The Story of Woman in Kenya Teaser

[00:00:00] So we were innocent. We didn't know anything. It was done to me because of the belief of the culture. As we navigate a world full of human rights issues, FGMC, or female genital mutilation or cutting, stands out for its complexity and the challenges it poses. But ending the practice is not easy, or straightforward.

[00:00:23] I think any community that practices FGM love their kids, and this is the best thing for my kids to secure their future. Welcome to a very special, first-of-its-kind series of The Story of Woman. I'm your host, Anna Stoecklein. In this three-episode series, we go beyond laws and policy changes and into the hearts and minds of those living in the communities where FGMC continues.

[00:00:52] Alongside Kenyan journalist, Ivalan Wambui, and in partnership with Orchid Project, an international NGO at the forefront of this movement, I travel deep into Kenya to speak with community leaders, activists, and survivors about the realities of this issue. Women would call her and tell her,

[00:01:15] this is happening in this village or in this homestead, and she goes, even if it's at night, because a lot of the practice happens at night. She goes into those homes and tries to see what she can do about it. Join us as we dive deep into the nuances of this millennia-long practice, exploring why it continues, and what we can all learn from these efforts to stop FGMC about transforming other parts of our culture that no longer serve us.

[00:01:40] What we are talking about is not the ending of an act of a practice. What we're talking about is the shifting of a social norm. It's a very long journey, and it will take a very long time. But she believes that if women come together and talk about it and fight against it, then eventually the practice will come to an end.

[00:02:08] Be sure to subscribe to The Story of Woman wherever you get your podcasts. And I'll see you there.