Guardian article on 'ironing breasts'

[Hornets]

www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/jan/26/revealed-dozens-of-girls-subjected-to-breast-ironing-in-uk

Just when you think you've heard it all in the ways girls/young women are being subjected to disgusting procedures in the name of 'protection', along comes something else that shocks you to your core.

However (and I feel like doing a AIBU on this) the fact that this is in the Guardian, don't you think it's a bit hypocritical of them to be wringing their hands over this, yet on the other hand promote the fiction that a girl can become a 'boy' by binding their breasts or opting for a double mastectomy?

Yes, super hypocritical but then cognitive dissonance seems to be what The Guardian does best these days.

Yes, I saw this article earlier and cognitive dissonance was exactly what sprang to mind.

I was already aware of this practice. The National FGM Centre regards it as a similar kind of child abuse to FGM. But yes, it would be good if the Guardian turned its attention to the use of chest binders by teenage girls.

I read a different article and was interesting in the contrast to FGM. FGM is undertaken to ensure women don’t receive pleasure, to control women’s sexuality. But the excuse given for breast ironing in the article is the fear of girls too young being viewed as sexual and being at greater risk of sexual assault at a young age. This was the other article on it.

www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/jan/26/uk-authorities-in-denial-of-prevalence-of-parents-breast-ironing-girls

Obviously it’s inexcusable but it’s sad that this tradition has arisen because child rape is just the norm.

Absolutely shocking ironing of breasts to deter rape?

I too immediately thought of breast binding too.

So fucking sad..

I don’t entirely understand the reasoning. If breast flattening deters unwanted attention, surely it must also deter wanted attention? I’d have thought they’d want their daughters to marry at some point.

I’ve been drawing parallels between breast ironing and binding for years. I’m not expecting the Guardian to be able to make that connection any time soon.

The National FGM Centre makes the same connection, Repeal.

nationalfgmcentre.org.uk/breast-flattening/

The Guardian quotes Maria Miller in the article:

I think public service providers have to ...have the support to challenge what are abusive and barbaric practices.

Any thoughts on breast binding in underage girls Maria?...........

This is exactly what I thought, hmm i might see how well a comment goes down on the fb page...

Not really sure how breast ironing desexualises girls. I think it just makes it obvious that their bodies exist for one purpose and that they should be ashamed of it.

Literally down the page from the breast ironing

Much more progressive when you use a scalpel, obviously

'My period stopped right away and that made me very happy'

Fuck. I knew it happened, didn't know it had spread to here too.

I think we need blanket laws that except in a care of early puberty (can't remember the word) anything that delays or alters puberty is illegal. I don't like blanket bans, I feel nuance is needed in medical issues, but I feel there are si many "exceptional" cases that that is what's needed.

There just so many excuses. Cultural, as in this one. Not being one of the 80-95% of trans children who detransition (because noone believes that they will he one). To avoid attention. To stop pleasure. To increase pleasure. To prevent pregnancy. So many excuses and all of them cause harm.

As I say, early puberty and in instances where it physically affects an illness (for example gynie cancers). Otherwise it's illegal, whoever carries it out. Then we can get the convictions and the law wont be chasing behind the abuse, trying to catch up.

That poor child. Rather than encouraging children to destroy themselves and join in a cult, the governments should be supporting them and their parents to resolve this madness.
To any people watching us and reading this👋. I see you.

Precocious puberty I think is the term.

Thank you Repeal, that's the word I'm looking for.

I didn't explain very well but basically things that alter puberty in any way should only be used in cases where there is a physical problem caused by allowing natural puberty. I've always been one who says mind and body compliment each other and both should be treated but I think with the side effects it should only be physical harm.

This is getting us off subject too much but anyone who interferes with puberty, except as I said above, should be prosecuted. You can always find an excuse to do things but that doesn't mean there's a reason. While we allow it in some cases it encourages others to go a step further and encourages the belief (along with a shocking lack of prosecution) that it is possible to get away with it.

When we had training about FGM in Brent a few years ago, I work in a primary school, we also covered this.

In my opinion, every Head teacher should invite parents of children from Africa into a meeting and tell them that the staff are instructed to watch closely for any signs that their daughters have been abused in such a way. And that if there is any evidence there would lose custody of their daughters.
That is proactive.
I'm less sure about talking to the at risk girls incase it scares them or damages their relationship with parents who wouldn't dream of such a thing.

"A Guardian investigation has established..."?
The Mail first reported on this practice spreading in the UK years ago.
And they are not afraid to draw the parallel with binding:

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6450485/Trans-activists-send-free-breast-binders-13-year-olds.html

Binders can damage teens' chances of breast-feeding
Comment by Dr Lucy Griffin, Psychiatrist

In parts of Africa, pubescent girls undergo ‘breast ironing’ with hot rocks to stop them developing. The practice, condemned as gender-based violence by the UN, leads to breastfeeding problems. Yet here a publicly funded institution is supporting a practice that may have similar consequences. It is unconscionable.