What Is Female Genital Mutilation?

Female Circumcision & Women's Rights
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a procedure that involves the removal of the external female genitalia for cultural or non- medical reasons. Female circumcision is common in Sub- Saharan Africa and the Arab States where more than 125 million girls and women today have been forced to undergo female circumcision ( WHO,2014). Female circumcision is performed mostly on young girls between the ages of infancy and 15. Female genital mutilation is practiced in some religions such as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. In some societies, female genitalia is seen as unsightly and dirty, and practicing FGM is a way to reduce a woman's sexual desires to preserve her virginity. In these societies, female circumcision
is often considered a necessary part of raising a virtuous female and is a way to preparing them for adulthood and marriage (WHO, 2014). There are three types of FGM that women can undergo, they include Sunna circumcision, Clitoridectomy, and Infibulation circumcision. Sunna circumcision is when the women's clitoris is shaved or cut off; Clitoridectomy is partial or the entire removal of the clitoris, as well as the women's labia; and Infibulation circumcision, which is the most drastic form of FGM; is the removal of the clitoris and labia, and the remaining skin is stretched across the vagina from both sides and stitched together. According to Women's Health female circumcision generates serious health problems, and can cause long-term problems with females physical, mental, and sexual health.The practice violates a woman's right to health, security, physical integrity, and the right to be free from torture and cruelty (WHO 2014). Female circumcision is a violation of female rights, it reflects the inequality between the sexes, and is an extreme form of discrimination. Female circumcision is a violation of women's rights as there are no health benefits, instead is an inhuman practice.
FGM ( Female Genital Mutilation) is a harmful practice that has no health benefits.
According to Women's Health, female circumcision can cause immediate health problems to women who have been mutilated on. The woman who undergoes the horrific types of FGM can suffer major health problems. Major health problems include infection, depression, and painful menstrual periods ( Womens Health, 2015). Women and girls can suffer from serious infections such as genital abscesses and Hepatitis B. Genital abscesses are sores filled with pus that must be drained, which are very painful, and cannot be treated on their own(WebMD, 2015). Not only do women suffer from painful sores, but they may also be infected with Hepatitis B caused by unsanitary tools such as glass, razor blades, or knives. According to the Mayo Clinic Staff, Hepatitis B is a serious liver infection caused by the Hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis B increases your risk of developing liver failure or liver cancer which can cause permanent liver scarring or death (Mayo Clinic, 2014). FGM is a painful experience that can also cause long-term harm such as depression. Women and girls may not understand what is being done to them or why when FGM is performed. The effects of this painful experience are also similar to PTSD( Post- traumatic stress disorder), PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience of a life- threatening event (NIH,). Not only do women and girls suffer from infections and depression,
they can also experience painful and prolonged menstrual periods. After type 3 of FGM is performed, some women are left with a small opening for urinating and menstrual blood, and are not able to pass all of their menstrual blood. This can cause pain and periods to be longer than normal, which can cause infections repeatedly ( Women's Health,2015). In some countries in Africa and the Middle East where FGM is concentrated, a women or girl must obey family's wishes of receiving female circumcision. Obedience is when a person obeys's a direct order from another to perform an action. FGM is done as a way to control a woman's sexuality, and to ensure virginity before marriage (UNFPA, 2015). FGM harms females in many ways, and women and girl's are forced to undergo horrific procedures to be seen as "proper" for marriage.It involves damaging or removing the female genitals, which can alter the natural function of a women's and girl's bodies. Female genital mutilation has no health benefits and endangers the life of many women and girls. Not only does FGM have no health benefits, but is an inhuman practice.
Female Genital Mutilation is an inhuman practice performed on women and girl's.
FGM alters the appearance and function of females genitals. Women and girl's are forced to partake in horrific operations. Three main types of cutting are Clitoridectomy, Excision, and Infibulation (WHO, 2014). Clitoridectomy is a partial or total removal of the clitoris, Excision is the partial or total removal of the clitoris and the libia minoria, and Infibulation is the narrowing of the vagina through the creation of a covering seal, the seal is formed by cutting the inner or outer libia with or without removal of the cliterios (WHO, 2014). ( UNFPA, 2015). According to the European Network this procedure can result in death due to severe bleeding, hemorrhagic shock, neurogenic shock as a result of pain and trauma. Not only is there a possibility of undergoing immediate complications, but long term complications as well. Long term complications can include, Urinary tract infection, infertility, and cyst (WHO, 2014). Procedures are carried out on girls who are not of age to decided whether or not to receive the operation ( Heitter, 2014). Female Genital Mutilation is performed on young girls between infancy and the age of 15. Damaris Monty and four other girls, at the age of 11 was forced to undergo FGM without anesthetic, who had no idea what the cutting meant ( Daily mail, 2015). Damaris was cut using crude tools and was told that "If she screamed it would bring shame to her entire family."
She explains " When I was cut, blood flew. I felt pain. I was stressed out because it was something I didn't choose"( Daily mail, 2015). The procedure is motivated by beliefs that if a women or girl endures the practice she is ready for marriage. After the cutting Damaris was forced to marry a man twice her age, and was forced to consummate her marriage just days after her FGM procedure ( Daily mail, 2015). More than 125 million girls and women alive today have been cut in the 29 countries in Africa and The Middle East under the false assumption that it would make them pure and clean. In developing countries where FGM is mainly concentrated, women and girls are forced to accept their communities values. Feminity means the package of qualities that people in our society expect to find in a typical women. According to WHO, FGM is associated with the cultural ideals of femininity and modesty which include the notion that girls are " clean" and "beautiful" after the removal of female body parts that are considered "unclean." More than 125 million girls are forced to undergo this horrific operation. They are young girls who are living in culture who are taught to believe that this operation is a necessary part of raising a virtuous girl.
Female Genital Mutilation is a violation of women's rights as it can cause serious health problems and is a cruel practice. FGM effects over 125 million girls alive today, and are facing serious health conditions. Female circumcision can cause serious health problems such as Hepatitis B, Genital abscesses, and depression. FGM has no health benefits and can seriously endanger women and girls lives. Not only does FGM cause serious health problems, but it is an inhuman act. Women and girl's must face dangerous procedures that can alter and change the function of female's genitals. Under those circumstances, FGM put's females life in danger, procedure can result in death due to severe bleeding, hemorrhagic shock, neurogenic shock as a result of pain and trauma. Almost every women or girl has experienced severe bleeding and pain due to female circumcision. Women and girl's are held down against their will to be mutilated on due to the fact that it is important to preserve a woman's virginity, and to keep her pure. Unsanitary tools such as glass, razors, and knives are used on women and girls, and are also performed by people with little to no medical training. Complications also increase with the type of FGM performed with Infibulation being the most brutal. In addition, the pain a women experience throughout the procedure continues as FGM can have long term complications such as urinary tract infection, infertility, and menstrual problems. Many women believe FGM must be done to ensure acceptance within their communities, but in reality it deprives women and girls of their natural born right.