The impact of Female Genital Mutilation

This topic is a very sensitive and hard to talk about for any women, who have to discuss this. It is harsh and cruel, when looked upon from a western perspective.


Genital Mutilation is “the set of procedures used to remove or cause injury to part or all of the external female genitals.”(1) There are four different types of genital mutilation that is practiced, as listed below:

"Sunna" circumcision: Consists of the removal of the tip of the clitoris and/or the prepuce (the covering of the clitoris).
Clitoridectomy/excision: Consists of the removal of the entire clitoris (both prepuce and glans), and the removal of the adjacent labia.
Infibulation: Consists of the removal of the clitoris and the adjacent labia (majora and minora), followed by stitching together the scraped sides of the vulva across the vagina. A small opening is kept to allow passage of urine and menstrual blood.
Unclassified: Other forms of FGM include:Pricking, piercing or incising of the clitoris and/or labia; Stretching of the clitoris and/or labia; Cauterization by burning of the clitoris and surrounding tissue; Scraping of tissue surrounding the vaginal orifice or cutting of the vagina; Introduction of corrosive substances or herbs into the vagina to cause bleeding or for the purpose of tightening or narrowing it.

The majority of mutilations are of types I and II (80-85%), while infibulation (type III) accounts for 15%”.(1)

The genital mutilation is practiced in the majority of the middle eastern countries as well as half of the countries in Africa.(2) It takes in affect towards girls usually between the ages of four to eight years old. “In Africa, about three million girls are at risk for FGM annually. Between 100 - 140 million girls and women worldwide are living with the consequences of FGM. In Africa, about 92 million girls age 10 years and above are estimated to have undergone FGM”.(3)

This has major effects on the woman body as well as an enormous psychological impact. Studies have showed that some of the main side effect of this procedure includes death, HIV virus, pain, shock, urinary infection, problematic pregnancy, lack of sexual interest and increase in sexual dysfunction, depression, humiliation and the list continues. However it seems that there are some positive attributes to this procedure, such as improved cleanliness, prevention of vaginal cancer, prevention of rape, increased fertility and more.(1)

As many say that this is practiced as a part of a tradition, many say it is a part of the Muslim belief, yet it is not a Muslim tradition or mentioned in the Qur’an. Others believe it is a matter of cleanliness. According to a research presented in the religioustolerance.org, “Local custom has dictated that uncircumcised women cannot handle food or water, and may be poisonous to men or babies that come into contact with the clitoris.“ (4) If the clitoris is such a poisonous body part, then why do men try to get in contact with it? And what will happen to a man that does come in contact with it?

Human right activist are aware of this horrible “tradition”, and as the awareness is being spread all over the world, many countries have actually banned FGM. Many organizations such as Amnesty see this as human right abuse, a violation of women’s right, as well as additional suppression towards women in the third world countries. “Since 1997, great efforts have been made to counteract FGM, through research, work within communities, and changes in public policy. Progress at both international and local levels includes:
wider international involvement to stop FGM;
the development of international monitoring bodies and resolutions that condemn the practice;
revised legal frameworks and growing political support to end FGM; and
in some countries, decreasing practice of FGM, and an increasing number of women and men in practicing communities who declare their support to end it. Research shows that, if practicing communities themselves decide to abandon FGM, the practice can be eliminated rapidly.”(4)

However the fear of being a woman and standing up for one’s own rights in these countries come with a great price such as shame and disownment, not just by family member but from the society they live in. This is a high price to pay to get acceptance, although it is wrong in our eyes, it is the everyday reality for 6000 women worldwide.

Sources:
1 http://haneydaw.myweb.uga.edu/twwh/fgm.html
2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kNMC65pNsg&feature=related
3 http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/
4 http://www.religioustolerance.org/fem_cirm.htm