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Schmerzenskinder
Fashion model, UN ambassador, and courageous spirit, Waris Dirie was born into a family of tribal desert nomads in Somalia. She told her story—enduring female circumcision at five years old; running away through the desert; being discovered by Terence Donovan and becoming a top fashion model—in her book, the worldwide bestseller, Desert Flower. In Desert Dawn she wrote about becoming a UN Special Ambassador against FGM (female genital mutilation) and returning to her family in Somalia. Desert Children reveals how she and the journalist Corinna Milborn have investigated the practice of FGM in Europe—they estimate that up to 500,000 women and girls have undergone or are at risk of FGM. At the moment, France is the only European country in which offenders are convicted and no European country officially recognizes the threat of genital mutilation as a reason for asylum. Here are the voices of women who have felt encouraged and emboldened by Waris Dirie's courage. They speak out for the first time, hoping to move readers to action. At the end of the book is a comprehensive appendix listing organizations which can help.
273 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2005
About the author
Waris Dirie
16 books429 followersWaris Dirie (Somali: Waris Diiriye, Arabic: واريس ديري) (born in 1965) is a Somali model, author, actress and human rights activist.
In 1997, Waris abandoned her modeling career to focus on her work against female circumcision. That same year, she was appointed UN Special Ambassador for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation(FGM).
In 1997, Waris abandoned her modeling career to focus on her work against female circumcision. That same year, she was appointed UN Special Ambassador for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation(FGM).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
December 3, 2014
I was a great admirer of the work that Waris did and I very much enjoyed her first two books which I certainly recommend to readers. When I heard about a third book on FGM I was interested in reading it. Sadly I ended up angry and frustrated by the attitudes of Waris to Western people which bordered on racism. Not impressed at all by her now.
First thing is, I am totally opposed to FGM and I can't imagine the trauma of what these girls go through. I'm not against giving them medical help here in the UK and providing trauma therapy for their ordeal. I feel in cases where FGM is discovered, punishments need to be given. On this I agree with Waris. But I do not agree with the amount of blame that she unleashes on western governments and its people during her crusade.
Lets start with her attitude of 'do as I say, not as I do'. She talks about having a relaxed attitude to timekeeping and appointments, turning up whenever she feels like it. However, when the woman she is meeting is late, Waris makes a big fuss about there being no apology or reason given. So it is ok for Waris to do what she wants and be late but everyone else has to be on time to meet her. A bit of hypocrisy there. Still, that is a niggle and not part of my real complaints.
Waris clearly has it in for Western governments, blaming them for cases of FGM, blaming them for not doing enough. Funny, when we do intervene in African affairs we are told to mind our own business and that we don't understand African culture. If we don't intervene we are suddenly responsible for FGM and genocide and every other problem in Africa. We can't win. We give a lot of money for things like famine relief and medical care in Africa...where does that money go? It goes to government officials to buy private planes for its leaders instead of helping ordinary people. I suppose THAT is our fault as well.
Getting back to the point, I was getting pretty angry as I read on. Waris starts pointing the finger at western people for things like FGM. It seems that because we don't integrate African people into our society, they cling to traditions like FGM so it's our fault that girls are still being cut! That Waris, is a pile of steaming bullshit! A lot of African migrants don't speak English and don't WANT to be part of the local community, preferring to stick with a community of their own people. So how the hell am I meant to make friends and make them feel welcome when most aren't interested??? How is it MY fault that these families take the horrific step of mutilating their daughters??? How am I meant to know who is doing it and who to report them to? That is a bloody ridiculous thing to say!
Waris also blames us for not putting enough money towards FGM and other issues. Right. The people in Africa are the ones who are mutilating their daughters. Let Africa pay the money to re-educate people and pay for corrective surgery and other procedures! Let them police this! Most FGM is still happening in Africa itself with girls being sent home to stay with relatives where they can be cut, safe from western justice. So I say again, how is this all our fault Waris??? Are we meant to send troops into Africa to examine every girl and arrest countless parents? Oh please!
We are also not doing enough to stop FGM in our western countries. Right. These families pay women from their community to come and do the cutting. They don't tend to seek treatment in western hospitals for fear of the results of FGM being seen. They keep this secret in their own community. They don't cooperate with the police, social workers or health professionals . They don't shop others in their community. Yet Waris thinks we are doing nothing. She wants girls to be examined in schools for evidence of FGM! Are you serious??? Can you imagine the outrage it would cause if you take every girl who does not have white skin out of class for an examination like that??? Parents would go mental! And I expect the British taxpayer is expected to pay for it too.
Waris also complains about people not integrating in the community because they have no papers, living in grotty bedsits and are hiding like criminals, making them cling to the old traditions. They are ILLEGALS for fuck's sake! What are we meant to do, put them up in The Dorchester??? It's not our fault that they sneak into Britain and hide away and cut their daughters! We didn't put them there!
Waris needs to get her head out of her arse and point the finger in the right direction. It is the elders in the tribes and towns who tell parents that this tradition needs to be upheld. It is African governments who are not making FGM illegal or enforcing punishment. It is African communities in western countries who keep having their daughters cut and hushing it up. It is African people who are not telling the authorities about girls they know who are in danger. Perhaps Waris should concentrate on going to Africa and telling the people there to change their ways instead of blaming the countries who have taken in so many African refugees and given them a chance at a new life.
If they are all at grateful as Waris, maybe we shouldn't bother.
First thing is, I am totally opposed to FGM and I can't imagine the trauma of what these girls go through. I'm not against giving them medical help here in the UK and providing trauma therapy for their ordeal. I feel in cases where FGM is discovered, punishments need to be given. On this I agree with Waris. But I do not agree with the amount of blame that she unleashes on western governments and its people during her crusade.
Lets start with her attitude of 'do as I say, not as I do'. She talks about having a relaxed attitude to timekeeping and appointments, turning up whenever she feels like it. However, when the woman she is meeting is late, Waris makes a big fuss about there being no apology or reason given. So it is ok for Waris to do what she wants and be late but everyone else has to be on time to meet her. A bit of hypocrisy there. Still, that is a niggle and not part of my real complaints.
Waris clearly has it in for Western governments, blaming them for cases of FGM, blaming them for not doing enough. Funny, when we do intervene in African affairs we are told to mind our own business and that we don't understand African culture. If we don't intervene we are suddenly responsible for FGM and genocide and every other problem in Africa. We can't win. We give a lot of money for things like famine relief and medical care in Africa...where does that money go? It goes to government officials to buy private planes for its leaders instead of helping ordinary people. I suppose THAT is our fault as well.
Getting back to the point, I was getting pretty angry as I read on. Waris starts pointing the finger at western people for things like FGM. It seems that because we don't integrate African people into our society, they cling to traditions like FGM so it's our fault that girls are still being cut! That Waris, is a pile of steaming bullshit! A lot of African migrants don't speak English and don't WANT to be part of the local community, preferring to stick with a community of their own people. So how the hell am I meant to make friends and make them feel welcome when most aren't interested??? How is it MY fault that these families take the horrific step of mutilating their daughters??? How am I meant to know who is doing it and who to report them to? That is a bloody ridiculous thing to say!
Waris also blames us for not putting enough money towards FGM and other issues. Right. The people in Africa are the ones who are mutilating their daughters. Let Africa pay the money to re-educate people and pay for corrective surgery and other procedures! Let them police this! Most FGM is still happening in Africa itself with girls being sent home to stay with relatives where they can be cut, safe from western justice. So I say again, how is this all our fault Waris??? Are we meant to send troops into Africa to examine every girl and arrest countless parents? Oh please!
We are also not doing enough to stop FGM in our western countries. Right. These families pay women from their community to come and do the cutting. They don't tend to seek treatment in western hospitals for fear of the results of FGM being seen. They keep this secret in their own community. They don't cooperate with the police, social workers or health professionals . They don't shop others in their community. Yet Waris thinks we are doing nothing. She wants girls to be examined in schools for evidence of FGM! Are you serious??? Can you imagine the outrage it would cause if you take every girl who does not have white skin out of class for an examination like that??? Parents would go mental! And I expect the British taxpayer is expected to pay for it too.
Waris also complains about people not integrating in the community because they have no papers, living in grotty bedsits and are hiding like criminals, making them cling to the old traditions. They are ILLEGALS for fuck's sake! What are we meant to do, put them up in The Dorchester??? It's not our fault that they sneak into Britain and hide away and cut their daughters! We didn't put them there!
Waris needs to get her head out of her arse and point the finger in the right direction. It is the elders in the tribes and towns who tell parents that this tradition needs to be upheld. It is African governments who are not making FGM illegal or enforcing punishment. It is African communities in western countries who keep having their daughters cut and hushing it up. It is African people who are not telling the authorities about girls they know who are in danger. Perhaps Waris should concentrate on going to Africa and telling the people there to change their ways instead of blaming the countries who have taken in so many African refugees and given them a chance at a new life.
If they are all at grateful as Waris, maybe we shouldn't bother.
December 20, 2010
I really enjoyed reading Desert Flower and Desert Dawn but it seems like Waris didnt have enough material for this book. She re uses material from the first 2 books and repeats herself over and over again.
I lost a little respect for Waris after reading of her harrowing story and discovering that she circumcised her own son because she believed it was "cleaner". Was that not the same reasoning her parents had when mutilating her? They thought she would be cleaner and make a better wife.
She also contradicts herself alot in this book, saying that FGM has nothing to do with Islam. She then turns around and says that it is mentioned in the Hadith. It may well be a weak Hadith but its there all the same.
After all her experiences I thought Waris would be a very understanding and tolerant but in fact she is quite racist. Europeans are this, Europeans do that. She seems to forget that its Europe who gives refuge to these girls when they flee their homelands.
If your interested in statistics on FGM then read this book but otherwise stay away and just read Desert flower.
I lost a little respect for Waris after reading of her harrowing story and discovering that she circumcised her own son because she believed it was "cleaner". Was that not the same reasoning her parents had when mutilating her? They thought she would be cleaner and make a better wife.
She also contradicts herself alot in this book, saying that FGM has nothing to do with Islam. She then turns around and says that it is mentioned in the Hadith. It may well be a weak Hadith but its there all the same.
After all her experiences I thought Waris would be a very understanding and tolerant but in fact she is quite racist. Europeans are this, Europeans do that. She seems to forget that its Europe who gives refuge to these girls when they flee their homelands.
If your interested in statistics on FGM then read this book but otherwise stay away and just read Desert flower.
January 18, 2021
Segundo libro que leo de Waris Dirie sobre su lucha contra la mutilación genital femenina. En este caso, se centra más en la situación de la MGF en Europa que en sus propias experiencias personales. Asusta ver hasta qué punto esa práctica bárbara sigue vigente y no solo a miles de kilómetros de nuestras casas. Para reflexionar y concienciarse.
October 14, 2023
"Alle siebzehn Sekunden wird ein Mädchen verstümmelt."
Incredibly powerful and educational book. Dirie delves into the subject of 'FGM', takes it by the neck and brings it to light.
Compelling storytelling that enlightens one to find out more about the horrifying and cruel reality young African girls have to face every day. The book proves that this isn’t just something that happens far away and doesn’t concern us and instead takes place in Europe as well.
I completely disagree with other reviews claiming Dirie to be guilty of racist stereotyping of Europeans, one must accept the reality of our ignorance and lack of knowledge we have of this matter, and the feelings of frustration Dirie expresses are a natural response to said ignorance.
Great novel! I would absolutely recommend it.
"In westlichen Ländern gibt es offenkundig ein bestimmtes Schönheitsideal für die Schamregion einer Frau, und dieses Traumbild weicht nicht weit ab vom afrikanischen:
Eine Frau soll optisch und anatomisch aussehen wie ein kleines Mädchen. Es herrscht offenbar Angst vor all dem, was eine reife Frau ausmacht. Ihre Sexualität soll eingeschränkt werden und kontrollierbar bleiben.
Über Afrika sagt man, dass es die Männer sind, die das verlangen, selbst wenn die Frauen es durchführen. Wie verhält es sich in Europa? Auch hier wollen die Frauen wohl einem - männlichen - Schönheitsideal entsprechen: Für wen bitte schön sollte man sonst seine Vagina redesignen lassen?"
Incredibly powerful and educational book. Dirie delves into the subject of 'FGM', takes it by the neck and brings it to light.
Compelling storytelling that enlightens one to find out more about the horrifying and cruel reality young African girls have to face every day. The book proves that this isn’t just something that happens far away and doesn’t concern us and instead takes place in Europe as well.
I completely disagree with other reviews claiming Dirie to be guilty of racist stereotyping of Europeans, one must accept the reality of our ignorance and lack of knowledge we have of this matter, and the feelings of frustration Dirie expresses are a natural response to said ignorance.
Great novel! I would absolutely recommend it.
"In westlichen Ländern gibt es offenkundig ein bestimmtes Schönheitsideal für die Schamregion einer Frau, und dieses Traumbild weicht nicht weit ab vom afrikanischen:
Eine Frau soll optisch und anatomisch aussehen wie ein kleines Mädchen. Es herrscht offenbar Angst vor all dem, was eine reife Frau ausmacht. Ihre Sexualität soll eingeschränkt werden und kontrollierbar bleiben.
Über Afrika sagt man, dass es die Männer sind, die das verlangen, selbst wenn die Frauen es durchführen. Wie verhält es sich in Europa? Auch hier wollen die Frauen wohl einem - männlichen - Schönheitsideal entsprechen: Für wen bitte schön sollte man sonst seine Vagina redesignen lassen?"
February 24, 2024
Es hat mich erschüttert, zu erfahren, wie präsent das Thema der Genitalverstümmelung in Europa doch ist. Die Geschichten der Betroffen haben mich zutiefst berührt und zugleich schockiert. Es werden Szenarien beschrieben, die mir zuvor ausserhalb jeglicher Vorstellungen lagen.
March 14, 2015
The third of Waris Dirie's books. This one takes the focus away from her own life and zooms in on the lives and experiences of African women living in Europe with FGM. The book was published in 2005, so this is now ten years out of date. Things may have gotten better, or the status quo may remain. I don't know. But I'm sure the problem hasn't gone away. In this Waris travels around speaking to activists, doctors, victims in Austria, France, England and Germany, and is horrified to find that it's possible to get your girls circumcised in Europe, despite the fact that it is now illegal in many countries. And in other cases they send daughters back to the home country for a visit, where the proceedure can also be done. It is heartbreaking that it's going on, and that so much of it happens in well-meaning ignorance. Many people don't understand what it is exactly, or what it's consequences are; so many mothers arrange for this in the honest belief that they are doing the best for their daughters. So really I guess this book is a continuation to raise awareness and to educate people that this practice should not be tolerated.
This is all good stuff and you can't argue with it, so it feels almost wrong to criticise a book like this. But out of her three books it is the weakest. There's a lot of repeating, there is a bit of contradiction and a lot of muddle in the writing and the layout of it. So taking it on the level of a piece of writing, it's not that fantastic. Taking it on the cause it is defending, it's great.
One thing she brought up in one of the chapters I'd never really thought about before, but she's actually very right. FGM is illegal in many countries - that is, you should not mutilate female genitalia, leave it be as nature intended. But in the cosmetic industry craze, there is the designer vagina, and people paying scary sums of money to have parts reduced, enlarged, removed... where do you draw the line? And really, at what point does this surgery actually become illegal? And you can't use the arguement, oh, but they want it and they're paying for it so it's ok - because so many mothers genuinely want this proceedure for their daughters and will pay to have it done because they think they are doing the right thing for their child.
This is all good stuff and you can't argue with it, so it feels almost wrong to criticise a book like this. But out of her three books it is the weakest. There's a lot of repeating, there is a bit of contradiction and a lot of muddle in the writing and the layout of it. So taking it on the level of a piece of writing, it's not that fantastic. Taking it on the cause it is defending, it's great.
One thing she brought up in one of the chapters I'd never really thought about before, but she's actually very right. FGM is illegal in many countries - that is, you should not mutilate female genitalia, leave it be as nature intended. But in the cosmetic industry craze, there is the designer vagina, and people paying scary sums of money to have parts reduced, enlarged, removed... where do you draw the line? And really, at what point does this surgery actually become illegal? And you can't use the arguement, oh, but they want it and they're paying for it so it's ok - because so many mothers genuinely want this proceedure for their daughters and will pay to have it done because they think they are doing the right thing for their child.
December 28, 2007
Menceritakan perjuangan Waris Dirie sbg foto model and duta besar special dr PBB utk membebaskan adanya praktek Female Genital Mutilation di Eropa. Krn praktek FGM ini banyak juga dilakukan di negara-negara Eropa maupun di negara asal mereka.
Dan pada saat ini hanya Perancis yg satu-satunya negara Eropa yg memberlakukan Undang-Undang anti Female Genital Mutilation ini. Di buku ini, diceritakan pula bagaimana perasaan atau keadaan mental para wanita ataupun anak-anak korban FGM ini.
Dng membaca buku ini, saya melihat bagaimana kegigihan seorg Waris Dirie yg memberikan support utk wanita-wanita korban genital mutilation ini. Dan saya mensyukuri keberadaan saya sbg seorg wanita
Dan pada saat ini hanya Perancis yg satu-satunya negara Eropa yg memberlakukan Undang-Undang anti Female Genital Mutilation ini. Di buku ini, diceritakan pula bagaimana perasaan atau keadaan mental para wanita ataupun anak-anak korban FGM ini.
Dng membaca buku ini, saya melihat bagaimana kegigihan seorg Waris Dirie yg memberikan support utk wanita-wanita korban genital mutilation ini. Dan saya mensyukuri keberadaan saya sbg seorg wanita
July 3, 2021
SOMALIA
I read Dirie’s autobiography Desert Flower when I was 14 or 15 . It was the first time I learned about female genital mutilation (FGM) , no other book has stuck with me like this book did and I still think of it as one of my favourite books because it genuinely moved me .
This book covers Dirie’s work as an FGM activist in Europe , a pretty grim read . I’m glad I read this , even after reading her first book I just don’t think I realised how prolific the practice of FGM was . But also frustrating at how powerless everyone is on managing to but an end to it .
I read Dirie’s autobiography Desert Flower when I was 14 or 15 . It was the first time I learned about female genital mutilation (FGM) , no other book has stuck with me like this book did and I still think of it as one of my favourite books because it genuinely moved me .
This book covers Dirie’s work as an FGM activist in Europe , a pretty grim read . I’m glad I read this , even after reading her first book I just don’t think I realised how prolific the practice of FGM was . But also frustrating at how powerless everyone is on managing to but an end to it .
February 15, 2025
Dirie’s account of her investigations into female genital mutilation (FGM). The writing itself is somewhat repetitive, but I am increasing my score to 4⭐️ due to the nature of this horrendous practice and many people’s ignorance around the subject. Hat’s off to this lady for her long-standing attempts to educate and inform.
January 18, 2009
I think this is the most interesting of her books - though you probably have to read the first two to fully get it. Having written her autobiography over the first two books, this is much more about the issue of FGM and how best to fight it.
She compares the approaches of different European countries and identifies the best from each. Hugely moving and insightful - her descriptions of how she feels now were for me more compelling than those of her suffering as a child - perhaps they underlined that this is not just a physical trauma that one eventually recovers from.
She compares the approaches of different European countries and identifies the best from each. Hugely moving and insightful - her descriptions of how she feels now were for me more compelling than those of her suffering as a child - perhaps they underlined that this is not just a physical trauma that one eventually recovers from.
April 16, 2014
I'm rating this book so highly because of its topic and the author's passion for eradicating it from the world. The topic is FGM, female genital mutilation, and she examines its prevalence in Europe, and how it is being responded to. The book was published in 2005 so it would be interesting to find out if the situation has changed for the better since then. It is a book that will make you squirm, will cause you to be angry, sad, frustrated and incredulous. If it increases your awareness and understanding, as I believe it did mine, then it is well worth reading.
August 7, 2010
In the desert of ignorance
her life began
she feared not the wild beasts
of Africa,
but the rusted razors
of her clan.
Ravaged by the tradition
that sliced through
her labia like fire
as screams pierced her
tender psyche
mutilating desire;
now trauma and shame
fill her dowry
and caesarean daughters
will be next
as even European surgeons
now redesign
the weaker sex.
her life began
she feared not the wild beasts
of Africa,
but the rusted razors
of her clan.
Ravaged by the tradition
that sliced through
her labia like fire
as screams pierced her
tender psyche
mutilating desire;
now trauma and shame
fill her dowry
and caesarean daughters
will be next
as even European surgeons
now redesign
the weaker sex.
August 24, 2017
ich habe schon lange kein Buch mehr gelesen dass mit so die Augen geöffnet hat. Denn davor konnte ich mir einfach nicht vorstellen dass Beschneidung bei Frauen in Europa durchgeführt wird. Geschweige denn in diesem Ausmaß.
Im Allgemeinen finde ich dass das Buch eine sehr wichtige Nachricht überbringt und ich finde jeder sollte davon erfahren!
Ich kann nur empfehlen das Buch zu lesen.
Im Allgemeinen finde ich dass das Buch eine sehr wichtige Nachricht überbringt und ich finde jeder sollte davon erfahren!
Ich kann nur empfehlen das Buch zu lesen.
April 2, 2023
Augenöffnend
Read
April 1, 2022Nie zamierzam oceniać tej książki, uważam temat za zbyt poważny i ważny. Ocenienie w skali 1-5 byłoby dla mnie bardzo nie okej.
Co do samej książki, na pewno przybliżyła mi tematyke i równocześnie mocno zszokowała. Wręcz mogę powiedzieć że nigdy nie zapomnę tego co przeczytałam. A to dobrze, bo o takich sprawach nie powinno się zapominać.
Co do samej książki, na pewno przybliżyła mi tematyke i równocześnie mocno zszokowała. Wręcz mogę powiedzieć że nigdy nie zapomnę tego co przeczytałam. A to dobrze, bo o takich sprawach nie powinno się zapominać.
September 19, 2024
This was very informative (keeping in mind that it is ~20 years old) and very important topic that waris drew a lot of attention to thru her books. however it was quite disorganised and could have done with a good edit. at times it reminded me of research notes for a uni essay and could get a little repetitive or confusing.
August 29, 2022
En informativ och viktig bok. Jag har nu läst alla tre böckerna och upplever den sista som lite överflödig. Visst förstår jag Waris Diries mening att ytterligare förklara läget i Europa men boken är ibland repetitiv.
September 8, 2014
Dirie's previous two books were straight-up memoir: In Desert Flower, she talks about her childhood in Somalia, running away to avoid an unwanted marriage, and becoming a model. In Desert Dawn she talks about her return to Somalia, to visit her family, after years away.
In this third book, although it's informal and largely about her own journey to learn more about FGM* in Europe and elsewhere, the point is less about her life and more to inform. She tackles FGM from a different direction than I'm used to hearing about, though: instead of focusing on its practice in Somalia and elsewhere in Africa and the Middle East, she focuses on Europe and what can be done to prevent a) FGM there and b) girls being sent to their home countries (or their parents' home countries) to have FGM performed.
I admire her for turning her fame and her energy outward, to tackle a difficult subject. I do wish the book were more structured -- she's not a scholar, and a lot of the information repeats itself. It's interesting to note, though, that she doesn't come down in favour of any particular method to stop FGM. Rather, she talks about people who have been active in trying to do so, and what they've concluded. Probably best that she doesn't try to make that call, but definitely a subject that calls for much much more -- more books, more research, more action.
*Using 'FGM' per the book; as Dirie notes, 'FGC' is preferred by many.
In this third book, although it's informal and largely about her own journey to learn more about FGM* in Europe and elsewhere, the point is less about her life and more to inform. She tackles FGM from a different direction than I'm used to hearing about, though: instead of focusing on its practice in Somalia and elsewhere in Africa and the Middle East, she focuses on Europe and what can be done to prevent a) FGM there and b) girls being sent to their home countries (or their parents' home countries) to have FGM performed.
I admire her for turning her fame and her energy outward, to tackle a difficult subject. I do wish the book were more structured -- she's not a scholar, and a lot of the information repeats itself. It's interesting to note, though, that she doesn't come down in favour of any particular method to stop FGM. Rather, she talks about people who have been active in trying to do so, and what they've concluded. Probably best that she doesn't try to make that call, but definitely a subject that calls for much much more -- more books, more research, more action.
*Using 'FGM' per the book; as Dirie notes, 'FGC' is preferred by many.
October 30, 2008
I find that the first 75% part of the book's mostly either a repetition of what she's already written in her previous two, if not of itself! It does get a bit long and tiring to keep having to read how she's traumatized by the procedure that's done to her or to other African women... ok, ok! I got the point! It hurts! It's traumatizing! It's bad! And?! What next?!
However, when she did finally got to the new bits it does get interesting again... took a bit long to get there, though.
Anyway. What I find really interesting in this book is that she's written something like 3 times or more in it that INDONESIA is also a well known FGM country! HUH?! What? I never knew a thing about this? Definitely didn't have it done on me, and can't say that I know anyone whom I could suspect to have ever had the procedure done to her...
Unfortunately, despite her "in depth" research to the African countries, her evidence to the statements she made about the Arabic countries are sparse, whereas to that of the Asian countries are non-existent!
Or is it that she's planning to have another book about FGM in the Arabic countries and another one in Asia?! ;P
Comments, anyone?
However, when she did finally got to the new bits it does get interesting again... took a bit long to get there, though.
Anyway. What I find really interesting in this book is that she's written something like 3 times or more in it that INDONESIA is also a well known FGM country! HUH?! What? I never knew a thing about this? Definitely didn't have it done on me, and can't say that I know anyone whom I could suspect to have ever had the procedure done to her...
Unfortunately, despite her "in depth" research to the African countries, her evidence to the statements she made about the Arabic countries are sparse, whereas to that of the Asian countries are non-existent!
Or is it that she's planning to have another book about FGM in the Arabic countries and another one in Asia?! ;P
Comments, anyone?
January 6, 2013
Nach ihrer Autobiographie "Wüstenblume", die ich verschlungen und geliebt habe, fand ich im Bücherregal meiner Mutter dieses Buch von Waris Dirie. Es ist ihr drittes Buch. Das zweite Buch besitze ich leider nicht, möchte ich aber auch bald lesen.
Dennoch macht es von der Handlung her nichts aus, da ihr drittes Buch sich weniger um einen Roman, sondern mehr um ein Sachbuch mit Informationen handelt. Sie versucht auf diesem Wege ihre Leser über die Aktualität der weiblichen Verstümmelung aufzuklären.
Es passiert auch heute noch und nicht gerade selten. Und das auch direkt in Europa. Viel zu wenige Menschen wissen darüber bescheid. Prozesse fallen milder aus, weil die Richter für dieses Thema einfach nicht sensibilisiert sind.
Schmerzenskinder ist ein gutes und wichtiges Buch. Ich las es als Zweitlektüre, weil es eben so viele Fakten enthält und ich es so leichter stück für Stück lesen kann, als alles auf einmal. Weil man eben so das Gelesene besser verarbeiten kann (ist zumindest bei mir so).
Alles in Allem ein gutes Buch. Ich bewundere Waris Dirie als Autorin sehr und auch in diesem Buch hat sie wieder mit viel Mut und Ehrlichkeit geschrieben.
Dennoch macht es von der Handlung her nichts aus, da ihr drittes Buch sich weniger um einen Roman, sondern mehr um ein Sachbuch mit Informationen handelt. Sie versucht auf diesem Wege ihre Leser über die Aktualität der weiblichen Verstümmelung aufzuklären.
Es passiert auch heute noch und nicht gerade selten. Und das auch direkt in Europa. Viel zu wenige Menschen wissen darüber bescheid. Prozesse fallen milder aus, weil die Richter für dieses Thema einfach nicht sensibilisiert sind.
Schmerzenskinder ist ein gutes und wichtiges Buch. Ich las es als Zweitlektüre, weil es eben so viele Fakten enthält und ich es so leichter stück für Stück lesen kann, als alles auf einmal. Weil man eben so das Gelesene besser verarbeiten kann (ist zumindest bei mir so).
Alles in Allem ein gutes Buch. Ich bewundere Waris Dirie als Autorin sehr und auch in diesem Buch hat sie wieder mit viel Mut und Ehrlichkeit geschrieben.
August 18, 2010
In ihrem Buch „Schmerzenskinder“ schreibt Waris Dirie über die Situation der weiblichen Genitialverstümmelung in Europa. Sie schreibt von Begegnungen mit anderen Opfern, von Gesprächen mit Experten, von der Willkür der Behörden, dem großen Tabu, dem dieses Thema nach wie vor unterliegt und vor allem aber auch von einigen Prozessen und der gesetzlichen Lage in den unterschiedlichen Ländern. Im Anhang werden auch die einzelnen Formen der FGM und ihre Folgen genauer erläutert. Waris erzählt wie ihr Leben weiterging, nachdem sie die Bücher Wüstenblume und Nomadentochter veröffentlicht hatte. In diesem Buch wird von Erfolgen, Rückschlägen und den Recherchen erzählt.
Teilweise fand ich es ein bisschen viel an Information, aber ich denke, es ist gut, dass es dieses Buch gibt, da es hilft die Menschen auf der Welt über diese schreckliche Praxis aufzuklären. Mir persönlich gefielen die ersten zwei und auch das 4. Buch „Brief an meine Mutter“ besser, aber ich bin froh, dieses Buch gelesen zu haben.
Teilweise fand ich es ein bisschen viel an Information, aber ich denke, es ist gut, dass es dieses Buch gibt, da es hilft die Menschen auf der Welt über diese schreckliche Praxis aufzuklären. Mir persönlich gefielen die ersten zwei und auch das 4. Buch „Brief an meine Mutter“ besser, aber ich bin froh, dieses Buch gelesen zu haben.
February 26, 2008
In Dirie's third book re: FGM (I haven't read the second one yet), she focuses on researching how widespread FGM is in Europe. She discovers that while there are "laws" to protect women and children from being mutilated in Europe, this precaution is still not enough and for most part, it's not really working. The parents just either do it in secret or go back to Africa to get it done by 'mutilators' there. This book is a real eye-opener of the backwardness of this custom. Read and learn.
August 21, 2011
This is really an extended report on the FGM situation in Europe, of which I'm sure most people (me included) would be completely unaware. In that way it's not particularly entertaining or enjoyable as a read, but it's certainly interesting and thought provoking, and presents the situation to a wide audience.Reading this will make you want to be able to DO SOMETHING ...
July 13, 2015
Desert Children is more informative than enjoyable compare to the two previous books. It talks more directly about FGM and gives a detailed picture on how much women have to go through and how ignorant rest of the world including African men on the matter.
August 5, 2008
story doesnt change much from beginning to end. while it did open my eyes to FGM, not my kind of book.
December 8, 2008
it was hard to read how many girls and women in Europe are affected by genital mutilation.
but on the other hand it was good to read that Waris is working against FGM.
but on the other hand it was good to read that Waris is working against FGM.
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August 12, 2011Very compelling a very good read!!
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June 29, 2013Not completed yet - OMG so shocking and sad - poor African women who suffers ........so cruel .....
July 6, 2013
Shocking truth ...
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