Harmful Traditional Practices
Meaning
Harmful traditional practices are customs or cultural habits that cause physical, mental, or social harm to people. These practices often violate human rights and can stop people from growing or learning properly.
Examples Harmful Traditional Practices
- Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): Cutting girls’ private parts, which is harmful and has no health benefit.
- Child Marriage: Marrying off children before they are grown, causing health problems and stopping school.
- Using Children for Begging: Forcing children to beg, which keeps them from learning and puts them in danger.
- Child Labour: Making children do hard work that hurts their body or stops them from studying.
- Witchcraft Accusations: Blaming children for witchcraft, which can lead to abuse or being abandoned.
- Widow Inheritance: Forcing widows to marry a relative of their late husband, causing sadness and stress.
- Breast Ironing: Flattening girls’ breasts to prevent attraction, which is painful and harmful.
Consequences of Harmful Traditional Practices
- Harmful traditional practices can cause health problems, like sickness or complications during childbirth.
- They can cause psychological trauma, such as fear, stress, or low self-esteem.
- They may lead to loss of education, as children are prevented from going to school.
- They can result in social isolation, where victims are rejected or looked down upon by society.
- They can keep people poor, because victims cannot work or study properly.
Prevention of Harmful Traditional Practices
- People should be taught about the dangers of harmful practices through public enlightenment.
- Laws that ban harmful practices should be enforced.
- Community leaders should speak out and guide people against harmful traditions.
- Victims should get support and care, including counseling and health services.
- Children and adults should be educated to understand their rights and stay safe.
Role of Students in Preventing Harmful Traditional Practices
- Students should learn and share information about harmful practices.
- Students should speak out and support victims.
- Students should treat everyone fairly and respect people’s rights.
- Students should report cases of harmful practices to teachers, parents, or authorities.
revision questions
- What are harmful traditional practices?
- Name three examples of harmful traditional practices.
- Why is female circumcision harmful?
- What problems can child marriage cause?
- How can harmful traditional practices be prevented?
- Who can help stop harmful traditional practices in the community?
