Nov 09
3
Somali Women Whipped, Humiliated Over a Bra
Boy, just when you think that there’s problems here in America, when you read about other countries and how they still treat some like second class citizens, and how naturally cruel they are, it makes you eternally grateful for living in such a place as America, where, sure there are problems, there’s no denying that, but compared to some places where freedoms are restricted every day that we don’t even think twice about, America is a Utopia.
What I’m speaking of is an apalling story that comes out of Somalia recently, where there is an insurgent occupancy (see these occupancies don’t even happen over here, another good reason to stay put). There is a strict religion and culture there, and the insurgents are actually rounding up women who are suspected as wearing bras, which is against only the strictest interpretation of their religion and culture, and whipping them for wearing what we take for granted every day.
Not only that, as if whipping weren’t bad enough, or just being taken against your will, they were forced to disrobe and shake their breasts in front of armed soldiers. Women there have said they’ve been seeing this happened more often, with their friends and family being taken away simply for being under suspicion of wearing a bra, because their breasts look suspiciously firm. They say that the new “bra” is a stiff piece of fabric that is worn against the chest, as it is believed that breasts should be firm naturally, and that if they aren’t they should just lay flat.
Really, when I read shocking stories like these, it makes me think twice when I complain about anything in my life. Overall, I have it pretty darn good, and I wish that every woman in the world could have that same freedom and comfort.
