...Maria Lwantale Stephanie Wilhelm English 112 April 20, 2013 Genital mutilation: Negotiating Human Rights and Culture! I come from a small country called Uganda. We perform certain acts not because we want to, but as culture dictates. I remember being oblivious to genital mutilation, but all this changed during my years in high school because I attended boarding school. As adolescents, we enjoyed talking about our sexuality and bodies. One sunny Saturday evening, as we sat down in our dormitory, one of the girls asked if anyone had under gone genital mutilation just like her. Diana yelled out loud: “It was one of the most embarrassing and painful experiences I have ever gone through.” She said that it is held in a group setting and the act involves cutting off one’s labia minora. I was in total dismay! My family chose to stubbornly ignore certain cultural acts and this is one I am happy to have skipped judging from the information I know right now. The second time I heard of it was during my last year in high school. We had a social studies class that everyone used to enjoy so much because it had some very interesting topics. Interesting and controversial topics just like female genital mutilation. The topic at hand one chilly morning was female genital mutilation. I was prone to being absent minded and being mentally absent from class. Just hearing the three words woke me up. Ms. Kelly Miti described it as the cutting off of a few of a woman’s sexual parts which I found...
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...Female Gentile Mutilation (FGM) Female Gentile Mutilation (FGM) is a practice or tradition that involves partially or completely removing the external genitalia of girls and young women for nonmedical reasons. It is illegal in many countries but first started taking place and is still currently in practice in some African countries as well as within the Middle East. This act affects young girls between infancy and age 15, the procedure is a problem because it offers absolutely no health benefits for girls and women. The earliest record of FGM was made by Strabo, the Greek geographer and history specialist who reported a circumcision on young Egyptian girls in 25BC. Then again, it is trusted that FGM was happening a few centuries before this, and was spread by dominant tribes and civilizations as a result of tribal, ethnic, and cultural allegiances. In some countries, FGM is a rite of passage, which signifies a young lady's move to womanhood and her status to wed. FGM in many communities is believed to reduce a woman's desire to have sex and is also supposed to help her oppose sexual acts. At the point when a vaginal opening is covered, the fear of it opening and the fear of it being discovered is what scares young girls away from committing sexual acts. There is also a belief in some cases that a woman's genitalia is ugly or unclean. Aside from the pain and distress involved in the procedure at the time, there can also be long-term health consequences involving infertility...
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...Female genital mutilation (FGM) WHAT is FGM? Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. Procedures Female genital mutilation is classified into four major types. 1. Clitoridectomy: partial or total removal of the clitoris (a small, sensitive and erectile part of the female genitals) and, in very rare cases, only the prepuce (the fold of skin surrounding the clitoris). 2. Excision: partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora (the labia are "the lips" that surround the vagina). 3. Infibulation: narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal. The seal is formed by cutting and repositioning the inner, or outer, labia, with or without removal of the clitoris. 4. Other: all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, e.g. pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterizing the genital area. WHO Who is at risk? Procedures are mostly carried out on young girls sometime between infancy and age 15, and occasionally on adult women. In Africa, about three million girls are at risk for FGM annually. Between 100 to 140 million girls and women worldwide are living with the consequences of FGM. In Africa, about 92 million girls age 10 years and above are estimated to have undergone FGM. WHERE ...
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...I am sickened by the thought of female genital mutilation. I do not understand how and why it is done to women. I understand that cultures are different and in some, this is okay, but honestly, it makes no sense to me. I was so surprised to read that data was collected regarding female genital mutilation in 29 countries. Is that not a lot? Too many even? There are so many things that could go wrong at the time or even in the future for these young women. Problem with childbirth, infertility, extreme amounts of pain, and many more. The article does mention that many of the countries that have a history of this tradition now favor ending the practice. But just because they favor the idea of ending the tradition, does not mean that it will end....
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...Female Genital Mutilation (also incorrectly known as “female circumcision”) is an extreme cultural practice prevalent in much of North and West Africa as well as in parts of the Middle East and Asia, in which young women and girls are forced to undergo a procedure that alters or rather, mutilates their reproductive organs. Although Female Genital Mutilation, or FGM, is seen in many cultures as a way to promote purity and chastity, this paper will argue that it is in fact a reflection of the “deep-rooted inequality between sexes, and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women.” (WHO, 2014) Female Genital Mutilation is defined by any procedure that alters the exterior parts of a female’s reproductive organ. The literature describes four main types of FGM. The first type is called clitoridectomy. In this process surgery involves the full or partial removal of the clitoris. A second type is called excision and this occurs when the clitoris is also fully or partially removed. In addition, the labia minora is removed leaving just the labia majora intact. Infibulation is the most severe form of FGM and occurs when a seal is formed over the opening of the vagina by removing the inner or outer labia. A small hole is left for the passage of menstrual fluid and urine. The hole is...
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...Female circumcision is also known, more accurately, as female genital mutilation and female genital cutting (FGC.) There are three forms of FGC. The first is a clitoridectomy, the cutting and/or removal of the hood of the clitoris and all or part of the clitoris. The second is an excision which removes the clitoris, the hood, and the labia minor (the inner folds of the vulva that is responsible for producing lubrication.) The infibulation is the third and most radical which also removes everything in the excision along with the labia majora, the outer folds of the vulva. Once removed the sides of the vulva are sewn together leaving a small hole (about pencil size) for the flow of menstruation and urine. The tradition of FGC dates back more...
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...Africa: Female Genital Mutilation GEO102B: Final Project May 20, 2013 Female circumcision seems to be the hottest trend in the United States right now. Females are having the hood of their clitorises removed to gain greater sexual pleasure and sensation. Another type of female circumcision done in the United States, which is considered cosmetic, is having the labia reshaped and evened up. According to Sandra Bell, there are unsubstantiated reports that some women in the United States are in communities where an extreme form of female circumcision is the ritual sacrifice of the entire external clitoris (Bell, 2012). In Africa an estimated 114 million women and girls have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM), that consists of partial or total removal of the external female genitalia (WHO, 2012). In Africa those procedures are not done for pleasurable or cosmetic reasons. FGM is internationally recognized as a violation of the human rights of girls and women in Africa. Before we label female circumcision a trend, we need to be informed of what FGM is considered in other countries, why it’s done, and what is being done to eliminate this practice. FGM is mostly practiced in the western, eastern, and north-eastern regions of Africa. It was a part of the tribal coming of age and remains, a cultural, not a religious practice. It is highly controversial and condemned by most religious organizations. FGM is practiced in many forms. Listed...
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...Should Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) be banned? Female genital mutilation or circumcision is referred to as the removal of part, or all of the female genitalia. This involves the cutting of the clitoris (a small sensitive and erectile part of the female genitals) and the two sides of the vulva and the labia majora are fused together by blood clot, leaving small opening to the vagina for passing of urine and menstrual blood. This practice is harmful, purposeless and has many side effects that cause women pain and suffering for the rest of their lives, so I believe that it should be banned for the safety and protection of women. One of the effects of female genital mutilation (FGM) or circumcision is, it leads to risk of life threatening complications. Since the operators do many circumcisions at one time, there is a very large likelihood that girls will contract horrible diseases like HIV and hepatitis because the operators are not well develop, therefore they use the same unsterilized tool on the girls. They may also suffer severe bleeding at the time of the procedure...
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...Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and male circumcision are two procedures that are practiced in several cultures, and do not always give the male or female a say in the matter. There is a big debate regarding which practice, FGM or male circumcision is worse for the individual to endure. Even though there is much speculation, both continue to be implemented across many cultures. For example, in Africa, especially in Sudan, FGM is practiced and other cultures such as Judaism, practice male circumcision. Although many cultures require these practices, it is necessary to establish that there are many health risks associated with both. FGM has four ways it can be performed, while male circumcision is the removal of the foreskin and there is only one way to go about it. Although female genital mutilation and male circumcision are typically performed...
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...Colleen Sisson Anthropology Cultural Traditions Introduction and Research Question Female genital circumcision is something that I have recently been introduced to just this past year. I was completely unaware of this practice and I find it very interesting that male circumcision is so widely recognized in our culture yet this practice is seen to be as such a horrifying practice. It is interesting that there are so many different types and varying degrees of female “infibulation” or circumcision. Being interested the healthcare field and having learned about the cultural aspects of this procedure, I am more accepting of it because as healthcare providers it is important to be culturally competent in our care. This is a very sensitive subject because it is a cultural difference but it is also a potential for harm to allow the continuing or “reinfibulating” of the patient especially after a female undergoes childbirth. Healthcare providers are taught the ethical principle of non-maleficence which is to “do no harm” and when there is research to show that this procedure can be harmful, it is a conflict of autonomy. Autonomy is the principle that teaches us to respect our patient’s rights to make their own independent decisions about their healthcare. The main question posed here would be whether or not there could be acceptance of this female genital mutilation among the western cultures. Defining FGM..what it is..who does it…why do they do it and justify it…what is the...
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...Option 1 A mother of African origin takes her underage daughter to visit their doctor in Canada. She requests that the doctor perform a female circumcision, also known as, female genital mutilation (FGM), on her daughter. Thus, what is the doctor to do? I argue that the doctor is to refuse this request as his or her duty is to the law that criminalizes it and the medical ethics that denies it. As Martha Nussbaum states, FGM is an act of not merely surgery or tradition, but the “deprivation of normative human functioning in its risks to health, impact on sexual functioning, violations of dignity, and conditions of non-autonomy” (Nussbaum, 1999). In understanding the dilemma, we must not base our ethical inquiry solely on the relationship between doctor and parent, but equally with that of the underage patient who may have no choice over the matter but is an influential determinant in this succession of ethical proceedings. What is created is a triangular relationship wherein each shareholder is potentially affected by another and in turn influences each shareholder’s final decision. Firstly, the decision inherently lies with the doctor. The doctor has every right to reject the procedure as it would jeopardize his or her medical profession due to the illegality of FGM and the respect he or she owes to the integrity of bioethical standards. Secondly, it is with the mother of the child and her views on this procedure, or in her case, cultural practice, which dictates how the doctor...
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...Female Genital Mutilation also known as FGM or female cutting is the purposeful injury to a female’s external sex organs (Female). Greek documents originating from 183 BC mention “female circumcision” being performed in ancient Egypt (Female). Therefore, many scholars believe that is where early forms of FGM began (Female). FGM is practiced in over 20 countries currently and has even made its way to developed countries like Canada and the United States (Pauls). Female Genital Mutilation cannot be linked to any early religions but is strictly performed as a cultural practice (Pauls). There are a total of four types of FGM, all of which involve removal of the clitoris and vary in different amounts of removal of other internal organs like the prepuce along with the labia moria and mojora (Pauls). It has been estimated that up to 125 million females have been circumcised today; in Africa, an annual amount of three million are at risk of being cut every year (Cloward 381). The systemic downfall of Female Genital Mutilation is a process still in the making. Policy makers and activists everywhere are slowly trying to breakdown the social norms of their countries and the cultural perceptions of what FGM is (Cloward 386). Female Genital Mutilation results in countless physical and mental injuries for women every...
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...ST PAULS UNIVERSITY LIMURU CAMPUS REGULAR PROGRAM FACULTY OF BUSSINES AND COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE UCC 102; ACADEMIC WRITING EARLY MARRIAGES IN MAASAI LAND ADM NO; BOBIT/LMR/1575/16 LECTURER; DR. J. NDAVULA DATE; DECEMBER 1,2015 Abstract Reasons for early marriages The main reasons girls are forced to marry early are for the parents to acquire wealth and to be respected in the community (Ondiwo, 2002). Within the Maasai community the male spouses are likely to be a few years older than the girls; some may be more than twice their age, and most of them are wealthy. Parents who make such marital choices look upon marriage as an economic arrangement. Within the Kuria community the tradition is practiced because of interests in acquiring wealth. There are rampant cattle rustling incidences in the area because of poverty. Some parents find it safe to marry off their daughters to compensate for their stolen herd since early marriages are done in exchange for livestock The poverty stricken families also see early marriage as a way to take off their shoulders the responsibility of bringing up girls (Hinshelwood, 2001; Jens, 2003; UNICEF, 2000; UNICEF, 2002). In the event that the parents of the girl child have been given some money or material wealth and the girl has refused to join her husband to be, men from her husband’s side will abduct her. During abduction, the girl will be beaten to make her submissive. If she cries out aloud, her...
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...When is the inhuman act of slashing women’s genital going to stop? Female circumcision also known as female genital mutilation, is an ongoing inhuman act and violation of women’s right happening in the universe but mostly in Africa. Some people are not aware or familiar with this practice but I believe it’s very important to know what it is because it is the removal of female’s genital that is being practiced in most parts of the world. Female genital mutilation consists of three types one of which is type one which is commonly known as the Sunna circumcision where they just remove part of the clitoris. Type two is when they remove the entire clitoris and even going ahead to remove some of the labia minora. Lastly, type three is when they infibulate...
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...‘heinous’ and ‘unjust’. The most shared problem is that which such practice creates a situation where lives of people are put at risk. An eminent practice which is taken into attention is female genital mutilation. This writing shall discuss clashes between human rights and cultural relativism with my personal stance about these two ethical dilemmas. Female genital mutilation is considered as unlawful act by many people while in several cultures it is a common cultural practice. “Female circumcision is mainly carried out in western and southern Asia, the Middle East and large areas of Africa” (bacquet, 2009). In several cultures, some elderly women carry out these practices without any medical backing. It is a shared practice in many cultures with a belief that it makes a girl clean, beautiful and to kill the erotic longings before they get married. Moving on, female genital mutilation is said to rear conflicts amid human rights and cultural relativism. Female circumcision violates human rights because each human being is born to live and make their personal decisions. However at it is also a religious act so one cannot just overlook their religious norms and values. According to African Women’s Organization female genital mutilation has many immoral effects. It causes injuries to the female genital organs which results in bleeding, urinary problem, and infertility (Organisation, 2011). According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the following articles of rights describe...
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