I. Introduction
Worldwide, culture varies. Likewise, ethics or belief systems about what is right or wrong also differ among individuals, communities, and societies as a whole. In this essay, I will clearly demonstrate and logically support how one cultural society’s ethical view about genital mutilation differs from another cultural society’s view using key concepts from the course readings and related peer-reviewed journals.
II. The Ethicality of Female Genital Mutilation
Ninety eight percent (98%) of Somalian young girls suffer from what is called female genital mutilation (FGM), which is also most commonly known as the partial or total removal of the clitoris (and/or even the excision, removal or cutting of other genital parts). According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), FGM is most prevalent in the Middle East and Africa, but is also being exercised in nearly 30 other countries worldwide (Pruthi, 2013).
The cultural explanation why FGM is being done in those parts of the world is because of the belief that a girl marks her passage from womanhood to her marriage preparedness. Likewise, the underlying cultural explication is the claim about chastity, virginity, and sexual behaviour. When the clitoris or related genital parts are cut, narrowed or covered, a girl’s libido is being minimized to help her resist illicit coitus.
Because woman who underwent FGM are discouraged to make sexual intercourse with someone not yet her own husband, doing otherwise would mean non-chastity, infidelity, ostracism, inter alia. However, FGM may be culturally appropriate and ethically correct for some societies but the United Nations and WHO are unanimous in voting against FGM (United Nations, 2008; World Health Organization, 2014). Concisely, FGM is a blatant manifestation of gender inequality or a severe way of women discrimination.
III. Concluding Remarks
In conclusion, FGM is hard for young girls. They have the right to be protected against physical and psychological discrimination, unjust belief, harms and other ill effects of FGM. However, culture and ethics is as diverse and relative as the individuals and communities that compose it. Hence, it is up to international organizations, such as UN and WHO to come up with drastic world policies and actions to prevent the inhumane treatment of its own species by voting against it and making it known to the world what is ethically right or wrong.
References
Pruthi, P. (2013, July 2). New UNICEF report on female genital mutilation/cutting: Turning opposition into action. Retrieved from UNICEF: http://www.unicef.org/protection/57929_69881.html
United Nations. (2008). Eliminating Female genital mutilation. Retrieved from UN's Interagency Statement: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/csw52/statements_missions/Interagency_Statement_on_Eliminating_FGM.pdf
World Health Organization. (2014, February). Female genital mutilation. Retrieved from WHO's Media Centre: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/
