Standing in the Shadows of Cultural Conflict
"If I refuse, I will bring shame to my family," she says softly. "But if I accept, I lose a part of myself." A young Maasai girl stands before her mud hut, her hollow eyes reflecting a childhood shaped by tradition and sacrifice. In her remote village, where many families cannot afford formal schooling, parents often see early marriage as a way to protect their daughters from poverty. For Maasai girls, childhood ends with the rite of passage—a ceremony that includes female genital mutilation (FGM), seen as a prerequisite for marriage. This deeply ingrained tradition underscores the harsh realities faced by girls in communities where opportunities are limited, and the weight of cultural expectations looms heavy.
- Epson Premium Luster 260g
- Paper Only or Black Square Profile with Wood Picture Frame
- Photographed in Kenya
