'FGM happened to me in white, midwest America'

A Christian doctor removed my clitoris when I was three years old as a ‘cure’ for masturbation, writes Renee Bergstrom

Dr Bergstrom: ‘I remember the excruciating pain and feeling betrayed.’

Dr A Renee Bergstrom

In 1947, when I was just three years old a doctor removed my clitoris. Female genital mutilation is mostly associated with African cultures, and non-Christian religions, but my FGM happened in white, midwest America. It took place in a church clinic that used a scalpel on girls who masturbated.

I remember the excruciating pain and feeling betrayed. I was told not to talk about it, but keeping the secret meant I was alone with my questions as I grew into puberty: what was missing? What would it be like to be “whole”?

At 15 I consulted a doctor regarding a tugging sensation from my scar tissue. Unknowingly, I went to the same clinic where the clitoridectomy was performed and the doctor shamed me with a booklet entitled The Sin of Self-Pleasuring.

My first child and I could have died – an almost universal impact of FGM is difficulty giving birth. I, like so many women around the world, did not know genital scar tissue does not stretch. I wanted to be fully awake to experience giving birth, but my obstetrician performed an extensive episiotomy under anaesthetic that took months to heal. He was compassionate and shocked to hear the origin of my scar.

Unfortunately, he was no longer available for my next two pregnancies and my new obstetrician saw me as a scientific experiment. Another surgeon offered to remove one of my nipples to create a faux clitoris. I found these proposals repulsive, and declined them both. Discomfort continued for 50 years until the scar separated during menopause.

Forgiving does not mean forgetting

I no longer have that daily physical reminder and I have forgiven all those involved. However, forgiving does not mean forgetting. Today I work with women who have experienced FGM. Along with my friend, Filsan Ali, I created a brochure for pregnant infibulated Somalian women. It is designed for women to share with their clinicians to initiate a conversation about opening the scar to prevent unnecessary caesarean sections.

The impetus for my writing is concern regarding increased hatred and disrespect toward women, other cultures and religions – as if Christians in the United States had a flawless history.

FGM is not my shame, it is my story. I witnessed Christian religions declaring masturbation a sin, “some Christian leaders and doctors” recommending circumcision to prevent it, physicians carrying out the practice and our American culture first accepting this form of sexual abuse and then denying it ever occurred.

My resilience stems from love, respect and caring from my husband, my family and many people throughout the world who stood in solidarity with me as I progressed on my healing journey.

Flying Free From Abuse. Illustration: Renee Bergstrom

Honouring pain through art

About 30 years earlier, I painted an image of a woman flying free of all forms of oppression and abuse. Little did I know then that the artist in me was knocking.

In the early 1980s at a Swiss art gallery I saw a statue of a man who looked just like my brother Phil who died while I was in college. The overwhelming grief created a portal for me to mourn another great loss in my life. I felt this statue was a distinct sign, a blessing, if you will, of the work I had begun to undertake toward elimination of FGM.

My desire for our country is that we be known for our compassion and fair treatment of all those who have suffered and continue to suffer. My dream for the world is that practising cultures end FGM so women everywhere can experience wholeness, as I believe our Creator intended. My hope is we can fly free from oppression and abuse. At 72, I, Renee the Artist, add my voice to those who have risen above social and cultural pressure to remain silent.

Video excerpts from the feature documentary by John Chua The Cut: Exposing FGM Worldwide #StopGlobalFGM

MWALIMU AFARIKI DUNIA KATIKA MKUTANO WA CHAMA CHA CWT JIJINI DAR ES SALAAM

Mwalimu Tuhobwike Mwinuka Mwakatumbula enzi za uhai wake.

Jeneza lenye mwili wa mwalimu Tuhobwike Mwinuka Mwakatumbula likiwa ndani ya Kanisa la Kiinjili la Kilutheri Tanzania (KKKT), Usharika wa Wazo Hili Dar es Salaam leo asubuhi wakati wa ibada ya kuuaga mwili huo.

Mume wa marehemu, Samuel Mwakatumbula akimbusu mke wake wakati wa ibada hiyo ya kumuaga mpendwa wake. Kushoto ni mtoto wake Kelvin.

Binamu wa marehemu, Nobert Nselu (kulia) akimsaidia rafiki wa karibu wa marehemu mama Malugu wakati mwili wa marehemu ukiwasili nyumbani kwake.

Rafiki wa marehemu mama Malugu (katikati) akisaidiwa.

Waombolezaji wakiwa msibani nyumbani kwa marehemu 

Wazo Hill.

Ni huzuni kubwa 

Wakina mama wakiwa na maua wakati wakisubiri mwili wa marehemu kuingizwa ndani.

Geneza lenye mwili wa marehemu likiingizwa nyumbani kwake. 

Mume wa marehemu Samuel Mwakatumbula akimuaga mke wake

Mtoto mkubwa wa marehemu Nico Mwakatumbula (katikati), akisaidiwa baada ya kutoa heshima za mwisho kwa mama yake.

Waombolezaji wakiingiza jeneza lenye mwili wa marehemu katika Kanisa la KKKT Usharika wa Wazo Hill.

Mwili ukiwa kanisani.

Mume wa marehemu akiwa na watoto wake. Kutoka kulia ni Gloria, Kelvin na Nico.

Wanafamilia wakiwa katika ibada hiyo ya kumuaga mpendwa wao.

Waumini wa kanisa hilo wakiwa kwenye ibada hiyo.

N a Dotto Mwaibale

MWALIMU Tuhobwike Mwinuka Mwakatumbula wa Shule ya Msingi Kumbukumbu katika Manispaa ya Kinondoni amefariki dunia wakati akiwa katika mkutano wa Chama Cha Walimu Tanzania (CWT) na viongozi wa Idara ya Elimu wa manispaa hiyo.

Kifo cha mwalimu huyo kimetokea Desemba 1, 2016 Siku ya Ijumaa majira ya jioni wakati viongozi hao walipokuwa wakimalizia ziara yao ya kutembelea shule mbalimbali katika manispaa hiyo.

Akizungumza na Jambo Leo mume wa marehemu Samuel Mwakatumbula alisema mke wake hakuwa na tatitizo lolote la kiafya na siku ya tukio hilo aliamka salama na kumuaga kuwa anawahi kwenye mkutano huo.

"Siku chache kabla ya kifo chake mke wangu aliniambia alikuwa hajisikii vizuri kwani alikuwa na uchovu wa kawaida" alisema Mwakatumbula.

Mwakatumbula alisema alipigiwa siku na kuambiwa kuwa mke wake alianguka ghafla wakati mkutano ukiendelea na kupoteza fahamu ambapo alikimbizwa Hospitali ya Mount Mkombozi iliyopo maeneo ya Morocco ambapo waliambiwa tayari alikuwa amefariki.

Mwili wa marehemu ulisafirishwa jana kwenda Kiwira wilayani Rungwe mkoani Mbeya kwa maziko yatakayofanyika leo marehemu ameacha mume na watoto watatu, Nico, Kelvin na Gloria.