"The cycle ends now – my story about FGM"

“I was five and unaware of the cruelty a staggering number of young girls are subjected to in the land I called home. A scary study stated that at one point 98% of girls and women were subjected to FGM. I was unaware of the details at the time but all I knew of was the pain I had to go through just to be seen as “purified”, a part of me was taken away before I could say no. There is no purpose behind this heinous procedure other than ripping away a woman’s given right to feel pleasure. As I got older I I had to learn more about FGM, what does it mean? How different does my “private part” look in comparison to other women? I hear women talk about how they’re insecure about their labia and I will never know how mine would’ve looked like. Will I ever get to experience the greatness of an orgasm others speak of? I had many questions and even more insecurities. I avoided being intimate, I was scared of well, scaring the other person. I rejected my own sexuality out of fear of being rejected by another person. I’m now working on truly and fully accepting my body as it now is. I may have once been a victim but I’ll do all I can to stop other girls from ever having to go through this brutality. The cycle ends now.” 

– D, 22 years old, Egypt (she/her)