breast ironing is a horrible practice!!!

Many girls today in my community are victims of breast ironing. It's most unfortunate that they are not aware it's violence against them.
Breast Ironing which involves mothers using fire-hot objects like stones, mortar pestles and other kitchen equipment to press, pound and massage the breasts of teenage girls is still practised in my community. The intent of the practice is to prevent the girls from developing breasts early in a bid to avoid teenage pregnancy and rape. Women believe that this practice prevents sexual attractiveness which might result in rape and teenage pregnancy. It affects 1 in 4 girls in Cameroon, West Africa, according to UN statistics.

This week's subject in our every girl for any girl club we discussed breast ironing thanks to support from our partner Gender Danger. During sharing of stories on the issue a girl whom I will address as Pretty had this to say.
Admiring my sisters putting on breast wears made me excited to develop breast very fast. Whenever I told my sisters how I really love to have breast too they will respond \" don't pray for that because you will hate it when you start developing breast\". This made me confused. I was about 9 years old and had 2 of my cousins who were a few years older than me. Daily, the two of them will scream from our grandmother's kitchen in the morning and evening. Sometimes my mother will be there with my grandmother while cousins where screaming. I kept on wondering they were screaming or why they were always stubborn for my grandmother and mother to discipline them twice daily. I tried severally to see what was going on but they told me it's not yet time.

My cousins won't tell and neither will my mother nor my grandmother. What I remember for sure is how my cousins use to curse the fact that they are girls and worse of all to have breast. One morning I got up and noticed a nuddle in my breast. It was truly painful. When I showed my sister she said rather sadly \" you have started developing breast\". Not minding her mood I ran straight to mother and grandmother to inform them of my dream come true. With all excitement I told them but as cold as ice my grandmother asked \"how old are you?\" My mother responded \"only 11 years old and still in form one. What kind of ill luck is this called breast? Pretty you need to be coming to this hut everyday twice\". Though confused I just obeyed

Had I known I wouldn't have wished for breast. When I got to my grandmother's kitchen the next morning I started understanding why my sister said the day I shall have breast I will wish I hadn't as well as my cousin's screams.

There was fire glowing in the kitchen with my mother sitting near a mat spread on the floor while my grandmother was holding a small grinding stone. As they asked me take off my T-shirt, the small grinding stone was placed right near the fire. They told me they want to help me so that men will not destroy me before I go into a beautiful woman. I was truly happy and thanked them.

Lying on the mat with my legs and hand held firmly by mother, my grandmother used the stone to massage the \"stone\" in my breast. Dear girls I felt pains like somebody had pierced me, I cried, begged and even went numb from pain but it meant nothing to the people who were suppose to protect me. Honestly I went through this painful process daily for about a month until my mother was satisfied. When I tried discussing the experience with other girls of my age they made me to understand it's normal. As a result I grew up to hate the fact that am a girl and most especially that I have breast.
During the sharing of this particular story many of the girls affirm the facts since they were victims too. My worry now is how many girls are still suffering from breast ironing? What can we do to help victims overcome its psychological impact?