Free Essays on Female Genital Mutilation

Female Circumcision or Genital Mutilation? Should we intrude on other cultures traditional practices when we believe they violate basic human rights? As Americans, we view issues much the way they pertain to our culture; it was how we were raised. For instance, female circumcision takes place within many African cultures. Debates rage about this custom, whether it is legite or inhumane. Human rights laws invoke a realm of justice and morality beyond and superior to countries, cultures, and religions. Through the course of this paper, an explanation will be given as to why African cultures view the practice the way they do, and why human rights activists have taken such a strong stance against it. First, it must be clear exactly what the procedure entails in order to show why it compels people to take a stand. Genital cutting consists of two different traditions. A clitoridectomy, which is the removal of a girl’s clitoris and infibulation, which involves removing the inner lips and sewing the outer lips (labia) of the vagina, so as to constrict the vaginal opening. The goal is to make the skin a blank patch of skin, where only a tiny new opening is created for passage. One or both practices can be performed. In Arabic circumcision, tahara, means â€Å"to purify.† It is an essential aspect of a women’s identity that ensures chastity, promotes cleanliness and fertility, and enhances the beauty of a woman’s body. Female circumcision is cloaked in festivity. In some societies the experience includes instruction in cooking, crafts, child care, and the use of herbs. Once cut, the girls suddenly become marriageable, and they are allowed to wear jewelry and womanly garments that advertise their charms. Other societies, such as the Masai, undergo the operation publicly. Here the cutting becomes a test of bravery and proof that they will be able to endure the pain of childbirth. Also, it gives the girls status in their communities. It p... Free Essays on Female Genital Mutilation Free Essays on Female Genital Mutilation FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION When Society Turns Against its Children Female Genital Mutilation is a destructive procedure that is usually performed on girls before puberty among a great part of population in Africa and immigrants around the world. It can be performed in different ways. It involves the excision of the labia minore as it may involve the excision of part or all of the external genitalia and consequent stitching of the vaginal opening, procedure known as infibulation. It may also include cauterization by burning of the clitoris and surrounding tissue. This kind of mutilation is a tradition and it is considered to be a necessary rite for a girl to become member of the society, be prepared for womanhood and marriage and lead a healthy life. However, I am convinced that the reasoning process of people who practice this rite is based on persuasion, fear, conviction, as well as religious and hygienic fallacies. The physical and psychological effects of Female Genital Mutilation are immense therefore it has to be stopped. One motivation of the societies that practice female circumcision is that their religion demands it. Rather, their belief is mistaken. These people are either Christians or Muslims. But neither the Bible nor the Qur’an require female circumcision. In fact, many religious scholars have confirmed that actually, there is not any link between the practice and religion. For the traditional communities who support this custom, the excision of the clitoris is meant to protect the woman from her sexual desires, saving her from temptation and disgrace, while vindicating her chastity. In these societies, virginity is a prerequisite for marriage. It increases a girl’s marriage opportunities as well as her father’s and family’s status within the community. Nevertheless, it is found out of interviews that many infibulated women do experience orgasm and moreover, infibulation does not provide a guarantee against... Free Essays on Female Genital Mutilation Female Circumcision or Genital Mutilation? Should we intrude on other cultures traditional practices when we believe they violate basic human rights? As Americans, we view issues much the way they pertain to our culture; it was how we were raised. For instance, female circumcision takes place within many African cultures. Debates rage about this custom, whether it is legite or inhumane. Human rights laws invoke a realm of justice and morality beyond and superior to countries, cultures, and religions. Through the course of this paper, an explanation will be given as to why African cultures view the practice the way they do, and why human rights activists have taken such a strong stance against it. First, it must be clear exactly what the procedure entails in order to show why it compels people to take a stand. Genital cutting consists of two different traditions. A clitoridectomy, which is the removal of a girl’s clitoris and infibulation, which involves removing the inner lips and sewing the outer lips (labia) of the vagina, so as to constrict the vaginal opening. The goal is to make the skin a blank patch of skin, where only a tiny new opening is created for passage. One or both practices can be performed. In Arabic circumcision, tahara, means â€Å"to purify.† It is an essential aspect of a women’s identity that ensures chastity, promotes cleanliness and fertility, and enhances the beauty of a woman’s body. Female circumcision is cloaked in festivity. In some societies the experience includes instruction in cooking, crafts, child care, and the use of herbs. Once cut, the girls suddenly become marriageable, and they are allowed to wear jewelry and womanly garments that advertise their charms. Other societies, such as the Masai, undergo the operation publicly. Here the cutting becomes a test of bravery and proof that they will be able to endure the pain of childbirth. Also, it gives the girls status in their communities. It p... Free Essays on Female Genital Mutilation ms Heard Around the World â€Å"The little girl, entirely nude, is immobilized in the sitting position on a low stool by at least three women. One of them with her arms tightly around the little girl’s chest; two others hold the child’s thighs apart by force, in order to open wide the vulva. The child’s arms are tied behind her back, or immobilized by two other women guests†¦ Then the old woman takes her razor and excises the clitoris. The infibulation follows: the operator cuts with her razor from top to bottom of the small lip and then scrapes the flesh from the inside of the large lip. This nymphectomy and scraping are repeated on the other side of the vulva†¦ The little girl howls and writhes in pain, although strongly held down. The operator wipes the blood from the wound and the mother, as well as the guests, verify her work, sometimes putting their fingers in. The opening left for urine and menstrual blood is minuscule†¦ Then the operator applies a paste and ensures the adhesion of the large lips by means of an acacia thorn, which pierces one lip and passes through into the other. She sticks in three or four in this manner down the vulva. These thorns are then held in place either by means of sewing thread, or with horsehair. Paste is again put on the wound†¦ But all this is not sufficient to ensure the coalescence of the large lips; so the little girl is then tied up from her pelvis to her feet: strips of material rolled up into a rope immobilizes her legs entirely†¦Ã¢â‚¬  - M.A.S. Mustafa, Muslim resident of Djibouti The passage above describes a typical procedure known as female genital mutilation (FGM) or female circumcision (FC). For many generations, this practice has been a normal and accepted scenario for women around the world, but has now become an issue for international controversy. It is estimated that 137 million females around the world have undergone FGM/FC, and at least another 2 millio...