Preview

Female Genital Mutilation Analysis

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1519 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Female Genital Mutilation Analysis
My intended audience is my allies who agree that Female Genital Mutilation is an inhumane practice and it should be eradicated.

FGM: An Inhumane Practice "The child, completely naked, is made to sit on a low stool. Several women take hold of her and open her legs wide. After separating her outer and inner labia, the operator, usually a woman experienced in this procedure, sits down facing the child. With her kitchen knife, the operator first pierces, and slices open the hood of the clitoris. Then she begins to cut it out. While another woman wipes off the blood with a rag, the operator digs with her sharp fingernail a hole the length of the clitoris to detach and pull out the organ. The little girl, held down by the woman helpers,
…show more content…
Fran Hosken illustrates the procedure as "the use of thorns to hold the bleeding sides of the vulva together, or a paste of gum Arabic, sugar, and egg is used. The entrance to the vagina is thus obliterated which is the purpose of the operation. The legs of the girl are tied together immediately after the operation, and she immobilized for several weeks, until the wound of the vulva has closed, except for a small opening that is created by inserting a splinter of wood or bamboo." Female Genital Mutilation has been practiced on girls as young as six-months-old. Fran Hosken also reports that at least 84 million women and girls are mutilated today in the Continental Africa, the Persian Gulf, and the southern part of the Arab Peninsula. The mortality rate due to female genital mutilation is extremely high; but no accurate records are kept comments Fran Hosken. Women and young girls are forced to undergo this experience for numerous reasons. One of the major reasons is for acceptance because a woman is considered dirty and polluted unless she is mutilated. These myths are constructed to validate and continue the female genital mutilations, from which men derive power and control over women as a group reveals Fran Hosken. "Research shows that genital mutilations are increasingly performed in the modern sector in Africa, including hospitals, often on small babies, stripped of all traditional rites," writes Fran Hosken. Women of no age should have to undergo this tortuous procedure. This procedure is used to place value on young women. Young women in underdeveloped countries are often married off to families with money to bring wealth to her

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Imagine seven women surrounding you to hold down your limbs as another looms over you with a crude medical instrument and, if you’re one of the “lucky” ones, a syringe filled with local anesthetic used for the many girls that have undergone the same unnecessary procedure before you. The elder preforming the cutting is no medical professional. The only training she has is from the procedures she has performed on the other girls in your village. Your bloodcurdling screams rip through the town as they beam with pride that you’re following the cultural tradition that has been waging war on the given right of sexual pleasure and choice for women for 5,000 years. As you sob, the woman sews your labia closed and tie your legs to promote quicker healing. Your mother is no doubt cradling your head, smiling and whispering, “now, you are pure. Now, you are a woman.” Every detail will remain etched into your memory as you’re between two and fifteen-years-old.…

    • 691 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Although opposition to female ‘circumcision’ has been articulated throughout the twentieth century, starting with missionaries and colonial administrators, the current resurgence of indignation was ignited in part by activists at conferences honoring the United…

    • 1934 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Summary Of Half The Sky

    • 685 Words
    • 3 Pages

    A girl in Somaliand at risk of FGM has an added dimension of discrimination against her gender. Thanks to the tireless dedication of Ms. Adan for advocating against its eradication. However, the fight against FGM is yet to be won and more people, not just women, are needed to follow Ms. Adan’s path. There are many other countries that need the likes of…

    • 685 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Lack of understanding of female circumcision (in a social context) has led to it’s becoming a subject of much controversy and debate in political, academic and religious fields, mainly by Westerners and Europeans.…

    • 630 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Taking Sides Discussion

    • 444 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Summary: The main issue being discussed in the Taking Sides article is that of whether or not it would be right for anthropologists to work to eliminate the practice of female circumcision. This culturally debatable topic was discussed by professor of the history and philosophy of science Merrilee H. Salmon and Professor of anthropology Elliot P. Skinner; Both taking on very different sides in their discussion on the topic. Salmon argues that Anthropologists should work to eliminate such practice due to her argument that “…clitoridectomy (female genital mutilation) violates the rights of the women on whom it is performed.” Also, Professor Salmon brings up the possibility that genital mutilation could very well be a way for males to control women within their society and promote the practice of inequality. On the contrary, Professor Skinner believes that such cultural practices should not be eliminated and “…accuses feminists who want to abolish clitoridectomy of being ethnocentric.” Professor Skinner attempts to cover the cultural aspect of this issue, implying that African women themselves volunteer to perform clitoridectomy and decodes the cultural meaning behind such practice. Such cultural meaning is that of male initiation (later on in marriage) and the transformation of girls into adulthood.…

    • 444 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Religion is often confused with social customs. By definition, religion is an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a God or a group of Gods (Religion Merriam). Social customs, on the other hand, are activities that are considered normal or expected in a particular area (Social Customs). There is not much relation between these definitions. In Africa, it is believed that many of the Islamic countries practice Female Genital Mutilation, also known as FGM (Female Genital). As defined on World Health Organization’s (WHO) website, FGM is a procedure that involves partial or total removal of the…

    • 1797 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    It holds “particularly strong cultural meaning because it is linked to women’s sexuality and their reproductive role in society” (Toubia 712). Commonly referred to as “female genital mutilation”, or FGM, the exact origins of the practice are unknown. However, there is evidence to root it in Middle Nile, and the earliest record of infibulation—excision of the clitoris and labia and stitching together of the vulva—dates back 2,200 years to what is now Sudan (Mackie 266). From there, it likely diffused to other parts of the Sudanic belt (268). It is theorized that the original reasoning behind the practice was to institute a physical means of controlling female fidelity…

    • 1666 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the United States, this practice is seen as abhorrent and is strongly fought against in feminist movements. However, in African populations, females choose to have this operation and are proud of this change. It is a sign of womanhood and respect of their culture, not a disgraceful mutilation (Khazan, 2015). Understandably, domestic feminists fight against involuntary FGC, but it’s important to recognize that this topic is not as important in African feminist movements, and in many domestic cases, they incorporate African statistics to show the prominence of this operation…

    • 427 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    years to keep the ritual going on. The many reasons given for the practice are…

    • 2242 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Though Meyerhardt states that the opening account on female circumcision seemed “Amusing”, I personally found it far more disturbing. I was very shocked and disgusted while reading this piece, as I am sure my classmates were as well. The “small opening left for urination and menstruation . . . held open by a single piece of straw which is left there during the healing process” (1) forced me to feel that is an unbelievably unnatural, dehumanizing practice. I was extremely curious about what cultural beliefs supported this practice. When coming to the supposed health reasons and seeing how flawed and inaccurate they all were, I was unable to keep an open mind or continue trying to understand this practice. The idea of “looking at each other’s genitals to see who had the smallest opening” (2) struck me in a large way. This procedure that is done for society, for a future husband, and for acceptance, seems to take away from the woman. It is as if her body does not truly belong to her.…

    • 614 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Westernization In Canada

    • 1191 Words
    • 5 Pages

    As the world becomes globalized, countries are trailing behind their cultures and their identity, for them to be cohesive with the Western ideal. The alteration in clothing style, religious beliefs, family roles are few of the examples of the impacts of which Westernization has had on developing countries. With that said, a medical practice common in developing countries such as Uganda, Sudan and Iraq, is female circumcision (Keilburger, 2013). Often linked this practice to Islamic teachings, it is incorrect as in this religion, merely male circumcision is encouraged, proving the fact that this practice roots to generations of cultural beliefs (Keilburger, 2013). “The communities where FGM is practiced explains Dr. Shaw, place high value on virginity, so the custom is seen as protection for young girls from premarital sex”. (Keilburger, 2013: 1) Adding on, developed nations across the world including Canada do not allow for such treatment to be performed on women as it is believed here to be inhumane and child abuse (Keilburger, 2013). Despite scarce records of such mutilation to occur to Canadian women in secrecy, there are laws preventing physicians, doctors and…

    • 1191 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Female Genital Mutilation

    • 1630 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Female genital mutilation is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women. It reflects deep-rooted inequality between…

    • 1630 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Female circumcision needs to be stopped. No female should ever experience that type of pain. No one else should have control over your body. Your body is yours, you should be the only one that makes decision of what happens to your body; no one else. Every 11 seconds, a female is being circumcised. Even though many would think that female circumcision only takes place in Africa, that it not true, it is happening everywhere throughout the globe and you can help prevent it from happening. It does not matter if you are male, female, old or young you can stop it. You can help in three simple ways that would help put a stop to it. According to Plan International you can help stop by first raise awareness, many people do not know what female circumcision…

    • 197 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    female mutilation

    • 2500 Words
    • 10 Pages

    No matter the justification or reason that supporters of female genital mutilation my advance, the practice is not only barbaric and primitive, but scientifically and socially uncalled for and should be eradicated. This practice has numerous hazardous health consequences of immediate and delayed complications, apart from their negative psychological and social impact, also sometimes proved fatal in many instances (Rushwan, 1983 and 1994, El Dareer, 1983, Shandal and AbulFutuh, 1967). This violates a person right to health, security and physical integrity.…

    • 2500 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Female Genital Mutilation

    • 1655 Words
    • 7 Pages

    For instance, FGC responds to gender norms that say women should be sexually pure. This norm is enforced through measures that endanger girls’ and women’s health and cause needless suffering. The consequences of FGM for individual women are particularly relevant in the context of health…

    • 1655 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays

Related Topics