Electronic Magazine Government-Authorized Brutalization of Women To be born female in some countries can mean a harsh and punishing life. But abusive laws and customs can be changed-with your help. Even though women in the United States have yet to achieve parity with men when it comes to paychecks or power, our circumstances are ideal when compared with women around the world. Unfortunately, much of that news has made us familiar with cultures and governments that are oppressive and even brutal to women. All the men were recent emigrants from Iraq, where such child marriages are not uncommon among Muslims.
Survivors suffer chronic infection and pain.
Twenty-eight African nations and some minority groups in the Middle East and Asia still practice FGM, believing that it prevents promiscuity among women. A Philadelphia judge initially rejected Kasinga's bid for political asylum. She was jailed for 16 months, during which time wom- en's rights activists launched a highly publicized campaign for her freedom. She was released and fillally granted asylum last June, and her case estab- lished a legal precedent for FGM as grounds for political asylum. What follows are examples of bar- barism from three other countries.