Female Circumcision or Better, Female Genital Mutilation: It’s not That Sexy

What is Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)?

Female circumcision embraces a host of procedures relating to the partial or or sometimes complete removal of the external female genitalia. Other terms that may be used to mean the same procedure include female genital cutting and female genital mutilation. Clitoridectomy is also used though it is normally used when the procedure specifically refers to the removal of the clitoris, which is almost analogous to the male circumcision. There are about five forms of classification of FGM depending on which parts of the genitalia are removed but such classification is beyond the scope of this essay.

The use of the term mutilation was adopted internationally by the WHO in 1991 after the Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (IAC) in Addis Ababa.

In adopting the term mutilation, the UN said

The extensive literature on the subject, the support of international organizations, and the emergence of local groups working against the continuation practices appear to suggest that an international consensus has been reached. The terminology used to refer to these surgeries has changed, and the clearly disapproving and powerfully evocative expression of “female genital mutilation” has now all but replaced the possibly inaccurate, but less value-laden term of “female circumcision”.

Why is FGM Practiced?

Different geographic regions undertake or embrace the manipulation of  the female genital organs for diverse reason. These can be cultural, religious or other reasons. Some of the common reasons are listed below:

• In some communities, FGM is often motivated by expectations of what is considered proper sexual behavior. When virginity is essential before marriage, FGM is believed to reduce a woman’s sexual desire, and hence help her avoid sex before marriage. Again, when the vaginal opening is covered or narrowed as happens in some forms of FGM, the women may often hold the fear of pain at the opening the vagina and may therefore stay away from ‘illegitimate’sex, especially when she’s scared of making that fear known to the man for fear of ridicule.
• In some societies, what others refer to as FGM is the social convention. Therefore not conforming to it is rather the exception. In this case, even if a group that does not practice the exercise moves into a society that embrace it as a convention, the latter may tend to practice it as well.

• Moreover, other societies consider FGM as a necessary part of raising a girl appropriately, and essential role in preparing her for maturity and marriage.

• Then there are cases when FGM is associated with cultural ideals of femininity and humility. These will imply the perception that girls are clean and fully women after removal of body parts that are considered “male” or “unclean”. It is even recorded that in some communities, girls who have not been circumcised will not be permitted to handle food or water that is meant for consumption by  ‘normal people’.
• The role in religion is propagating this practice is not straight forward. Some argue that FGM is a social custom, not a religious practice. However, in Muslim countries where FGM is practice, some do justify it by a controversial saying ascribed to the Prophet Mohammed that seem to favor sunna circumcision involving minor cutting of the clitoris.  These sayings have not been authoritatively validated. In fact other muslim scholars see other passages in the Quran which imply that the sole purpose of the clitoris is to promote sexual pleasure and hence oppose FGM.

Age at which Procedure is Carried out:

The age the procedure is carried out varies from case to case. In some cases, it is carried out after birth while in other situation it is done some time during the first pregnancy. The majority of cases, however, occur between the ages of four and eight.

Where is FGM practiced?

Even though FGC has been reported in South American and part of Australia, it is predominantly practiced in Africa, parts of the Near East and Southeast Asia. Some literatures suggest the FGM actually started in Africa over 2000 years ago. In Africa 85% of FGM cases consist of Clitoridectomy and 15% of cases consist of infibulations (surgical closure of the labia majora (outer lips of the vulva) by sewing them together to partially seal the vagina, leaving only a small hole for the passage of urine and menstrual blood.

The disturbing aspect of the exercise is that the tools used by the ‘mid-wives’ to carry out the procedure usually are not sterilized before or after usage. After the part of the genitalia targeted is removed, in some cases, the child is stitched up and her legs are bound for up to 40 days. The tools used can include any of the following items; broken glass, a tin lid, razor blades, knives, scissors or any other sharp object.

In my next article, I will discuss the prevalence of female genital mutilation, the side effects of the procedure and the international efforts under way to curb the practice.

By the way, would you like to know my views on the procedure? The simple answer is I rather use the term ‘Mutilation’ than ‘Circumcision’. I trust and dream of the day where our societies will leave the clitoris alone.

References:

• Infidel”, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, 2007, pps 112-113,143, Free Press, ISBN 978-0-7432-8968-9
• “Infibulation in the Horn of Africa”, Guy Pieters, M.D. and Albert B. Lowenfels, M.D., F.A.C.S., New York State Journal of Medicine, Volume 77, Number 6: Pages 729-31, April 1977. Hosted on Circumcision Information and Resource Pages, cirp.org. Retrieved on May 16, 2007.
• Al-Qaradawi, Y. (2004, February 7). Islamic ruling on female circumcision. Retrieved March 29, 2006.
• Green, Fiona J. (2005). “From clitoridectomies to ‘designer vaginas’: The medical construction of heteronormative female bodies and sexuality through female genital cutting”. Sexualities, Evolution & Gender 7: 153. doi:10.1080/14616660500200223.