29 January 2007
Female circumcision
Sophie Haydock examines the alarming practice of female genital mutilation.
Circumcision is just for men, right? Male circumcision is widely accepted throughout the world as clean, painless, and as posing no hindrance to sexual pleasure. Unfortunately, female circumcision does exist - every 15 seconds a young girl or woman is circumcised, and for women it is a different story altogether. If you are of a queasy disposition, then read no more.
Female circumcision is also known as female genital mutilation (FGM) which gives us a clue to the sense of trauma and violation involved. The procedure involves the partial or complete removal of a woman’s clitoris, which has the potential to impair sexual desire and the ability to have children. The procedure is usually carried out on young girls before they reach puberty, around the age of seven. Female circumcision is in no way equivalent to male circumcision.
The procedure itself is dangerous and complications are commonplace. In many cases FGM is performed without anaesthetic and the resulting bleeding or infection can be fatal. There also exists a very likely risk of being infected with HIV, as cutting tools (sharpened stone, glass, scissors or razor blades) are commonly used from one girl to the next without proper sterilisation. Psychological effects such as depression are also frequently associated with FGM.
Despite this catalogue of horrors, FGM remains a century-old custom which affects girls and women globally. The World Health Organisation estimates that over 130 million girls and women continue to be affected by some form of FGM. This is an almost unbelievable number of women, yet this statistic exists despite the fact that cutting has been formally banned in many countries (it was practised in Britain and America until the 1950’s). FGM can still be found in parts of India, Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as a large number of African countries including Egypt, Sudan, Somalia, Mali, Eritrea and Zaire. There have even been recent cases in the UK, although it is unclear whether or not these were performed inside the country.
Deeply ingrained into the culture of the countries where it takes place, the causes for the practice range from religion and tradition to cleanliness and improved marriage prospects. Men often refuse to marry a woman who has not been circumcised - they claim to prefer circumcised wives as they are considered more likely to be faithful and obedient. This situation often means the girls themselves willingly undergo genital cutting and are enthusiastic to see the tradition upheld. Although they fear the pain and the possibility of complications, they feel pressurised into conforming and are anxious about the social impact of rejecting the practice.
Why FGM still exists is an extremely difficult question to even begin to answer. It seems to perpetuate the repression of female sexuality and the oppression of women. Putting an end to female circumcision has to come from the communities where it is practised in order to end violence against women and this violation of human rights. Circumcision is just for men.
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I’m a student of English & French at the University of Leeds and the past year of my course has been spent as an English assistant in the south of France. Travelling is important to me, and I’ve spent my long student summers trekking around South-East Asia and more recently Mexico. I volunteer for Oxfam, and last Easter I hitch-hiked to Morocco for Link Community Development. I’m a book-worm and I’ve always wanted to involve myself in writing. I feel strongly about equal rights, especially for women.
