Warrior Marks: Female Genital Mutilation and the Sexual Blinding of Women. - book reviews

African American Review, Fall, 1997 by Lovalerie King

Reviewed by

Lovalerie King University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

Alice Walker and Pratibha Parmar chart the origin, development, and realization of the 1993 film project bearing the same name as their book. A unique and practical resource, the volume also provides an illuminating glimpse into the minds of its authors. Though each was born under the sign of Aquarius, they emerge as an interesting odd couple in this scenario. Still, their similarities a strong sense of mission, spiritual depth, and the uncompromising belief and assertion that "torture is not culture" -allow them to work in complementary fashion to bring to fruition an appropriately multidimensional and multi-perspectival project.

For Walker, the project is deeply personal, and she situates herself in the middle, rendering her narrative from that subjective vantage point. She frames her telling of their collaborative journey around her own blinding in one eye at the age of eight. Her approach is direct and to the point. Parmar's perspective, on the other hand, is generally that of the film's producer and director and, thus, needs to be more objective. Her task, in part, involves capturing the essence of the harmful effects of female genital mutilation without exploiting the women who are victimized by the practice. Though she is an Indian who spent her childhood in Africa, Parmar comes across as both familiar with, and yet distanced from, the subject of her project - like a journalist returning to the hometown left decades before to write a story about the locals. Parmar expresses surprise at being able to speak openly about female genital mutilation. She is most self-revelatory when she admits that she suffered a mini-crisis of self-confidence in the midst of the project and that she felt exposed and vulnerable at the end when she had to let go of the film.

Additional perspectives are provided in the interview section. Interviewees range from internationally recognized political activists like Awa Thiam of Senegal, to survivors of mutilation (or circumcision - depending on vantage point), to the circumcisers themselves. Of course, the inherent weakness even in presenting such a multi-perspectival narrative is that it is ultimately filtered through a Western lens.

Following each author's preface, the journal proper is divided into Part One Walker's introduction and "Alice's Journey" - and Part Two - Parmar's introduction and "Pratibha's Journey." "Pratibha's Journey" is the longest section in the book. Each narrative takes several forms - from brief, dated entries to letters and entire poems. Seventeen interviews make up Part Three, which is followed by an interesting amalgamation of useful data, including film credits, acknowledgments, an "Afterword" (Walker's uniquely original tribute to a "fallen warrior"), information on types of female genital mutilation, a list of contact organizations and advocacy groups, bibliography, permissions, and photo credits.

In her preface, Walker informs us that the book chronicles her experience as Executive Producer and co-creator of the film, and she explains how she became acquainted with the topic and that her involvement will last for the rest of her life. She discusses the progress that has been made toward challenging and eradicating what she calls female genital mutilation, and she warns the "faint of heart" to take heed before reading the book. Parmar begins her preface by relating the experience of a fourteen-year-old Egyptian girl and the graphic image of the child's agonizing death following the excision of her clitoris and labia minora. Parmar humbly acknowledges that the film is only a small contribution. She also provides information about televised presentations, promotional tours, screenings, and the film's international audience. The film, she explains, continues to be screened at educational and health institutions and in theaters around the world, and its impact has been phenomenal in terms of activism. It has raised consciousness among women who are survivors of female genital mutilation and (along with Walker's Possessing the Secret of Joy) has even been used to effect a change in Amnesty International's policy regarding the definition of "torture."

The introduction to each author's journey provides a general description of the project as it was initially conceived. "Alice's Journey" includes the following statement of faith: "I believe we are destined to meet the people who will support, guide, and nurture us on our life's journey, each of them appearing at the appropriate time, accompanying us at least part of the way." Walker notes that she maintains her optimism in the face of adversity through the knowledge that "companion spirits" are always ready to join in her endeavors. She acknowledges Parmar as one such companion spirit, and Parmar shares a similar (or reciprocal) understanding when she marvels over chance occurrences like meeting the dancer who represents - through movement - the effects of genital mutilation in the film.