Female Ritual Servitude

While reading Female Ritual Servitude I could not help but be in shock at the treatment of the women in Ghana. To me, the idea that families must give a virgin in order to break a "curse" seems wildly superstitious, although I understand it is a way of life for these Africans. I thought about placing myself in the shoes of those women and I cannot imagine being so brutally and unwillingly mistreated. As I read further I was happy to see that so many people were willing to help create these organizations such as the ING in order to free these women. I found it interesting that they made gaining their freedom so public and I thought it was respectful to the beliefs of the people in Ghana. Instead of merely allowing the women to be freed they publicly emancipated them and traded for the virgins in order to relieve the curse upon the families. If this did not happen many families may still fear the curse upon them and never stop Trokosis. Another thing I liked about ING was that they not only set the women free but provided jobs, counseling, schooling for the women and children and support programs. I thought bringing in Planned Parenthood was very necessary because of the distorted views of sexuality these women must have. I thought that these programs did a good job of not only freeing the women but helping with their sustainability within the outside world.