I Didn’t Dare Ask
Why did you want to attend the workshop and share your story?
I attended the workshop to learn about digital storytelling as another medium of communication in my advocacy work to stop female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C).
What story did you choose to tell and create into a digital story?
I shared the story of the unintended consequences of my cut. After the procedure, I was victimized in school. My peers mocked, despised, and isolated me; I was a loner thereafter. I lost my essence in an age when most youth are filled with exploratory exuberance.
What have you learned or most enjoyed during the workshop and by meeting others who shared their stories?
Hearing stories from others was an eye-opener. At the workshop, I became more aware that FGM/C can be like secondhand smoking: the procedure can affect those who themselves did not undergo the surgery. I found out that the ripple effect can be as devastating as the cut. Meeting others at the workshop made me feel a kinship with those affected directly or indirectly. Our experiences left us with a long-lasting bond.
What kind of impact would you like your story to have?
When one part of the body suffers, the whole body suffers. I want people to know that FGM/C can damage an individual’s self-worth, which can become the root cause of other behavioral or mental health issues.
Is there anything in your digital story that you would like to share?
The story is a plea to practicing communities, to convince them that the cost of the practice, imposed on the society, far outweighs the traditional beliefs driving it. It is my hope that silence will be broken, and people will be motivated to engage in an intellectual conversation that could demystify this traditional belief, with an aim to abolish it.
Nigerian-born Caroline Ilogienboh retired from the Justice System in New Jersey, USA. She has written several books. Her award-winning book, “Saving Bekyah” is focused on female circumcision and its effects on women and society. The sequel, “The Greatest Hijack,” is on the Author’s Favorite list. She is currently working on the last of the trilogy, “The Hijacker Strikes Back.” When she’s not writing, Caroline spends time gardening or with her grandchildren.