Sunday, May 07, 2006
We are all different. Our diversity makes the world go round. If all of us possessed the same traits, it would be a very dull place. Did we ever stop to think that what we find normal in our culture and on this side of the equator would be completely ABNORMAL to some parts of the world? And in vice-versa of course.
I just finished watching a very interesting, albeit DISTURBING documentary on the Discovery Channel called Fat Fiancees. Now, they had shown this program before so bear with me. It tells the story of how the Bahima tribe in Uganda prefer robust, obese women as opposed to skinny women. On the contrary to us, they consider skinny as "unattractive" and fat as "beautiful". One of the Bahima women said that a skinny woman would not look attractive in their national costume compared to a fat one. Anyway, the story is centred on 20-year-old Moses, who is seeking to marry Sheila, a 17-year-old girl, who is unfortunately very skinny. Needless to say he likes his woman to be big, so Sheila is thrown into her grandmother's care to fatten her up. For two months, Sheila is force-fed full creamed cow's milk and butter 24-7. Her grandmother, who to me seemed a tad sadistic, will sit by Sheila's side and makes sure she finishes the entire gourd (translation: satu belanga) of milk, failing which, Sheila will receive some caning. Moses can only see Sheila a few days before the wedding, or at least until she is deemed fat enough by her parents. (Actually, Sheila is an orphan and her "parents" are her uncle and aunt.)
As time goes by, Sheila has gained about 80 pounds. Her sister-in-law said she had to go through the same thing. The sister-in-law is so fat now that she can't walk 50 metres without gasping for breath. Despite the weight that Sheila has gained, she is still required to gain more after she is married. Moses is of course delighted to see Sheila as he lifts up her veil. All fat and with stretch marks to boot. Yes, her mother made sure the stretch marks were visible before walking down the aisle. Before the official ceremony, a priest gave advice to Moses about the wedding night, stressing that Moses should not force sex upon Sheila and that he should be gentle.
After the wedding day, Sheila is still being fed cow's milk to gain more weight. When interviewed, Sheila said all she wanted to do was go to college and get an education. But unfortunately, she had no choice but to follow her parents' orders. According to her father, education is nothing. It wasn't important compared to making sure the daughter was married off and of course, fat enough to make her husband happy.
It's funny, eh? Although times have changed here, people in some parts of the world still conform to such practices of not giving choices to their offsprings. None whatsoever. It's either the parents' way or the highway. It's a scary thought.
