The Lingering Impact of Harmful Cultural Practices on Contemporary Health and Well-being

The Lingering Impact of Harmful Cultural Practices on Contemporary Health and Well-being

Culture, traditions, and customs are deeply rooted in human societies and have been forming the basis of the way people live their lives. While these practices often have a positive impact on society, some of them can have harmful effects on health and well-being. These negative practices are called harmful cultural practices, and they have been a continued threat to women, children, and marginalized communities around the world. Unfortunately, harmful cultural practices are persistent, even in the modern age.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is one of the harmful cultural practices that continues to threaten the lives of girls and women in many parts of the world, despite efforts to end it. FGM is a brutal procedure that involves the partial or total removal of the female genitalia often carried out without medical supervision. It is estimated that over 200 million women and girls alive today have undergone FGM in thirty-one countries. The practice brings lifelong negative health consequences, including severe pain, infections, infertility, and even death.

Child marriage is another harmful cultural practice that affects the health and well-being of children, particularly girls. Child marriage is defined as a formal marriage or informal union before the age of 18. In many nations, child marriage is viewed as a cultural practice rather than a human rights violation. It is a violation of the right to education and the right to health, as well as a barrier to a girl’s agency, empowerment, and development. Girls who marry early are more likely to suffer from complications during pregnancy and childbirth, interrupting their education, and increase maternal and child mortality rates.

On the other hand, widowhood practices, common in some cultures, are another harmful cultural practice but affect adult women rather than young girls. The practice involves the shunning and isolating of women who have lost their husbands, depriving them of their rights and dignity and rendering them invisible. Widowhood practices vary across cultures, but all involve women being stigmatized, maltreated, denied a voice, and prevented from living the lives they desire. These practices have a lasting impact on women’s emotional, mental, and physical well-being, as they are subjected to abuse, poverty, and poor health.

In conclusion, harmful cultural practices are a critical challenge to global health and well-being. These practices hinder human development and violate human rights, particularly for marginalized communities such as girls and women. The cycle of cultural norms takes time to alter, but it is critical to identify and address harmful practices that impact health and well-being to ensure that everyone’s rights are protected. Countries must work to meet their obligations under international law and end harmful cultural practices to promote healthier, fairer, and more equitable societies.

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