The Cut - Documentary - Female Genital Mutilation/ Cutting (FGM/C) In Kenya (2009)

October 24, 2009 -- The Cut Documentary is a factual and informative short film, describing the effect on women's lives of FGM or female genital mutilation.

Short documentary about Mary (aged 14 years) and Alice (who is in her early 20's) from Kenya. Both are affected by the traditional rite of passage into womanhood: genital cutting. Mary and her community are preparing for her ceremonial cutting, and Alice is studying to be a social worker to work against female genital mutilation. As the first in her community to refuse the practice, Alice has paid a high price for her choice to break with tradition. Alice tells of the different myths she encounters in the community around her, as to why circumcision is practiced. Mary, on the other hand, has no voice. She just goes through the preparations and rituals in silence.

Film maker and writer Linda May Kallestein, made The Cut Documentary to spread worldwide awareness of the issues around this practice. Female genital mutilation is a huge problem that affects 120 - 140 million women all over the world. That is about the same amount of all the female population in the USA today. An additional 2 to 3 million girls from the age of newborn to 15 years old, are added to their ranks every single year. This means about at least 6000 girls today alone. Who feel their genitals being sliced off. By a razor blade. A knife. A piece of broken glass.

It happens in many African countries, some Middle Eastern and also some Asian. Traditionally, that is. Due to migration, it is also taking place in virtually every country that has immigrants from these countries. It might be happening closer than you think.

Kallestein says, "The topic is not pretty. We are talking about immediate suffering and death, and long term suffering and death. Despite the disgust we feel at the very thought of it, we should not look away. Young girls, who are unable to defend theirselves, are the vicitims. They suffer in silence. We can help by giving them a voice."

"The Cut" gives these girls a voice. Help spread it to make this voice heard all over the planet. Support the victims even more by demanding that female genital mutilation must stop. Unlike many other problems our world suffers from, where there is a lack of resources and much needs to be done, here the answer lays in the simple solution of not doing something anymore. It simply needs to stop.

You can be their voice. You can say, "Just Stop It"

For more information go to: http://www.lindamaykallestein.com