May 26, 2003 - Dan Heller: Scarification: Through the influence of Peace Corps volunteers, these and similar rituals, such as female circumcision, are experiencing reduced participation
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May 26, 2003 - Dan Heller: Scarification: Through the influence of Peace Corps volunteers, these and similar rituals, such as female circumcision, are experiencing reduced participation
Scarification: Through the influence of Peace Corps volunteers, these and similar rituals, such as female circumcision, are experiencing reduced participation
Scarification: Through the influence of Peace Corps volunteers, these and similar rituals, such as female circumcision, are experiencing reduced participation
Scarification: Culture and Beauty
Burkina Faso
Facial scarification in West Africa is popular among many tribes, and is performed for several purposes. Culturally, the practice dates back thousands of years, and has been used to identify tribes (forehead), families (cheeks), individuals (chins), and even to express personal beauty (accents on lines). Although it is technically outlawed today due to notions of brutality, especially against women and children, the real cause for its demise is modernity: younger people desire to be more like Americans and other western cultures. Through the influence of Peace Corps volunteers and younger adults who visit and/or live with the tribes in their villages, these and similar rituals, such as female circumcision, are experiencing reduced participation.
Prostitute Image 1 of 16 Djenne, Mali
Sex is as common in the West African way of life as going out to dinner is for many westerners. Without social or moral misgivings, sexual acts are commonly performed in exchange for money, favors, or services, as well as for the most common reason-enjoyment. Despite the social acceptance of casual sex, jealousy is as much of a problem in their culture as it is in ours. But jealousy is hardly the worst side effect of their behaviors.
The prostitute shown here is aware of some sexually transmitted diseases, but is skeptical about the existence of AIDS. To many West Africans, it is a made-up disease, a malady conjured up by missionary groups who've resorted to scare tactics in their decades-long attempt to change sexual behaviors. Their doubts also stem from the fact that there are no visible signs of AIDS. Medication isn't available to slow down the weakening of the immune system, so there are no overt signs of physical deterioration to prove that AIDS is affecting the population. For Africans, people who die today are dying from the same afflictions they always have: dehydration, disease, malnutrition, etc. Telling them that AIDS accelerates these processes or makes people more vulnerable to these conditions is equally ineffective.
The task of educating people and effecting changes in behavior has been more difficult than anticipated. It requires participation from non-religious groups and the world community as a whole.
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Story Source: Dan Heller
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Burkina Faso; Scarification; AIDS
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