Female Genital Mutilation

Running head: FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION
Female Genital Mutilation
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1 Female Genital Mutilation
Introduction:
Female Genital Mutilation refers to the process of total or partial excision of the
female external genitalia, as a form of cultural rite. It is done especially by the area of the
clitoris and labia minora. The conduct of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is banned in
many countries and is determined as outlawed. According to the World Health Organization,
the process of FGM includes other injuries inflicted on the female genitals for any non-
medical reasons. The practice is mostly prevalent in the traditional societies, by the
traditional circumcisers, who often take the central part in the processes like child birth.
However, in certain societies, these are performed by the medical professionals (Momoh,
2017). The World Health Organization (WHO), strongly urges the medical professionals not
to undertake or perform and encourage certain practices, as this completely stand against
humanism and is a dominant issue of Feminism. The present essay aims to focus upon the
history, types and the consequences of the Female Genital Mutilation. The essay will also
suggest certain recommendation regarding how the women and the society can be made
aware of the consequences of this practice.
As per WHO, FGM is recognized as a violation of human rights of women. The deep
seeded inequality of the sexes and the discrimination of women in the society is upheld by
this act. The deed is acted out on the young girls, ageing between infancy and age 15. This
particular form of violation is also seen as exploitation of the rights of the children. This
violates child health, the security of the children and the physical integrity of the same. WHO
has been seen to fighting regarding this issue for a very long time now, and in many societies
and countries this inhuman act is banned (Linehan, 2018). However, this is still practiced in
Middle East, Asia, and Africa and in 30 countries this inhuman act is still practiced.
According to a recent study.

2 Female Genital Mutilation
Historical Roots:
The origin of this practice still remains unknown, however, as according to Mackie et
al., (2015), since the practice has been dominantly found to be prevalent in all across Africa,
therefore, it can be said that the practice had ben originated from there. The historical proofs
have suggested that the since the Meroite civilization, before, the initiation of Islam, in order
to encourage and increase the practice and prevalence of paternity in the society. There is a
mention of a spell in the Egyptian Museum, which suggests that it was present in the Egypt,
during the time of Middle Kingdom. However, the examination of the Mummies, have shown
no such evidence. As per Mangotra, (2016), during the time of Mummification of the bodies,
the skin of the outer labia was pulled into, in order to prevent the sexual violation. However,
as per other researches, this particular custom was most zealously present across the country
in order to raise every child, borne, and to create the prevalence of paternity or patriarchy in
the society.
During the19th century, there was a prevalence of conducting this particular act in
Europe and in United States, in order to prevent the practice of Masturbation, which was
deemed as unholy and unlikely and as unnatural irritation, and also to treat insanity. As per
the researches, being Nymphomaniac was a form of insanity which can only be treated by
clitoridectomy. However the age to act out this practice on the girls had always remained
same, as in the lancet, there is a description of a 15 year old girl masturbating. Later during
1950s and 1960s the act of Genital Mutilation among the girls were acted out by the doctors
or the gynecologists in order to treat hysteria, lesbianism and erotomania (Denniston, 2013).
The act of Genital mutilation of the girls were also made in the United States during the same
time, in order to provide the men of the society more pleasure during the time of intercourse,
and in order to do that, the doctors used to reposition the genitals of the women by removing
the clitoral hood. The basic notion was that a woman can indulge into intercourse only when