Visions of Hope
The event: Benefit luncheon for the Orange County chapter of Women of Vision, a Christian relief organization that serves the poor locally and throughout the developing world.
The recent event at the Sutton Place Hotel in Newport Beach featured an appearance by international fashion model Waris Dirie, who recently was named the United Nations’ special ambassador for the elimination of female genital mutilation.
Rallying around a cause: About 450 women attended the $100 event, where Dirie spoke about having undergone female circumcision at age 5 in Somalia. Her autobiography, “Desert Flower” ($25, William Morrow & Co.), was available for purchase.
Penny Wood, national director of Women of Vision--an affiliate of the World Vision relief organization--welcomed the crowd: “Women of Vision of Orange County has invested time, compassion, creativity and the financial resources to make a difference in our world,” she said. “Each of you today is investing in that difference.”
Brutal ritual: A child of the desert who went from being a nomad to a high-fashion Vogue model, Dirie, 31, was circumcised to ensure she’d “have the best opportunity to get a husband,” she writes in her book. “The prevailing wisdom in Somalia is that there are bad things between a girl’s legs; a woman is considered dirty, oversexed and unmarriageable unless those parts--the clitoris, the labia minora and most of the labia majora--are removed.” The centuries-old procedure is supposed to assure a prospective spouse of a young woman’s virginity.
Close-up: Dirie conceded in an interview that she has little hope of reversing the damage done by the circumcision. “The only way I can be healed is to educate others by talking about it,” said Dirie, whose sister died after undergoing the procedure. “It gives me great joy.”
Dirie’s successful modeling career is on hold. “I’m traveling all over the world to talk about the problem,” she said. “I want to make sure this never happens again.”
It is folly to think that such rituals are only being performed in developing countries, Dirie added. “Female circumcision is happening right here in the United States. When immigrants come here, they bring their cultures with them.”
Quote: “The horrible thing is that 2 million girl-children a year go through this procedure,” observed Karen French, co-chairwoman with Beverly Peters of the luncheon benefit.
Faces: Fashion designer Han Feng of New York, whose clothes were shown at the event by models and members of the audience; Dale Hanson Bourke, board member of World Vision U.S.; Judie Argyros, an event underwriter; Renae Ashwill; Susan Champion; Marie Forde; Madeline Hall; Trish O’Donnell; Katherine O’Keefe; Jeannie Olson; Joyce Snyder; Betsy Tarbell; and Jean Weiss.
Information: (949) 768-9207.