VISDA, Juliana Patricia

11- Honesty

Desert Flower is a 2009 German biographical film directed by Sherry Hormann.

Based on the Somali-born model Waris Dirie's autobiography. "Desert Flower" tells an
extraordinary story in an ordinary way. Practices of the nomads are not only extremely
outdated, but they also result in horrific pain and long-term trauma for young girls like Dirie.
The author reveals that as a five year old she was a victim of female genital mutilation, a
extremely painful procedure that usually causes lifelong damage to the reproductive organs
and that often result in fatal bleeding and infections. Female genital mutilation is a cultural
practice often done out of a sadistically misguided interest to preserve a young woman’s
“purity.” Her mutilation, however, is only the beginning of her suffering as a woman. At the
age of 12, Dirie learns she is to be wed in an arranged marriage to a 60-year-old man. In
exchange for her hand in marriage, Dirie’s father is set to receive five camels from the
groom. To avoid marrying the old man, Dirie runs away from her family. Her ambition is to
reach Mogadishu, while escaping Dirie encounters a truck driver who tries to rape her. Dirie
understands why so many women stay behind in bad situations, rather than face the countless
dangers of escaping. Dirie worked for a while at McDonald's and was discovered by chance
by fashion photographer Terence Donovan. Photographer asks Dirie if he can take her
picture, she becomes extremely uncomfortable, owing to a lifetime marked by sexual
violence or the threat thereof carried out by strange men. She continued via modeling in film
and fashion to a stage where she was considered a supermodel.It was at this point that, she
wrote this autobiography. Shortly afterwards she became a UN ambassador for the abolition
of FGM (female genital mutilation).

As a woman, for me, Waris is a very brave person. From her many years with her
nomadic tribe in Somalia, has developed a resilience that I strongly admire. She stands up for
what she know what is right and what she believes in and doesn't let anybody push her
around, and I believe that's a great trait for someone to have, especially a woman. The
scenarios that happened in her biography opened my eyes to how badly women are treated in
some areas of the world. And how little respect they are given. It's also taught me to be
grateful for what I have and the life that we live here in Philippines. Waris' words about the
living conditions and scarce resources in Somalia have really made me realize how good I
truly have it. I take for granted so many things, such as water, that the people living in
Somalia would believe to be a blessing. I am thankful for the life that I live, but I've realized
that I have never truly understood the novelties that I get to experience. After reading this
book, I've vowed to be more thankful for the pleasantries that I receive, and while that in no
way means I should stop using electronics or objects that people in other countries don't get
to experience, I do want to give back to those less fortunate than myself.

Until today, FGM is still existing in some areas of the world. As Waris said, “The last
camel in line walks as quickly as the first. Whatever happens to the least of us has an effect
on all of us.” Let us not become just a follower, but a leader to everybody. Let us try and
change what it means to be a woman. Because today, everyone thinks men are stronger than
women. Let us change that stigma and understand that we are all equal. We are strong in our
own ways.