     Samaale | Friday, December 15, 2000 - 08:38 pm
Ritual cutting and alteration of the female genetalia of the female infants, girls, and Adolescents has been a tradition since antiquaty .It persists today primarily in Africa and among small communities in the middle east and Asia .The spectrum of these genital procedures has been term female circumcision ,or more frequently , female genital mutilation (FGM) as collective name describing several different traditional rituals that emphasizes the physical disfigurement associated with the practice. The history of the practice dates back to the old Egypt , the Pharaohs are believed to the first people in the old world to practise the rituals involving female genital mutilation.
FGM is most often performed between the ages 4 and 10 years , although in some communities it may be practiced on infants or postponed until just before marriage . Typically a local village practitioner ,lay person ,or midwife is engaged for a fee to perform the procedure , which is done without anesthesia using a variety of instruments , such as knives , razor blades , broken glass , or scissors . In developed countries a doctor may be sought to perform FGM under sterile conditions with the use of anesthesia .
There are four types of female genital mutilation that performed on young women .The first type FGM (Type1) which is termed clitorectomy , involves excision of the skin surrounding the clitoris with or without excision of part or all of the clitoris . When this procedure is performed on infants and young girls, the portion of or all the clitoris and surrounding tissues may be removed . If only the clitoral prepuce is removed .the physical manifestation of Type 1 FGM may be subtle ,necessitating a careful examination of the clitoris and the adjacent structures for recognition . The Type 2 FMG referred as excision , is the removal of the entire clitoris and part or all of the labia minora .Crude stitches of catgut or thorns may be used to control the bleeding from the clitoral artery and raw tissues surfaces ,or mud
poultices may be applied directly to the perineum . Patients with Type 2 don’t have
the typical contour of the anterior perineal structures resulting the absence of the labia
minora and clitoris. The vaginal opening is not covered in the Type 2 procedure. Type 3
FGM known as infibulation ,is the most severe form in which the entire clitoris and
some or all of the labia minora are excised , and incisions are made in labia majora to create raw surface. The labial raw surfaces are stitched together to cover urethra and vaginal introitus , leaving a small posterior opening for urinary and menstrual flow . In Type 3 FGM, the patient will have a firm band of tissue replacing labia and obliteration of the urethra and vaginal openings. Type 4 includes different practices of variable severity including pricking , piercing or incision of the clitoris and labia ; stretching of the clitoris and labia ; cauterization of the clitoris ; and scraping or introduction of the corrosive substances into the vagina.
An estimated 135 million of the world’s girls and women have undergone genital mutilation ,and two Million girls a year are at risk of mutilation -approximately 6,000 per day . It is practiced extensively in Africa and is common in some countries in the Middle East . It also occurs among immigrant communities , in parts of Asia and the Pacific. FGM is reportedly practiced in more than 28 African countries .There are
no figures to indicate how common is the practise in Asia. It has been reported among
Muslim populations in Indonesia , Sri lanka , and Malaysia ,although very little is known
about the practice in these countries . In India , a small sect , the Duadi Bohra practice
clitorectomy .In the middle east FGM is practiced in Egypt, Oman , Yemen and the
United Arab Emirates .There have been reports of FGM among certain Indigenous
groups in central and south America,but little information is available. In industrialized
Countries , genital mutilation occurs predominantly among immigrants from countries
where mutilation is Practiced . It has been reported in Australia , Canada , Denmark ,
France , Italy ,the Netherlands , Sweden ,the UK and US. Girls or girl infants living in
industrialized countries are sometimes operated on illegally by doctors from their own
communities who are resident there. More girls are sent abroad to be mutilated .
No figures are available on the industrialized countries.
Th effects of genital mutilation can lead to death. At the time mutilation is carried
out, pain, shock , haemorrhage and damage to the organs surrounding the clitoris and
labia can occur . Afterwards the urine may be retained and serious infection develop.
use of the same instrument on several girls without Sterilization can cause the spread of
HIV. More commonly, the chronic infection ,intermittent bleeding, abscesses and small beningn tumours of the nerve which can result from the clitoridectomy and excision
cause discomfort and extreme pain. Infibulation can have even more serious long-term
effects : chronic urinay tract infections , stones in the bladder and urethre , kidney
damage , reproductive tract infection resulting from obstructed menstrual flow , pelvic
infections , infertility , excessive scar tissue, keloids , and dermoid cysts. First sexual
intercourse can only take place after gradual and painful dilation of the opening
left after mutilation . In some cases , cutting is necessary before intercourse can take
place . In one study carried out in Sudan , 15 % of women interviewed reported that
cutting was necessary before penetration could be achieved . Some new wives are
seriously damaged by unskillful cutting carried out by their husbands . A possible
additional problem resulting from all types of female genital mutilation is that
lasting damage to the genital area increase the risk of the HIV transmission. Complications also occur during childbirth when the tight genitals have to be cut open to allow the baby emerge. Women are reinfubilated at times to make them tight for their husbands. The repeated cutting and restitching leaves a tough scar tissue on the genital area.
The female genital mutilation has also an effect on the women’s sexuality . Genital
mutilation can Make first intercourse an ordeal for women . It can be extremely painful ,
and even dangerous ,if the Woman has to be cut open ; for some women , intercourse
remains painful . Even where this is not the case , the importance of the clitoris in
experiencing sexual pleasure and orgasm suggests that mutilation involving partial or
complete clitoridectomy would adversely affect sexual fullfilment . Clinical
considerations and the majority of studies on women’s enjoyment of sex suggest that
genital mutilation does impair a women’s enjoyment .However one study found 90% of
the infibulated women interviewed reported experiencing orgasm . The mechanism
involved in sexual enjoyment and orgasm are not fully understood , but it is thought that
compensatory processes , some of them psychological , may replace some
of the effects of removal of the clitoris and other sensitive parts of the genitals.
The female genital mutilation has psychological effect on women and young girls.
The effects of the Female genital mutilation are more diffucult to investigate than
physical effects. A small number of clinical Cases of psychological illness related to the
genital mutilation have been reported . Despite lack of Scientific evidence , personal
accounts of mutilation reveal feelings of anxiety , terror , humiliation and
betrayal , all of which would be likely to have long -term negative effects . I myself
being someone who came from the part of the world that practices female genital
mutilation, I could only imagine the terror and trauma female population have gone
through .
Female genital mutilation is considered as part of the culture of the countries that
practice it . Custom And tradition are by far the most frequently cited reasons for female
genital mutilation .A long with Physical or behavioral characteristics , FGM defines who
is in group . This is the most obvious where mutilation is carried out as part of the
initiation into adulthood . In societies that practice FGM , it is seen as something to
identify one’s gender. FGM is often deemed necessary in order for a girl to be considered
a complete woman , and the practice marks the divergence of the sexes in terms of their
future roles in life and marriage . The removal of the clitoris and labia viewed by some as
the “male parts” of a woman’s body is thought to enhance the girl’s femininity , often
synonymous with docility and obedience.
Female genital mutilation is also seen as a way to curb women’s sexual desire.
Women that are not Mutilated are seen as being unclean . FGM is way to ensure a
woman’s virginity before marriage , those Whose genitals are opened before marriage are
unlikely to get married. FGM is also way of protecting family’s honor as the societies
that practice it believe that it stops women from indulging illegitimate sex .
FGM does not , however provide guarantee against illegitimate sex as women can
opened and closed. Beliefs about hygiene and health are another contributing factors to
the FGM. In many countries that perform the procedures , FGM is synonymous with
purification . In some FGM-practicing societies ,unmutilated women are regarded as
being un clean and are not allowed to handle food and water.
Religion is another contributing factor to the FGM. Many societies that practice
FGM are of the Islamic Faith . There is no call for FGM in the HOLY QURAN , many
try to Justify the FGM through religion therefore integrating culture and religion .Not all
Muslims practice FGM. Christian missionaries preaching Christianity have done little to
discourage FGM as they see the practice as being deep rooted , some have condone the
practice. The Beta Israelis ( Ethiopian Jewish) were only people in Judaism to practice
FGM . A little is known if the practice is continues since Beta Israelis migrated back to
the Israel .
There are no moral or ethical obligations to justify FGM . It has no religious basis.
It is ignorance and discrimination against women that let it flourish over the centuries.It
has no medical benefits,infact procedures performed on women can lead to death .
Complications occur during childbirth and inter-course . A life long damage is done
Physically and emotionally . What ever justifications are , steps should taken to eradicate
as it has no bases to continue.Womens rights are human rights . Societies should be
educated the dangers and reasons behind FGM. Women who have undergone the
procedure should be educated and encouraged to fight traditions so that their daughters
don’t undergo through the same process. Individual governments should pass laws and
implement them.United Nations should play an active role in providing the means and
expertise to fight FGM. This need to stop as it is inhumane, terrifying , abusive and
discriminatory ,it is a violation of the human rights as it causes damages both to the
physical and mental well-being of the women. |
