12 Benefits Of A Healthier Sǝx Life That Have Nothing To Do With The Obvious

Breast flattening, a tradition once prevalent in numerous Ghanaian households, involved mothers using wooden mashers known as 'tapoli' to flatten lumps in their daughters' breasts. Young girls experiencing breast development would undergo this practice without comprehending its true purpose.

Some girls held the misconception that breast flattening would lead to larger breasts when they developed fully, a misunderstanding that persisted for generations. In reality, this practice aimed to delay the early onset of breast development.

Mothers were concerned that their daughters might encounter premature sexualization and the associated challenges of having a mature body at a young age. Essentially, they sought to protect their daughters from entering the adult world prematurely.

 Mothers, apprehensive that their daughters might not be emotionally or mentally prepared to handle the temptations and complexities of adulthood, used the pretext of increasing breast size next time to avoid revealing the genuine motive behind the practice.

In truth, their intent was to preserve their daughters' innocence and shield them from the pressures and responsibilities that came with womanhood. Explaining the actual reason to a child at the time could have been difficult, as it required an understanding of societal expectations and the desire to adhere to the cultural norm of delaying female maturity.

This practice, well-intentioned albeit misunderstood, reflected the mothers' concern for their daughters' well-being in a society where early sexualization could have severe consequences.

As cultural beliefs and norms evolved over time, this practice gradually waned, and there is now an increasing awareness of the importance of educating young girls about their bodies, health, and self-acceptance.