04/10/2023
The breast ironing is a popular practice in Africa, where mothers and elderly women in the community flatten young girls' breasts, in a bid to prevent and protect them from being attractive to men, which they believe can result to early pregnancy. This practice is popular in some parts Africa, including Cameroon, Kenya, Guinea-bissau, Togo, Nigeria and so many others.
At an early age of 8, most young girls are subjected to the ritual of the flattening process. This is usually done with heated objects such as stones, hammers, metals, pestles, and other improvised objects. The heated tools are used to press down the breasts.
For the younger girls, women often truss a belt, or thick garment round their chest to delay the breasts from growing.
Due to the grave physical and psychological effect this practice has on girls, breast ironing is considered an abuse. As a matter of fact, according to international law, it is a form of violence against women.
Image from Wrytin.com
