"Virginity" Surgery
Immigration has historically benefited Canada greatly. Its population in fact ,as is well acknowledged, represents one of immigrants. Originally from the British Isles, and lesser so, from France, and from western Europe. On a wider scale, from China, from Japan, from India, and from eastern Europe. And more latterly, from countries of the Middle East. And from Sri Lanka, from the West Indies, from Africa.
When the real Canada stands up for inspection now, it no longer resembles the old Canada which was fairly homogeneous. Colourlessly so. This new Canada is heterogeneous. A kaleidoscope of colour.
And complex, and although we speak proudly of ourselves as a pluralistic society, accepting of one another's differences, a place of tolerant give-and-take, and generous egalitarianism enshrined in the laws of the land, we have become more fractionated than we were in the past. Ethnic groups, in the past, cleaved to their traditions and their memories of their heritage, and their home countries.
But they valued the opportunities opened to them, living in Canada, and their pride in their place in their new country that began to fulfill their aspirations made them proud to be Canadians.
There was an inclusiveness then, as the ethnicity began to fade as the groups become more incorporated into the general body of Canadian society with Canadian values becoming more dominant, and people generally melding into the traditions and the culture that they saw around them.
Canada had become their principal domicile, and their countries of origin represented a place that could be returned to, fondly, as Canadian visitors. The principal loyalty was to Canada.
If there were cultural traditions that were imported into Canada that were averse to the values held in this country, they were seldom seen. And eventually they disappeared, as immigrants felt themselves an integral portion of the whole. Now, however, we have tribal and cultural traditions that reflect original cultures' degradation of women, where women are seen as subservient to men, in gross conflict with universal human rights and Canadian values.
Where infibulation covertly takes place. Where the gender of foetuses is identified, so that girl babies can be aborted in favour of male babies. Where young girls are taught that their place is to unquestionably 'honour' the command of the males in their family, and implicitly obey their dictates. Where female modesty is declared an imperative to the extent that heads must be covered and bodies as well.
Where the need to placate the humiliation felt by males through the stubborn resistance of women and girls to demands that they accept unknown men as husbands - or wishing to be like other girls, unwillingness to wear a hijab, or insulting the honour of the family by going out with friends, including boys - is practised by threats leading to murders.
Men who discover that their fiancees or new wives are not virgins are able to disown them on that account.
Leading to a somewhat new medical-surgical phenomenon in Canada, where women from the Middle East seek assistance from doctors willing to help them, by re-fashioning a hymen. A surgical procedure called a hymenoplasty, where the hymen is 'restored'. If a young girl or a young woman has had an accident leading to the rupture of her hymen, she is presumed to be unworthy of marriage.
Certainly if it becomes known that she is no longer a virgin, she will no longer be considered marriageable within the community. No self-respecting man would accept such a woman for his wife, and the woman will be destined to be single forever. Shunned by the community, and shamed by her behaviour; her family's honour stained. South Asian women look for this procedure, to enable them to find husbands.
It is not for us to ask why any self-respecting woman exposed to Canadian values and lifestyles would want to marry a man who would have no respect for her without an intact hymen. They are the product of their culture, their familial and religious values. We can, however, as Canadians, ask why this situation can exist in Canada. We can deplore it. We can attempt to educate women that they need not be devalued.
We can also, through the immigration process, make a better attempt to determine which applicants represent as future Canadian citizens through their ability to adapt successfully to Canadian values. We do need to screen far more carefully to ensure that the infiltration into Canadian society of these values so antithetical to our own, does not continue.
When the real Canada stands up for inspection now, it no longer resembles the old Canada which was fairly homogeneous. Colourlessly so. This new Canada is heterogeneous. A kaleidoscope of colour.
And complex, and although we speak proudly of ourselves as a pluralistic society, accepting of one another's differences, a place of tolerant give-and-take, and generous egalitarianism enshrined in the laws of the land, we have become more fractionated than we were in the past. Ethnic groups, in the past, cleaved to their traditions and their memories of their heritage, and their home countries.
But they valued the opportunities opened to them, living in Canada, and their pride in their place in their new country that began to fulfill their aspirations made them proud to be Canadians.
There was an inclusiveness then, as the ethnicity began to fade as the groups become more incorporated into the general body of Canadian society with Canadian values becoming more dominant, and people generally melding into the traditions and the culture that they saw around them.
Canada had become their principal domicile, and their countries of origin represented a place that could be returned to, fondly, as Canadian visitors. The principal loyalty was to Canada.
If there were cultural traditions that were imported into Canada that were averse to the values held in this country, they were seldom seen. And eventually they disappeared, as immigrants felt themselves an integral portion of the whole. Now, however, we have tribal and cultural traditions that reflect original cultures' degradation of women, where women are seen as subservient to men, in gross conflict with universal human rights and Canadian values.
Where infibulation covertly takes place. Where the gender of foetuses is identified, so that girl babies can be aborted in favour of male babies. Where young girls are taught that their place is to unquestionably 'honour' the command of the males in their family, and implicitly obey their dictates. Where female modesty is declared an imperative to the extent that heads must be covered and bodies as well.
Where the need to placate the humiliation felt by males through the stubborn resistance of women and girls to demands that they accept unknown men as husbands - or wishing to be like other girls, unwillingness to wear a hijab, or insulting the honour of the family by going out with friends, including boys - is practised by threats leading to murders.
Men who discover that their fiancees or new wives are not virgins are able to disown them on that account.
Leading to a somewhat new medical-surgical phenomenon in Canada, where women from the Middle East seek assistance from doctors willing to help them, by re-fashioning a hymen. A surgical procedure called a hymenoplasty, where the hymen is 'restored'. If a young girl or a young woman has had an accident leading to the rupture of her hymen, she is presumed to be unworthy of marriage.
Certainly if it becomes known that she is no longer a virgin, she will no longer be considered marriageable within the community. No self-respecting man would accept such a woman for his wife, and the woman will be destined to be single forever. Shunned by the community, and shamed by her behaviour; her family's honour stained. South Asian women look for this procedure, to enable them to find husbands.
It is not for us to ask why any self-respecting woman exposed to Canadian values and lifestyles would want to marry a man who would have no respect for her without an intact hymen. They are the product of their culture, their familial and religious values. We can, however, as Canadians, ask why this situation can exist in Canada. We can deplore it. We can attempt to educate women that they need not be devalued.
We can also, through the immigration process, make a better attempt to determine which applicants represent as future Canadian citizens through their ability to adapt successfully to Canadian values. We do need to screen far more carefully to ensure that the infiltration into Canadian society of these values so antithetical to our own, does not continue.
posted by Pieface | 6:37 PM
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