The Imagery of Mutilated Genitalia
Saida Hersi’s description of the gynecologist’s reaction after seeing Hawa’s genitalia, paints the image of scarred, horrifying organs that are mutilated severely. The imagery is contradictory to the argument that the circumcision results in the sanctity of women.
Imagery of the “grain of sorghum”
Following circumcision, a girl’s genitalia is sewn up leaving a small space whose size is equivalent to the “ grain of sorghum”. The imagery of the grain elucidates the alteration of a girl’s biology that makes her vulnerable to health problems that could result due to the lack of hygiene, or inability to pass urine or menstrual blood. What is more, the imagery foreshadows the difficulties such a girl will endure when giving birth once she becomes a woman.
