can have lifelong consequences. Eradicating breast ironing requires collective action, political will, and a commitment to gender equality, human rights, and reproductive health. By raising awareness, advocating for change, and supporting survivors, we can work towards a future where all girls are free from the threat of breast ironing and empowered to realize their full potential.

References:
1. UNICEF. (2019). Breast Ironing: The Cruel Ritual Silencing Women’s Voices in Cameroon. Retrieved from

https://www.unicef.org/wca/stories/breast-ironing-cruel-ritual-silencing-womens-voices-cameroon

2. Plan International. (2018). Breast Ironing: A Hidden Form of Abuse. Retrieved from

https://plan-international.org/publications/breast-ironing-hidden-form-abuse

3. Human Rights Watch. (2019). Cameroon: Stop Abuse of Girls under ‘Breast Ironing’. Retrieved from

https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/07/08/cameroon-stop-abuse-girls-under-breast-ironing

4. World Health Organization. (2020). Breast Ironing. Retrieved from

https://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/fgm/breast_ironing/en/

5. Girls Not Brides. (2021). Breast Ironing. Retrieved from

https://www.girlsnotbrides.org/themes/breast-ironing/

6. The Guardian. (2019). 'It's Pure Torture': The Victims of Cameroon's Breas Ironing Tradition. Retrieved from

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/27/its-pure-torture-the-victims-of-cameroons-breast-ironing-tradition

7. BBC News. (2020). Breast Ironing: 'I Still Haven't Healed Fully'. Retrieved from

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-africa-51598948
8. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics. (2019). A Literature Review on Breast Ironing. Retrieved from https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ijgo.12859