Female genital mutilation (FGM) is the complete or partial removal of the female genitals. Different cultures in various locations perform the practices in a variety of different ways and to differing degrees. The World Health Organization describes four different standard procedures: a) Clitoridectomy – a practice where all or part of the clitoris is detached; b) Excision –a practice where the clitoris and part or all of the labia minora, the inside vaginal lips, are eliminated; c) Infibulation – a practice where all of the outside genitalia is eradicated and then the opening is tacked up to where there is only a tiny hole left for urine and menstrual flow; d) Finally, a practice where the girl endures poking, penetrating, ripping or cutting of the clitoris and/or labia as well as burning of the exterior vaginal area and or scouring it (“Violence,” 2014, p.1). It is scary to think that in the 21st century this type of procedure is still taking place around the world. These atrocities are happening daily just as they have in the past in many different countries.
FGM is a typical procedure happening in 27 African countries, Yemen, and several Asian and Middle Eastern countries. According to Hosken in a 1995 publication, “over 150 million girls and women have been mutilated in Africa and the Middle East” (Yoder, 2013, p. 191). Almost nothing had been done to eradicate this practice until the 1950’s and 1960’s when medical personnel and African activists took their concerns to the United Nations and the World Health Organization (WHO). Even at that time, nothing actually changed until 1979 when WHO made a statement that the health of women was endangered due to traditional practices and the governments needed to intervene. This statement was distributed in Khartoum at a WHO seminar. For the following 10 years people began discussing the state of affairs and making efforts to come up with ideas to eliminate the practice (Althaus, 1997, p.130).
Abundant studies as well as numerous different kinds of education and intervention have been targeted at destroying this violation to women. A major complication is gaining a precise number of women that have been mutilated or are potential targets for the practice. The current closest statistics come from studies that are compiled by a physician or medical person who completes a visual evaluation. Most numbers have come from the gossip of parents, women and girls and are not particularly accurate. This creates a problem where it is very difficult to target specific areas with the largest population of occurrences and develop an educational program that will be believable and motivating to that particular society (Berg & Denison, 2012). It is impossible to just try and convince one or two people in a village to end the practice. It is such a cultural norm that the problem must be addressed on a wide scale. The number of reasons that this practice is still performed is surprising.
Individual cultures have reasons for practicing female circumcision/genital mutilation:
Parents and families are under pressure from their society that their daughters need to be “circumcised.”
It is traditional.
Specific groups believe it is considered a “rite of passage” into womanhood for a girl.
Some believe it insures premarital virginity and shrinks a woman’s sex drive so she will not stray and will remain pure before marriage.
Many believe it is a viable religious practice though no one has made that direct statement.
Some believe it increases the value of a girl for marriage.
Some cultures believe it augments a girl’s femaleness and shyness and helps present them as fresh and attractive.
Some powerful men, community governors, and people that practice medicine have added to maintaining the practice by stating that it is harmless if performed by a proficient professional.
Other communities just want to copy the traditions of their neighbors that continuine this practice.
These are the most shared reasons why the practice or procedure is still continued today (“Female,” 2016, p. 3-4). Negative effects from this practice abound and almost no realistic positive ones exist. The vulnerabilities these women face and psychological destruction they endure afterward is exorbitant.
According to the World Health Organization, no health benefits exist and the maltreatment these women and girls go through multiplies with the viciousness of the practice. The medial concerns alone should compel these practices to end. Initial physical difficulties that can be expected may include: a) awful pain; b) acute bleeding that often cannot be stopped; c) swelling of the genital flesh furthering the pain; d) high fevers and infections; e) inability to urinate; f) inadequate recovery of local tissue; g) additional injury to surrounding tissue; h) anguish; and i) death. Once the preliminary shock and mutilation is completed the long-term problems begin:
Genitalia alterations can affect sexual intercourse and make it painful and unpleasant for both participants
Women and girls almost always have psychological troubles from the procedure, they are depressed, worried, miserable and their self-esteem is ruined.
Women often have a problem urinating and contract recurrent urinary tract infections.
Long-term infections never seem to go away.
Women struggle with their periods and when part of the procedure includes stitching up of the vaginal area, it can be tough to pass the menstrual blood.
Scar tissue grows and can cause numerous problems.
Childbirth risks increase due to complications.
Additional surgeries may be required in the future to repair complications from the first mutilation.
These health hazards are just a starting point in advocating against female genital mutilation (“Female,” 2016, p.2-3).
There are several organizations attempting to put a stop to this unhealthy tradition. The United Nations has decreed it a violation of human rights. America is pushing educational programs, campaigns to empower women, and laws to obliterate the practice. Amnesty International is working to sway practitioners to replace the tradition of physical mutilation to a symbolic ceremony sending girls into womanhood (“Violence,” 2014, p.2). Many efforts have been unsuccessful and have run into considerable road blocks because the organizations are not addressing the social and economic issues linked to this practice. The practice has so many influences that each aspect must be addressed and then presented as a whole remedy. It is impossible to just look at one aspect of the cause and try to solve it. The problem must be hit from a social, psychological, historical, religious, and sociological perspective. Outside organizations have created additional stubbornness in some communities to continue the practice, because those communities view the interference as a form of cultural imperialism. No one likes to be told that they cannot do something that has always been done. Locals do not want to be told how to live therefore laws addressing the discontinuance of the practice are not upheld and are usually ignored (Althaus, 1997, p.132). The intervention to halt the practice of female genital mutilation needs to happen on international, national, community, family and individual levels.
Entire communities need to be targeted to make the necessary changes. The thousands of women mutilated on a yearly basis are frightening. Politicians and governments need to join together and make and enforce laws prohibiting this practice. By joining governments and resources together and educating people around the world regarding this atrocity, women around the world can enjoy safer and better health practices. By enforcing laws made to protect these women, the practice will decrease. Mentioning the rights of the girls is a very delicate matter to discuss within certain cultures and many are against the idea of ending the practice. (Berg & Denison, 2012, p.143). This does not mean that ending the practice should not be pursued.
Personally I am appalled at the practice of female circumcision/mutilation. I feel that everything that can be done to protect these girls and women needs to be attempted. It is vital that outsiders who visit these communities and their families need to go with the idea that, “to advise is good, but not to order.” There is a drama on video about educating people regarding the magnitude of female circumcision. This video is available from Burkina Faso, whose production was financed through a grant by Research Action and Information Network for Bodily Integrity of Women (Althaus, 1997, p.132). By showing communities and leaders this tape maybe something can be done to eradicate this horrendous procedure. Another possible approach is to convincing fathers of these girls to change their customs.
Working with fathers to initiate change is a crucial avenue to pursue. It is also imperative to work with the women in the communities and rallying women who have experienced health problems due to female circumcision/mutilation. These women need to be urged to speak with the women and girls in these villages. It is vital to address the damaging physical issues that arise from this procedure. Doctors should be brought into the villages to discuss the drawbacks for men and women regarding female circumcision/mutilation. Pamphlets in the local language need to be produced and distributed laying out the hazards and problem with this practice. Fathers and men need to be informed how their sexual pleasure can be diminished due to the practice. There are several inherent dangers in giving birth to a child once this mutilation has been accomplished and most men have some desire to reproduce, pass on their name and family heritage. This angle may have some influence. It is important to bring in a psychologist to discuss the psychological after effects of this procedure. It does not end with physical damage, but it disturbs the mind for a lifetime. Finally, it would be helpful to assist these villages as a whole by working with them to develop a new “rite of passage” for these young girls that does not desecrate their bodies.
Girls and women need to be given a push to advocate for themselves. Laws are great but they are only as valuable as the reinforcement of them. The minds of the community must be won in order to make long lasting changes. By targeting individual communities and families, along with states and provinces, change can begin.
References
Althaus, F. (1997). Female Circumcision: Rite of Passage or Violation of Rights? International Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 23(3), 130-133. https://www.guttmacher.org/about/journals/ipsrh/1997/09/female-circumcision-rite-passage-or-violation-rights
Berg, R. and Denison, E. (2012). Effectiveness of Interventions Designed to Prevent Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: A Systematic Review. Studies in Family Planning, 43(2), 135-146.
Female Genital Mutilation. (2016, Feb.). Media Center. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/
Violence Against Women: Female Genital Mutilation. (2014). Global Issues: Female Genital Mutilation – Feminist Majority Foundation. http://feminist.org/global/fgm.html
Yoder, P.S., Wang, S. & Johansen, E. (2013). Estimates of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in 27 African Countries and Yemen. Studies in Family Planning, 44(2), 189-204.
