Overview of Breast Ironing
GLobal Perspective
A majority of the studies on breast ironing focus on Cameroon since it is the country where the practice is most prevalent. However, breast ironing also occurs in other countries, such as Guinea-Bissau, Chad, Togo, Benin, Guinea-Conakry, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa (Tapscott, 2012), and West African communities within the United Kingdom (Week, 2016).
The practice is done to deter unwanted sexual advances from men who see a girl’s newly forming breasts as a sign of sexual maturity. The prevalence rate, method, rationale, and reported outcomes vary significantly by region and individual. No correlation has been proven between the prevalence of breast ironing and socioeconomic level, urban or rural living, religious affiliation, or ethnicity (Tapscott, 2012).
Female Genital Mutilation however is concentrated at less than 1%, indicating that breast ironing is most likely not included in FGM statistics (UNICEF, 2012).
Statistics show that the practice is not as prevalent in other African countries because girls marry at a much younger age and do not attempt to deter men’s sexual advances or desire to extend a girl’s opportunity to further her education and work experience prior to marriage (Tapscott, 2012). However, statistical data may be skewed due to the hidden abuse and not all occurrences are reported.
The occurrence of this practice has entered the UK through immigrants who have established West African communities there. There is no specific law in the UK to protect girls from this female genital mutilation since professionals and lawmakers alike have been hesitant on implementing punishment in their attempt to be culturally sensitive. Although there are laws in place to protect girls from common assault, child cruelty, and grievous bodily harm, the laws are not effectively protecting girls from this ritualized form of child abuse. Thus, no offenders have ever been prosecuted for carrying out this practice (Week, 2016).
"Our Breast, Our Plague"
This video is the trailer for a documentary the making about breast ironing in Cameroon. Kirk Bayama, a French filmmaker, is currently making a documentary about breast ironing and the stories of victims to educate the public about this issue. This video includes an overview about what breast ironing is and many interviews with some women who have been victims of the practice. (Bayama, n.d.)
(Bayama, n.d.)
CouNTRY Perspective
Cameroon Overview:
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Life Expectancy At Birth: 55.5%
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Population In Poverty: 48.2%
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Violence Against Women Ever Experienced: 51.1%
(Cameroon Human Development Report, 2015)
Percent of women affected by breast ironing in Cameroon by region:
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53% Littoral Region
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31% West Region
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31% Central Region
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30% Adamawa Region
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18% Northwest Region
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17% East Region
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14% South Region
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11% Southwest Region
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7% North Region
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7% Extreme North Region
(Ndonko & Ngo'o, 2006)
Breast ironing remains a large problem in Cameroon. Breast ironing, also referred to as flattening or massage, is the practice of eliminating the developing breast knots by pounding and pressing on the breast with heated objects such as a grinding stone and pestle, spatula or broom. Belts are also used to bind the breasts. The act is also used in conjunction with napkins, peels, healing leaves, coconut shells, fruit pits, ice, and salt. The object is heated for ten to fifteen minutes in the kitchen fire and applied anywhere from one single event, to continuous times over weeks and months. (Tapscott, 2012).
(Tapscott, 2012)
There is a stigma in Cameroon that breasts cause unwanted sexual attention from men as it is symbolizing sexual maturity to the man. The man then could cause an unwanted pregnancy, halting the girl from pursuing a future and continuing their education. Education statistics between men and women are equal. The practice of breast ironing is used to deter male attraction. Studies have found that there is no correlation with socioeconomic levels, urban or rural living, ethnicity, or religious affiliation (Tapscott, 2012).
The consequences of breast ironing are:
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Delayed or halted breast growth
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Swelling, abscesses, burning, irritating, or growing pimples on the breast
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Fever
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Extreme pain
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Difficulty breast feeding
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Scarring
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Breast cancer
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Psychological stress
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Social exclusion
(Tapscott, 2012)
Nearly 25% of all women in Cameroon have experienced ironing, usually occurring from 8-12 years of age.
Those performing the ironing are:
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58% the mother
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10% a nurse or caretaker
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9% the older sister
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9% the aunt
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7% the grandmother
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7% the girl herself
(Ndonko & Ngo'o, 2006)
Human Physiology
In Cameroon, there are at least 200 different ethnic groups, where Breast ironing is a social norm. A woman who has had her breasts ironed at an early age, could develop a cyst in her breasts later down the road (Nkepile, 2011). A Cyst in the breast is a fluid-filled sac that is normally pretty small, that might feel like a lump in the breast (Mayo Clinic 2015).
A picture of the breast underneath the tissue, showing were breast cysts could form (Mayo Clinic,2012)
Although most of these cysts are noncancerous, they could transform into something dangerous down the road. Women often will have a difficult time breastfeeding once she has given birth. The glandular tissues develop once the girl hits puberty, which consists of glands and lobules (Tapscott, 2012).
The lobules produce lactose and connect to the nipple to let the milk out when hormones are released.When the breast has been ironed, it affects the pathway for breastfeeding. Without being able to breastfeed your child, it gets very difficult since formula and bottles are not easily accessed (Pare, 2015).
Breast milk has certain minerals and vitamins that are very beneficial for the baby. Along with antibodies that help fight off bacteria and pathogens, because the baby doesn’t have a strong immune system yet. Breastfeeding reduces breast and ovarian cancer for the mother. It also provides a strong connection between the mother and the baby, which helps establish a relationship right away (Benaroch, 2015). If the child cannot receive breastmilk, and the formula is not accessible the child could end up malnourished, which could potentially end the child’s life (Thompson, 2011).
Sustainable Development Goals
(Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 2015)