Female Genital Mutilation All Societies

Female Genital Mutilation All societies have certain socially-accepted norms of behavior that are based on age, gender, social distinction, culture and religion, and are often referred to as traditional practices, such as those relating to children, relations between women and men, and marriage and sexuality, however, one deeply rooted traditional practice that has severe health consequences for girls and women is female genital mutilation (Female1 pp).

Female genital mutilation is the practice of removing parts of a female's genitalia, however, the amount of genitalia removed varies, depending on the tradition within a given culture (Hamilton pp). For example, female circumcision is the removal of the clitoral hood, while excision is the removal of the clitoris itself (Hamilton pp).

Infibulation is the most severe form of female genital mutilation, which includes the removal of the clitoris, the scraping off of the lips of both the inner and outer labia, and the stitching shut of the remaining genital orifice, thus, allowing only a minute opening for the flow of urine and menses (Hamilton pp). Generally, these procedures are performed on young girls without anesthesia, usually by women (Hamilton pp).

An estimated 130 million girls and women in the world have undergone genital cutting, and every year, at least 2 million girls are at risk or genital cutting (Female pp). Although most of these females live in Africa and Asia, however, the procedure is becoming a growing problem among immigrant populations in Europe, Canada, and the United States (Female pp). Seventy-five percent of all cases are found in Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia, and the Sudan, while 98% of females in Djibouti and Somalia undergo genital mutilation (Female pp).

Many religious and cultural issues foster female genital mutilation, and although some proponents of the practice claim that it is required by Islam, there is no specific support for this claim in the Koran (Rimsza pp). From a cultural perspective, women view the procedure as something they do "for' their daughters instead of 'to" them, as a means of securing their economic and social future through marriage (Rimsza pp).

The genital scar provides proof for the prospective husband that this woman has been trained in moral and practical responsibilities and has maintained her virginity (Rimsza pp). The procedure is carried out at various ages, ranging from birth to during the first pregnancy, however, it is most commonly performed between the ages of four and eight (Female2 pp).

According to the World Health Organization, the average age is falling, indicating that the practice is decreasingly associated with initiation into adulthood, and this is believed to be particularly the case in urban areas (Female2 pp). Although some girls undergo genital mutilation alone, it is more often undergone as a group of sisters, other close female relatives, or neighbors (Female2 pp).

When female genital mutilation is performed as part of an initiation ceremony, as is the case in Eastern, Central and Western Africa, it is most often carried out on all the girls in the community who belong to a particular age group (Female2 pp). It may be performed in the girl's home, or the home of a relative or neighbor, in a health center, or particularly in association with initiations, at a specially designated site, such as a certain tree or river (Female2 pp).

The procedure may be performed by an older woman, a traditional midwife or healer, a barber, or a qualified midwife or doctor (Female2 pp). The girls undergoing the procedure may have varying degrees of knowledge about what will happen to them, and are exhorted to be brave (Female2 pp). When the mutilation is part of an initiation rite, there may be gifts and the festivities may be major events for the community, and usually only women are allowed to be present (Female2 pp).

Sometimes a trained midwife is available to administer a local anaesthetic, and in some cultures, the girls are told to sit beforehand in cold water in order to numb the area and reduce bleeding, however, more commonly, no steps are taken to reduce the pain (Female2 pp). The girl is immobilized, actually held down, usually by older women, with her legs open, while the mutilation is carried out using broken glass, a tin lid, scissors, a razor blade or some other cutting instrument (Female2 pp).

When infibulation takes place, thorns or stitches may be used to hold the two sides of the labia majora together, and the legs may be bound together for up to 40 days (Female2 pp). Moreover, the small opening is kept patent by inserting a small piece of wood or matchstick to allow the passage of urine and menstrual blood (Rimsza pp). Antiseptic powders or pastes, containing herbs, milk, eggs, ashes or dung, which are believed to facilitate healing, may be applied (Female2 pp).

The girl is then usually taken to a designated place to recover where, if the mutilation has been carried out as part of an initiation ceremony, traditional teaching is imparted (Female2 pp). For the very financially wealthy, the mutilation procedure may be performed by a qualified doctor in hospital under local or general anaesthetic (Female2 pp). Female genital mutilation can result in lifelong medical consequences (Hamilton pp).

Because the clitoris contains numerous blood vessels, including the dorsal artery, women who have been genitally mutilated risk death from hemorrhaging, according to Dr. Henriette Kouyate, a gynecologist based in Senegal (Hamilton pp). The girls may suffer from stress and shock resulting from the pain, and because they are often taken away without being informed as to what is about to happen to them, may also experience psychological trauma for the rest of their lives (Hamilton pp).

Infection may spread to internal organs, and women may experience lifelong severe pain during urination (Hamilton pp). Women who have been infibulated may find that the minute orifice left is too small to let pass all menstrual blood, thus, resulting in a buildup of blood in the vagina which can lead to an infection that causes sterility (Hamilton pp).

Moreover, because the primary instrument used in female genital cutting is usually used on at least two girls in a row before boiling the blade to sterilize it or changing to another blade, there is a wide risk of spreading AIDS (Hamilton pp).

The infibulated woman must be defibulated, that is, cut open, prior to intercourse, by her new husband who will often use a sword, knife, or razor, and it can take up to three months before the husband can penetrate his wife, resulting in painful intercourse for the woman, often for the rest of her life (Hamilton pp).

Some African men are now reporting that they would prefer to marry a woman who is not genitally mutilated, indicating that the men would prefer a woman who could enjoy sexual intercourse and take pleasure in sex (Hamilton pp). Furthermore, in infibulated women, there are complications during childbirth, says Kouyate, "an area which is normally.