Let’s be for real for a second: We all love a good "glow-up." We’re the generation of 10-step skincare routines, gym memberships, and "investing in ourselves." We’re told that to be the best version of ourselves, we have to keep leveled up.

But what if someone told you that to be a "real woman" — to be clean, to be virtuous, to be enough — you had to give up a piece of your body?

Today is the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). At Better Her, we’re usually all about helping you live your best life, but today, we have to talk about something that is actively destroying the lives of girls across Nigeria.

And no, it’s not just "culture." It’s a crisis.

Amina’s Story: The Day the Celebration Turned to Trauma

Imagine being seven years old. You’re told today is a celebration. You get a new outfit, everyone is smiling at you, and there’s a sense of mystery in the air. You think you’re being crowned.

That was Amina.

She remembers the songs the women sang, the smell of incense, and the pride she felt because she was finally "growing up." But the celebration ended at the door of a dimly lit room. There were no crowns. There was only a rusted blade, the weight of four grown women holding her down, and a scream that stayed trapped in her throat because she was told "brave girls don't cry."

Amina didn’t "become a woman" that day. She became a survivor of a trauma she didn’t ask for.

Fast forward twenty years: Amina is a brilliant professional, but her body is a constant reminder of that "celebration." She deals with chronic, stinging infections that make through the workday a struggle. She spent her wedding night in fear because "the cut" made intimacy feel like glass. And when she finally got pregnant? She almost lost her life because the scar tissue wouldn't let her body do what it was born to do.

Amina’s story isn't a rare one. It’s the story of millions. Nigeria has an estimated 20 million women and girls living with the consequences of FGM — the third highest number globally. While national prevalence among women aged 15–49 has dropped to around 19–20%, the practice persists, especially in certain regions, putting more girls at risk every year.

The Myths We Need to Bust

We’ve heard the myths. They’re passed down in whispers by well-meaning aunties and community leaders. But let's call them what they are: distractions from the truth.

Common Myths vs. Reality

  • "It makes you clean." Actually, it’s the opposite. By messing with the body’s natural anatomy, FGM leads to infections, cysts, and long-term health issues. There is nothing "hygienic" about a rusted blade and a lifetime of antibiotics.
  • "It preserves your chastity." Let’s be clear: You cannot "cut" away a woman’s character. Virtue comes from the heart and mind, not from removing a part of her body. FGM doesn't make a woman "faithful"; it only makes her experience of intimacy painful.
  • "It helps with childbirth." This is perhaps the most dangerous lie of all. FGM is a leading cause of obstructed labor and maternal death. It doesn't make birth easier; it makes it a life-threatening gamble.

At Better Her, We Choose Progress Over Pain

At Better Her, we love our roots. We love our heritage. But we refuse to believe that Nigerian culture requires the blood of its daughters to survive.

FGM isn’t a religious requirement. It isn’t a beauty secret. It is a violation. It is a thief that steals a girl's health, her comfort, and sometimes, her very life before she’s even old enough to understand what’s happening.

What Are You Doing Today?

Today, when you see the #EndFGM posts, don't just scroll past. Be the person who starts the conversation. Talk to your sisters, your cousins, and yes, even those scary aunties.

The "tradition" only survives as long as we stay quiet. Today, we’re being loud. Because her body is hers. Her future is hers. And she deserves to keep both intact.

Join the movement. Share this. Speak up. Invest in education, advocacy, and support for survivors. Together, we can end FGM by 2030 — but only with sustained commitment.

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