Buzz
Female genital mutilation, often referred to as female circumcision, is a brutal tradition prevalent in Africa, Asia, and parts of the Middle East. This practice involves the excision of the clitoris, partial or complete removal of the labia minora, or the sealing of the labia majora. It is primarily carried out to dominate women, prevent sexual promiscuity, prepare them for marriage, and fulfill religious obligations.
Many practitioners and even recipients of this procedure view it as acceptable. Nonetheless, it is an intensely invasive act of control, frequently resulting in fatal outcomes and constituting a grave infringement of human rights.
10. The Health Consequences Are Dire and Often Fatal
Female genital mutilation offers no health benefits whatsoever, only severe and often life-threatening risks. Immediate effects include excruciating pain, heavy bleeding, genital tissue swelling, fever, infections, genital tearing, urinary complications, impaired tissue healing, damage to surrounding genital areas, and in extreme cases, shock or death.
Long-term consequences, if the woman survives the initial trauma, include chronic urinary issues (such as infections and painful urination), vaginal complications (like discharge, itching, and bacterial infections), scar tissue formation, intense pain and tearing during intercourse, childbirth difficulties, the need for infant resuscitation, and even infant mortality. Psychological impacts are also profound, encompassing depression, low self-esteem, anxiety, personality disorders, sexual dysfunction, trauma-induced arousal issues, post-traumatic stress disorder, and numerous other mental health challenges.
9. Newborns To Young Adults Are Most Affected
The typical age range for females subjected to female genital mutilation is between 7 and 10 years old, though in some regions, even younger children are affected. Many women who have endured this practice later impose it on their own daughters due to societal expectations and a lack of awareness about its harmful consequences. It is often claimed that performing the procedure at a young age helps “minimize the psychological trauma” for the child.
Girls aged 14 or older who have not undergone female genital mutilation remain vulnerable. Mothers, despite their personal opposition or lack of personal experience with the procedure, often succumb to societal pressures to have their daughters cut to ensure marriage prospects. Additionally, some young women may undergo the procedure in their late teens to increase their chances of finding a husband, as men in these regions often prefer women who have been subjected to this practice.
8. There Are Four Types
Type 1, known as clitoridectomy, involves the removal of the clitoral hood along with partial or complete excision of the clitoris.
Type 2, referred to as excision, entails the partial or total removal of the clitoris and labia minora. In some cases, the labia majora may also be excised.
Type 3, the most extreme form, is called infibulation or the pharaonic type. This procedure involves narrowing the vaginal opening by creating a seal. The labia minora and/or majora are cut and repositioned to cover the vaginal orifice, sometimes including the removal of the clitoris. The cut areas are stitched together, and the girl’s legs are often bound to allow scar tissue to form, sealing the wound. This seal is typically broken through sexual intercourse, surgical intervention, or tearing during childbirth.
Type 4 encompasses all other forms of female genital mutilation performed for non-medical reasons. This includes practices such as pricking, piercing, cutting, scraping, and cauterization. Additionally, there are lesser-known forms, such as those involving specific techniques used on Aboriginal women in Australia, which will be discussed later.
7. Instances of This Issue Exist in the United States
In January 2016, a collaborative research effort by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), prompted by the efforts of Equality Now and Same Hands for Girls, revealed that approximately 513,000 girls and women had either undergone or were at risk of female genital mutilation.
Furthermore, a February 2015 study by the Population Reference Bureau indicated that around 507,000 girls and women in the US are either at risk or have already experienced female genital mutilation. This highlights the urgent need for more comprehensive data on the prevalence of this practice within the United States.
Despite female genital mutilation being outlawed federally since 1996, several states lack specific legislation against it, including Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming.
6. Efforts Are Underway to Medicalize FGM in Some Countries
In regions where female genital mutilation is prevalent, an increasing number of medical professionals are performing FGM and advocating for its medicalization. This trend could lead to its normalization and recognition as a legitimate medical procedure, despite the fact that it provides no health benefits to women.
Numerous nations incorporate this practice within their religious traditions. It is particularly prevalent in Muslim-majority countries, where some assert that the Quran explicitly mentions female genital mutilation. However, Al-Azhar University in Cairo has denounced this claim, labeling it as a deceptive tactic to mislead individuals into believing it is a sanctioned practice within Islam.
5. A Diverse Range of Instruments Are Utilized
The instruments employed in female genital mutilation procedures are often unsanitary, and the practitioners performing these operations typically lack proper training. Unsterilized scalpels, shards of glass, razors, small knives, and even sharpened sticks are commonly used in these practices.
Opossum string, crafted from strands of opossum hair, is frequently utilized. This practice is observed among the Pitta-Patta tribe of Australian Aboriginals in cases of FGM. When a girl attains puberty, the entire community assembles, and an elder male performs the ritual. He begins by stretching the vaginal opening downward using his fingers wrapped in opossum string. This is often followed by mandatory intercourse with multiple men.
4. Significant Sexual Ramifications Exist
Women subjected to female genital mutilation frequently struggle to achieve orgasm, experience reduced sexual desire, and often feel inadequate in satisfying their partners. Additionally, their vaginas may fail to self-lubricate during intercourse, leading to tearing and excruciating pain. Furthermore, childbirth can result in the tearing of the sealed opening, causing severe bleeding, damage to surrounding tissues, and even fetal death.
3. Multiple Human Rights Initiatives Strive to Eradicate Female Genital Mutilation
Efforts to halt female genital mutilation face significant challenges. Nonetheless, various human rights organizations are dedicated to raising awareness about its harmful consequences and fostering a deeper understanding of its impact. Notable initiatives include the End FGM European Network, Equality Now, Network Against Female Genital Mutilation, and The Orchid Project, among others.
Knowledge empowers. By educating ourselves about the issues that adversely affect these women and disseminating this information, we can contribute to their liberation and ultimately bring an end to this practice.
2. Female Genital Mutilation Represents a Grave Infringement on Human Rights
While this statement may appear self-evident, numerous individuals in regions where female genital mutilation is prevalent hold contrasting views. Simultaneously, organizations such as the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Committee on the Rights of the Child, and the Human Rights Committee have been vigorously opposing this practice, denouncing it in its entirety.
This practice has been classified as a form of torture and an act of cruelty and inhumanity towards women and girls. It breaches the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. Additionally, it contravenes the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees along with its protocol.
When it comes to children subjected to female genital mutilation, the procedure is irreversible and life-altering, often performed without informed consent or free will. Given the child's vulnerability and dependence on care, human rights laws provide them with specific safeguards under The Convention on the Rights of the Child.
1. Significant Psychological Impacts Are Also Observed
Women who undergo female genital mutilation often face a range of psychological challenges. These can include post-traumatic stress disorder, various stress-related conditions, depression, personality issues, and diminished self-esteem.
A 2010 study focusing on women in Northern Iraq who had undergone female genital mutilation revealed significant findings. Nearly 45.6% of these women were diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, while 13.9% exhibited symptoms consistent with a personality disorder.
