Let's talk about FGM... And then some.

My professor asked me to slightly change the topic of this blog and she made very valid points as to why. 

Before I detail that, I want to quickly ramble some more disclaimers about myself.

I have always had a difficult time blogging. 

It's just the starting the post and well... the pushing of the 'publish' button at the end. 

I can't tell you how many times my mouse has hovered over 'publish', eventually deciding to make that decision later and having that post never see the light of day. 

If I do press the button to publish the blog, it's after a fairly self-depercating "pep" talk to myself detailing the ways I can later edit the post and reminding myself that no one really cares what I think anyway, so no one will read the post (therefore there's nothing to fear). I can't describe to you how bitter sweet it feels to acknowledge this. 

It's honestly not that I'm a timid person or that I think that I am unintelligent or have low self esteem at all... It's actually quite the opposite. I think I am capible of great things, and therefore I am afraid to push 'publish' because I am constantly reminding myself that I am always capable of doing better. 

Which brings me back to my professor's suggestion. 

She believes that tackling the issue of Female Genital Mutilation as a whole is too small of an undertaking--- just hold on a minute and see where I'm going with this.

She believes that FGM is a symptom of a greater problem within society! 

Only addressing FGM is actually a distraction from the overlying problem-which is what she wants me to investigate and write about instead. 

It is a HUGE undertaking. 

I thought making Female Genital Mutilation a less taboo topic to discuss was a rather ambitious goal, but she's 100% correct. 

Let's say miraculously I do make an impact on the practice of FGM, and somehow it stops being implemented I those societies... Then what?

The underlying problems still exist! Women are still treated unequal and there are still so many symptoms that are left untreated... Why not go straight to the disease?

It makes since. 

So let's talk about FGM... But not JUST about FGM, but also the reasons why this is even a tradition. 

Let's talk about where it's practiced and figure out why it started and why it still exists in order to see the bigger picture and address the disease... Not just treat the symptoms. 

If by some chance someone out there is reading this, please help me. 

This is a network and we must work together. 

We are each the unique tools that are necessary for this missive undertaking. 

Let's talk about FGM.