--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have often felt like I was the only one…" description: "\"I have often felt like I was the only one fighting against female genital mutilation. There is still a huge taboo surrounding the topic, because it inv..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b8/waris-dirie-18358_body_i-have-often-felt-like-i-was-the-only-on_2305820.jpg" --- # I have often felt like I was the only one fighting against… ![“I have often felt like I was the only one fighting against female genital mutilation. There is still a huge taboo surrounding the topic, because it involves the most private parts of the female´s body. But whenever I feel like this is too much for me to do, I read e-mails and messages I receive…” quote by Waris Dirie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b8/waris-dirie-18358_body_i-have-often-felt-like-i-was-the-only-on_2305820.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b8/waris-dirie-18358_body_i-have-often-felt-like-i-was-the-only-on_2305820.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b8/waris-dirie-18358_body_i-have-often-felt-like-i-was-the-only-on_2305820.jpg) > “I have often felt like I was the only one fighting against female genital mutilation. There is still a huge taboo surrounding the topic, because it involves the most private parts of the female´s body. But whenever I feel like this is too much for me to do, I read e-mails and messages I receive every day from people thanking me for speaking up for them, for giving them a voice. These messages let me know that I am not alone, and that what I do is worthwhile.” [Waris Dirie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waris-dirie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocacy against female genital mutilation is reinforced by community support and shared stories. **In simple terms:** Support validates and fuels activism. Key Takeaway Seek solidarity to sustain advocacy. Themes activism solidarity empowerment Mood determined hopeful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - public speaking - policy advocacy - community outreach Key Concepts human rights gender violence Questions to Reflect On - What strategies help maintain resilience? - How can allies amplify marginalized voices? A Different Perspective Emotional toll of confronting trauma can be overwhelming. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Female](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female/) [Female body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female-body/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Messages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messages/) [Not alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-alone/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Speaking up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speaking-up/) [Taboo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taboo/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [Worthwhile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worthwhile/) ## Related quotes > [“I feel that God made my body perfect the way I was born. Then man robbed me, took away my power, and left me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waris-dirie/i-feel-that-god-made-my-body-perfect-the-way-i-was-born-then-man/) [Waris Dirie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waris-dirie/) > [Because women and girls are not valued equally as human beings, they are treated as less than such. Female genital mutilation is one example…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waris-dirie/because-women-and-girls-are-not-valued-equally-as-human-beings-they/) [Waris Dirie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waris-dirie/) > [Female genital mutilation targets little girls, baby girls - fragile angels who are helpless, who cannot fight back. It's a crime against a child,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waris-dirie/female-genital-mutilation-targets-little-girls-baby-girls-fragile/) [Waris Dirie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waris-dirie/) > [ After all, \[female genital mutilation is\] a key pillar of institutional misogyny in Islam: its entire purpose is to deny women sexual pleasure. True,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/after-all-female-genital-mutilation-is-a-key-pillar-of-institutional/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [ “The African specialist Nahid Toubia puts it plain \[when speaking of female genital mutilation\]: In a man it would range from amoutation of most… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/the-african-specialist-nahid-toubia-puts-it-plain-when-speaking-of/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [Well, of course there’s my own experience of being mutilated as a little child. Having gone through this cruel practice and all the long-term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waris-dirie/well-of-course-there-s-my-own-experience-of-being-mutilated-as-a/) [Waris Dirie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waris-dirie/) > [I always knew, from the very day of my own mutilation, that I would one day fight against this practice. I did not know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waris-dirie/i-always-knew-from-the-very-day-of-my-own-mutilation-that-i-would-one/) [Waris Dirie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waris-dirie/) > [“Finally, I want to come to the question of sex. If anything proves that religion is not just man-made but masculine-made, it is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/finally-i-want-to-come-to-the-question-of-sex-if-anything-proves-that/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“One of the most popular genital surgeries is labia minora reduction. When a similar procedure is performed on healthy girls in some African countries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/one-of-the-most-popular-genital-surgeries-is-labia-minora-reduction/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [In order to create an alternative an oppressed group must at once shatter the self-reflecting world which encircles it and, at the same time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-rowbotham/in-order-to-create-an-alternative-an-oppressed-group-must-at-once/) [Sheila Rowbotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-rowbotham/) > [I was raised on the values of speaking up and making a positive difference in a very political family that believed in the importance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/i-was-raised-on-the-values-of-speaking-up-and-making-a-positive/) [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) > [It's a very scary time for a lot of people; they feel scared to speak up. There's so much controversy even speaking up about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-jauregui/it-s-a-very-scary-time-for-a-lot-of-people-they-feel-scared-to-speak/) [Lauren Jauregui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-jauregui/) > [I believe it is the responsibility and duty of those in high-profile positions to give a voice to people whose voices cannot be heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donatella-versace/i-believe-it-is-the-responsibility-and-duty-of-those-in-high-profile/) [Donatella Versace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donatella-versace/) > [You can be the outcast or be the backlash of somebody's lack of love. Or you can start speaking up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-bareilles/you-can-be-the-outcast-or-be-the-backlash-of-somebody-s-lack-of-love/) [Sara Bareilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-bareilles/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) ## More by Waris Dirie > [I still do find it very difficult in the West to connect to this politeness of smiling, not saying how you're thinking or not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waris-dirie/i-still-do-find-it-very-difficult-in-the-west-to-connect-to-this/) [Waris Dirie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waris-dirie/) > [We need to empower women: provide them with work for their own income, and teach them to become independent of men so they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waris-dirie/we-need-to-empower-women-provide-them-with-work-for-their-own-income/) [Waris Dirie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waris-dirie/) > [Less hatred, more love, less war, more peace, more respect for the Mother Nature and for other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waris-dirie/less-hatred-more-love-less-war-more-peace-more-respect-for-the-mother/) [Waris Dirie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waris-dirie/) > [I know what I am fighting for. I am fighting for the most basic rights of innocent children. And that is why I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waris-dirie/i-know-what-i-am-fighting-for-i-am-fighting-for-the-most-basic-rights/) [Waris Dirie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waris-dirie/) > [In the current situation, it is very difficult for foreign NGOs to work in Somalia because it is so unstable and dangerous. I really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waris-dirie/in-the-current-situation-it-is-very-difficult-for-foreign-ngos-to/) [Waris Dirie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waris-dirie/) > [I always knew, from the very day of my own mutilation, that I would one day fight against this practice. I did not know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waris-dirie/i-always-knew-from-the-very-day-of-my-own-mutilation-that-i-would-one/) [Waris Dirie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waris-dirie/) > [My family is and will always stay the most important to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waris-dirie/my-family-is-and-will-always-stay-the-most-important-to-me/) [Waris Dirie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waris-dirie/) > [I love the truth. Tell the truth and live the truth, because we've seen enough lies and look what it's doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waris-dirie/i-love-the-truth-tell-the-truth-and-live-the-truth-because-we-ve-seen/) [Waris Dirie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waris-dirie/) > [Fashion is fun, ridiculously fun. But it's base and it's wrong. You're not doing anything good for the world. You're just saying, 'Buy it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waris-dirie/fashion-is-fun-ridiculously-fun-but-it-s-base-and-it-s-wrong-you-re/) [Waris Dirie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waris-dirie/) > [Every day, women move mountains. It is an insult to have an international women's day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waris-dirie/every-day-women-move-mountains-it-is-an-insult-to-have-an/) [Waris Dirie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waris-dirie/) > [I am strong, determined, impulsive, happy, and emotional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waris-dirie/i-am-strong-determined-impulsive-happy-and-emotional/) [Waris Dirie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waris-dirie/) > [Well, of course there’s my own experience of being mutilated as a little child. Having gone through this cruel practice and all the long-term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waris-dirie/well-of-course-there-s-my-own-experience-of-being-mutilated-as-a/) [Waris Dirie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waris-dirie/) > [Laws are important. But they can only be effective if the people know about the particular laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waris-dirie/laws-are-important-but-they-can-only-be-effective-if-the-people-know/) [Waris Dirie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waris-dirie/) > [Female genital mutilation targets little girls, baby girls - fragile angels who are helpless, who cannot fight back. It's a crime against a child,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waris-dirie/female-genital-mutilation-targets-little-girls-baby-girls-fragile/) [Waris Dirie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waris-dirie/) > [I've never been one to stay still. I was born a nomad, and I still am a nomad and always will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waris-dirie/i-ve-never-been-one-to-stay-still-i-was-born-a-nomad-and-i-still-am-a/) [Waris Dirie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waris-dirie/) [Explore all 35 Waris Dirie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waris-dirie/) ## More Body quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [The very purpose for being in this body, for every one of us, is to live and rejoice in that virgin area, that untouched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/the-very-purpose-for-being-in-this-body-for-every-one-of-us-is-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) Jennifer Siebel Newsom > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Racism is a cancer. You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. If you ignore cancer, it simply metastasizes and consumes the whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/racism-is-a-cancer-you-cannot-ignore-it-and-it-ll-go-away-if-you/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [If japa is maintained, no useless talk during work will be possible. The mind will always remain peaceful. Modern day diseases are mostly psychosomatic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/if-japa-is-maintained-no-useless-talk-during-work-will-be-possible/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [It is the incongruous thing in my entire life, this isolation.. ... My work requires it - but I myself have no need or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-hartley/it-is-the-incongruous-thing-in-my-entire-life-this-isolation-my-work/) [Marsden Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-hartley/) > [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) [Browse all 20,814 Body quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have often felt like I was the only one fighting against female genital mutilation. There is still a huge taboo surrounding the topic, because it involves the most private parts of the female´s body. 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