Millions of young girls around the globe are being subjected to breast ironing in a desperate attempt to stave off rape and sexual harassment, according to the Daily Mail. Breast ironing is the use of hot stones or other tools to flatten a girl's breast as she begins to develop into a woman.
The U.N. believes more than 3.8 million girls around the world are being subjected to breast ironing.
Primarily the practice occurs in Cameroon and often times it is the mother who chooses to inflict the ironing on her daughter, according to the Guardian.
"Each time I cried as it was really painful," said Elizabeth Mbu, a victim of the process. "I didn't understand what was going on, but it was very difficult to speak about."
The mother initiates the breast ironing 58 percent of the time, according to NewsEveryDay.
They will use almost anything to flatten and stop the development of their daughter's breast, even if it means causing them momentary harm, however, many do not realize that they could be causing lifelong problems.
"Mothers say it's normal to do it, because it prevents the girl getting pregnant early and dropping out of school, or being raped," said Mbu. "When they see their girl growing breasts, they think they will attract boys - they are protecting their girls."
