Surviving Female Genital Mutilation with Shamsa Araweelo

Going Mental with Eileen Kelly

Trigger warning: Severe physical and emotional trauma. Shamsa Araweelo grew up in Somalia, where when she was only 6 years old, she was taken by family to be cut. Today, she opens up to Eileen about her experience suffering from female genital mutilation (FGM). FGM refers to all procedures involving partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. It is often carried out on young girls between infancy and age 15 as a way to suppress sexuality and ensure virginity. According to the United Nations, an estimated 200 million women and girls worldwide have undergone some form of FGM. Shamsa now resides in the UK and shares her experience to raise awareness and funds for those who are victims of FGM. She and Eileen discuss her heartbreaking story, how she refuses to be defined by it, why FGM occurs, how we can stop it, and more.

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