Traditionally, women of Southeast Asia are drawn or guided into less academic professions. However, I knew by the time I was 14; I wanted to become an engineer.
When I consider what engineering is, I define it as the application of mathematics and science to solve problems and improve our lives. This concept is non-discriminatory and does not categorize what gender or race you are, but judges individual capabilities to achieve it. However, many female engineers face systemic discrimination and stereotypical beliefs that struck a chord in me.
Female Genital Mutilation, also known as FGM, is an inhuman, gruesome, and painful practice where girls as young as five get their female genitals partially or completely removed, altered, or injured (UNFPA).
In many cultures such as in Somalia, this practice is normalized. Girls are pinned down by their “trusted” family members, their legs pulled apart, and the surgical procedure done without any anesthetics or painkillers. In an interview by VICE, a Singaporean FGM explains that the girl’s consent is often not considered in the practice, “The child is an extension of the parent. The parent owns the child and the child’s body.”
