Female Genital Mutilation: History & Impact

This assignment delves into the historical practices of female genital mutilation, particularly in ancient Egypt, South Africa, and parts of Asia. It explores the diverse cultural and traditional reasons behind this practice, including beliefs about protecting women from assault and promoting modesty. The document also highlights the severe health complications faced by women who undergo FGM, such as chronic infections, reproductive issues, and painful urination. Finally, it underscores the importance of eradicating this harmful practice.

FEMALE GENITAL
MUTILATION

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
History behind Female genital mutilation...................................................................................1
Origin of Female genital mutilation............................................................................................1
Performing female genital mutilation.........................................................................................2
Reason behind performing female genital mutilation.................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
Female genital mutilation is also known as female genital cutting or female circumcision.
It is a ritual that is followed in various regions. In this female genital part is been cut or removed.
It can make any female extremely weak and exhausted. Female circumcision is considered as
illegal (Abdulcadir et.al. (2016). This practice is done without any specific medical reason.
Report will highlight information like history and origin of female genital mutilation. It will also
discuss about the origin of ill practice. Assignment also lays emphasis on the reason behind
following of this practice and how it is been performed in different regions.
MAIN BODY
History behind Female genital mutilation
History of female genital mutilation is quiet uncertain. Researchers are also involved in
finding out exact history behind it. The origin of female circumcision or removal of their genital
parts has been discovered to be originated in ancient Egypt. It is been practised in many
countries including the Africa, middle east and South Africa (Female genital history and culture,
(2018). Most of the time it is been followed only in traditional group who are living in backward
areas and have no sort of education. Researchers and historical have found out that this practice
is been followed in some traditional communities as they think that it is a religious requirement
to serve female genital part. They think it makes their god happy. Also, it has been presented that
ancient Egyptians are engaged in this type of practice to avoid early women pregnancy and slave.
Many other anthropologist founded out that African traditional communities were
historically involved in this practice in order to protect their women from getting raped. This was
there early attempt to control the population growth (Cerejo (2017). Also, ancient Egyptian had a
believe and thought that women are being made to sacrificed and serve their god in this way.
Main reason behind practician of female circumcision is cultural thoughts, beliefs and social
value. Many traditional communities think that by this way a girl can be raised properly. Also,
Africans perform this practice so that there women can not have any extra marital affair and is
only engaged in serving them. Female genital mutilation is considered as illegal in many
regions. This can make a woman totally exhausted, depressed and affect their well-being.
Origin of Female genital mutilation
Female genital mutilation has been originated in the parts of Africa, Asia and ancient
Egypt. The traditional groups and communities of these regions have varied and different reason
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behind following this practice. Some of the traditional groups living in South Africa has adopted
this practice by copying from their neighbour state (Abdulcadir et.al. (2016). It has been
analysed that 140 million African women had undergone removing or cutting of their genital
parts. This has made them extremely weak and also the women feel quiet shameless and guilty
after performing this practice. Ancient African are been engaged in doing female genital
mutilation so that they can preserve a woman virginity till their marriage. This one of the major
reason of Africans for performing this female circumcision.
In ancient Egypt female genital mutilation is rooted in their cultural belief. These people
think that it is religious to perform this act and follow illegal practices. More of them also feels
about women that in this way they can be saved and protected from outsiders in getting harassed
or raped (World Health Organization. (2016). Romanian people are also engaged in doing female
genital mutilation. They think that by following this practice they can get control over women
sexual behaviour. Historians also revealed that many times this practice is going on because of
male dominated society. There attitude, belief and value towards women are totally different.
They have a belief that women are below them and can be treated like in the manner men think.
These people do not have any morale value towards women of their society.
Performing female genital mutilation
Female genital mutilation is been performed in many regions like South Africa, ancient
Egypt, many parts of Asia. In most part of Africa it is been performed by their traditional
communities for hygiene purpose. They think that cutting of female genital parts can help
women in keeping them stay hydrated and safe from various diseases. These communities think
that it makes female group keep healthy and safe (Hosseini (2016). Also, it has been practice to
keep them and safe and healthy. Ancient African are also engaged in practising this in order to
protect virginity of girls. They try to keep them virgin until marriage. Female mutilation is been
performed by ancient communities in very traditional and religious way. They think that god
feels happy after performing this practice. It is considered as an act of thanking their superior
god. Also in ancient Egypt communities have a belief that this practice increases the sexual
pleasure for man.
After cutting or removal of female genetic organs they go through extreme pain and
become dull and weak. Also, they can face various problems like severe bleeding and get serious
trauma after going through this practice. It has been considered as illegal in most part of world.
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No men can involve in harming the sentiments and beliefs of women. Researchers have also
analysed that this practice can be transformed into death of girls and female. They can also go
through issues like painful urination and menstrual problem. It can cause severe harm to them
and weaken their immune system as well as their functioning.
Reason behind performing female genital mutilation
Female genital mutilation is been practised by the people of various regions like ancient
Egypt, South Africa and parts of Asia. It is been mainly performed by traditional communities
living in Africa. The main reason behind doing this illegal act is to keep their women and girls
safe and virgin till marriage. In there communities, it has also been considered as tradition to
follow female circumcision. Mostly male dominated societies are engaged in performing this
practice as they think by these men get control over sexual activities of women. By this they also
get power to make decision on behalf of women.
Ancient Egyptian were also engaged in practising Female genital mutilation as they feel
that by this these people can make their god happy. And it is a way of showing respect and
tribute to them (Xu et.al. (2018). This practice is also associated with cultural ideals of
femininity and modesty. Also ancient communities of Africa is involved in doing this to protect
and safeguard their women from getting molested and raped. They also feel that removing of
genital parts creates hygiene in the life of women. After suffering female genital mutilation
women can face several problems like chronic genital infection, re productivity infection, urinary
infection and issues in menstrual cycle. Painful urination can also be one of the major problem
faced by female after removing of their genital parts. This practice has been confined to a
particular region or culture. Women can also face problem in healing their wound. They can go
through severe pain in their abdominal.
CONCLUSION
From, the above study it has been summarised that female genital mutilation has been
practised in ancient Egypt, South Africa and most parts of Asia. It has been practised due to
varied cultural and traditional reasons. Many communities have performed this so that women
can be saved from getting raped and molested. This has made females extremely weak and
exhausted. Because of these women had gone through several issues like pain in urination and
problems in menstrual cycle.
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REFERENCES
Momoh, C. (2017). Female genital mutilation. In The Social Context of Birth (pp. 143-158).
Routledge.
Abdulcadir, J., Catania, L., Hindin, M. J., Say, L., Petignat, P., & Abdulcadir, O. (2016). Female
Genital Mutilation. Obstetrics & Gynecology.128(5).958-963.
Xu, Y., Ross, G., & Glowacki, C. (2018). Female Genital Mutilation. Topics in Obstetrics &
Gynecology.38(10). 1-5.
Hosseini, H. (2016). Female genital mutilation. Contemporary OB/GYN.61(2).33-34.
World Health Organization. (2016). WHO guidelines on the management of health complications
from female genital mutilation (No. 9789241549646). World Health Organization.
Cerejo, D. (2017). FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION. Responding to Domestic Violence:
Emerging Challenges for Policy, Practice and Research in Europe, 231.
Online
Female genital history and culture. (2018). [Online]. Available through
<http://www.fgmnationalgroup.org/historical_and_cultural.htm>
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