Female Genital Mutilation Essay

"I remember the blade. How it shone! There was a woman kneeling over me with the knife. I bit her; it was all I could do. Then three women came to hold me down. One of them sat on my chest. I bit her with all my might." These words reflect Banassiri Sylla’s account of her experience undergoing female circumcision, also known as female genital mutilation (FGM), at the young age of eight in the Ivory Coast. This disturbing description of her struggle makes it hard to understand why any culture could support such a practice. Yet, it is estimated that about 132 million women and girls in about thirty African countries have undergone the same, or at least similar, cultural

The author of this article is Nigeen Akram. She was a volunteer who wanted to go to Iraq and study what was going on with Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). She interviewed a girl named Payam. She was a victim of FGM. All her life she wondered why her mother and grandmother did this to her. Her experience alone was terrifying not to mention the main procedure. This can give people insight on what is happening with females today. FGM is still around and many people still do it.

Now that we know little about the mutilation process these females undergoes; let’s ask ourselves “Why would someone ever agree to conduct such procedure on their own will?” If mutilation emphasizes the clear violation of human rights, why is this procedure being implemented in many different countries? Well, this issue is due to different ethical, and moral perspective; one may believe that female mutilation is morally right; while others may think it’s a violation of human rights. Let’s first explore the ethical theories on this

There is no hygienic or medical benefit for circumcising a female. Also, a male is circumcised shortly after birth, whereas females experience this procedure at much later ages such as seven or eight. In 2012, the U.N. passed a resolution that condemns female genital mutilation, or circumcision, as harmful to women and girls (Kolodny). This article argues that female genital mutilation should be a crime, not a cultural practice, but even if there was some way to make this practice illegal, how would it ever be enforced in the lawless countries that it is commonly practiced.

Female genital circumcision (FGC) is a cultural ritual that is performed to the vast majority of women within the countries of Sudan, Kenya, Mali, Benin, Togo, and parts of the Middle East. Female genital circumcision also termed as female genital mutilation is used based upon a person’s beliefs. This ritual has been highly controversial for many years especially in the western society, due to the health risks that women may have to go through. Doctor Gruenbaum, and anthropologist who studied FGC in Sudan, has researched this topic and believes that outsiders need to have an open mind about diverse cultures. I believe that this procedure should not be illegal; however, education about the risks of the procedure

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a cultural belief that over years has been practiced in Asia, the Middle East and over 28 countries in Africa. It is estimated over 150 million girls and women worldwide have been subjected to FGM. Also about 2 million girls are at risk everyday with the highest prevalence rate of about 97% in Somalia. FGM origin is specifically not known, but it has been practiced among different cultures, from Asia, the Middle East, some Australian aboriginal tribes and many African societies with Somalia being the leading country in most FGM reported cases. For this reason, let’s examine what the prevalence rate of FGM among women aged 15 and over in Somalia are and the estimated numbers of girls aged under 15 who are at risk of FGM. The Committee of Bioethics in the article female genital mutilation made a permission statement which suggest an ‘’appeal to health practitioners, especially pediatricians on how to encourage their patients, especially mothers, to educate their families on the dangers associated with FGM; to refrain from subjecting their girls to such

it's a practice carried out for cultural and religious reasons but widely recognized as a brutal violation of Human Rights female genital mutilation effects tens of millions of women around the world and the effects are devastating for the victim this week the united nations held an international campaign day to raise awareness of the issue the world health organization estimates that between a hundred and hundred and forty million women has suffered gentle mutilation it says every year two million girls i've risked the majority aged between four and two most cases occurred more than half of Africa's 53 countries but also happens in Asia and the Middle East and in several Western countries primarily among immigrants apart from the initial shock

In Western Societies, such as the United States, women have become more independent both politically and financially. Yet, in third world countries and patriarchal societies, it is not uncommon to see women hold subservient roles to men. Many women still follow traditions of the past within their cultures, such as, female genital mutilation (FGM) or female circumcision-- a painful surgical procedure to remove part of the clitoris (or clitoral hood) to suppress female sexuality. Female circumcision is banned in the United States, as the World Health Organization considers the procedure a violation of human rights for women and girls (“FGM in the United States”). In a recent case, two physicians and the wife of one of the doctors have been criminally

Female genital mutilation (FGM) or female circumcision is when someone cuts partial or total removes the external causing injuries to the female genital for culture, religious or other non-medical reasons. This is harmful; which can cause severe bleeding and problems urinating, infections, and can cause a child birth difficulties and higher risk of newborn’s death. Female genital mutilation is the violation of the human’s right of young girls and women, and it is wrong to let the girls and women suffer for a life time.

Female Genital Mutilation is a very large issue in many countries around the world. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) “refers to all procedures including partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons” (WHO, 1). There are four types of FGM, but type I and II are the most common for women and children to partake in. There are about 100-140 million girls and women who are subjected to this harmful practice around the world” (WHO, 1). This practice has been a part of the cultural norms of many societies since the pre-colonial time and is still a major issue for the countries that participate in this harmful practice.

The practice of genital mutilation is a cultural tradition performed across central Africa, in the southern Sahara, and in parts of the Middle East. Most women who have experienced FGC live in one of the 28 countries in Africa and the Middle East where FGC is practiced. Almost one-half of women who have experienced FGC live in Egypt or Ethiopia. To a lesser degree, FGC is practiced in Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, and India. Some immigrants practice various forms of FGC in other parts of the world, including Australia, Cana-da, New Zealand, the United States, and in European nations. Circumcision is a religious or cultural ritual for many Jewish and Islamic families, as well as certain aboriginal tribes in Africa and

FGM is a practice which is rooted into the Masaai traditions and culture for decades. It is a procedure that involves partial removal of the female genital organs. It is now recognized on an international basis as a violation of the human rights of girls and women and more importantly highlights an extreme form of discrimination against women. This practice which is performed at a young age violates the individual’s security and health rights. The treatment is inhumane and often leads to torturous consequences with some often resulting in death. The WHO (2013) statistics have revealed that an estimated 100 to 140 million women, girls and children around the world have under-gone this painful procedure with disabling consequences and long term risks and another 3 million girls are at risk of mutilation each year. FGM is seen as an annual ceremony for the community who perceive it as a celebration of adolescence. Within the Maasai community 99% of women have under-gone this procedure most of which are between the age of 12- 14. The procedure is carried out with a sharp instrument known as ‘ormurunya’ after which paste and milk fat is applied to stop bleeding. Women cannot voice their opinion and those who refuse to undergo the procedure are commonly seen as having shunned their culture and therefore face a high risk of being unaccepted by the family and being isolated from the community. There are various reasons to why this procedure is practiced most

The term female genital mutilation or cutting refers to “all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genital or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons” (WHO, 4). The practice of female genital mutilation dates back over 2000 years ago, and is thought to have originated in Egypt as a sign of nobility. However, the practice now holds a deeply rooted inequality between the sexes and remains a severe form of discrimination against women. Since the practice has been a part of Egyptian culture for so long, it has become culturally integrated both socially and economically. There are four classifications of female genital mutilation: partial or total removal of the clitoris (clitoridectomy), partial or total removal of the clitoris and labia minora (excision), narrowing of the vaginal orifice with creation of a covering seal by cutting and appositioning the labia minora (infibulation) and all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes (WHO, 5). In 2008, the World Health Organization estimated that 91.1% of Egyptian girls and women had undergone female genital mutilation (WHO, 4). However, the validity and reliability of the data is skeptical to many because of the interview style method used to acquire the data.

FGM is not a religious practice required by the Islamic faith. It has, however, become a “law by custom” (Ahmad). Neither of the two main sources of Muslim Law, the Koran and the Sunnah, mention the practice, and most Islamic scholars agree that it is not an Islamic religious rite. The practice has become important to Islam because it is associated with female sexual purity. FGM is intended by its practitioners to both control women’s sexual drives and also to cleanse women’s genitalia by removing the clitoris, which is seen as masculine, a female penis. Because of its association with purity, young women who have not been excised have little chance of marriage in the countries where FGM is

It is not more of one than the other. Female Genital Mutilation is acknowledged worldwide as a defilement of the human rights of girls and women. It reveals established inequality between sexes, and institutes an extreme method of discrimination against women and girls.