Female Genital Mutilation Essay Example

Female Genital Mutilation The World Health Organization on February 2013 estimated that, “Worldwide, female genital mutilation affects up to 140 million women and girls in varying degrees of severity” (“par”). Female Genital Mutilation also called Female Genital Circumcision includes the excision of the clitoris and the labia minora for non-medical reasons. It is usually performed on girls between the ages of four and ten. However, it can also occur at birth, at the time of puberty, when the female marries or at time of pregnancy. A common version of the practice, known as Clitoridectomy, requires the removal of all external genitalia and the stitching up of the vagina opening. FGM is carried out using knives, scissors, and pieces of glass or razor blades, which are mostly not sterilized. Female Genital Mutilation is unnecessary, unhealthy, and against the fundamental human rights of women to live life free from torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. First, there are no important reasons for circumcising women and girls. There are just myths that surround the mutilation of women and girls. According to author and researcher Corbett, “FGM is performed on women because they think; one, it will stabilize her [woman’s] libido. Two, it will make a woman look more beautiful in the eyes of the husband. And three, it will balance her [woman’s] psychology” says Lukman Hakim (Corbett, “screen”). It is possible that these are true, especially considering the violent nature of FGM. However, it is not worth the pain and suffering. There is no medical proof that removing the genitalia of women stabilizes their libido or makes them look more beautiful in their husband eyes which are myths. Beauty is an individual opinion which has nothing to do with circumcision. Many cultures in the African and Arab communities think that this is common and that there is nothing wrong with this procedure. Another reason this happens in certain cultures is the control over