Patrick Campbell
http://www.irinnews.org/IndepthMain.aspx?reportid=62462&indepthid=15
Introduction to women’s studies thus far has been a completely new experience for me academically and socially. Throughout my life I have been surrounded by males and a patriarchal type lifestyle; considering I have four brothers and two male dogs. Now I am one of three men in a class room composed of many women and a female teacher. We have read many articles and books that point out female activists and scholars that exude their point of view and feelings towards the topics in focus. From this fact regarding our coarse structure, it is evident that most of the women we have studied contained the capability to somehow scribe, correlate, and record all their feelings and ideas about feminism including their own personal experiences for the rest of the world to read and reflect upon. That being said, I believe that this news flash assignment gave me the opportunity to introduce a large community of women who do not have this voice, the ability to speak out for their beliefs, and also stand up for their natural rights. The groups of women in focus are the women in Africa who are daily, minutely, and even secondly silenced and forcibly circumcised to ultimately fit in their particular societies and appeal to bachelors and potential husbands.
FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) is a traditional and religious practice that is done mainly in Africa. However, it is also indigenous to other parts of the world.” The way this procedure is carried out varies between villages but all share the same characteristic which is that, “FGM represents part of the rites of passage or initiation ceremonies intended to impart the skills and information of a woman will need to fulfill her duties as a wife and mother.” Many people perceive the female genitalia to be unattractive or ugly and this procedure is carried out presumably to transform the genitalia into a more desirable feature.
This practice of FGM stretches much farther beyond the cutting of women’s clitoris or in some other cases of more extreme FGM practices which involve complete transformation of the female genitalia. Some women in these societies strictly rely on this practice for income to provide their lifestyles. Unless the government is able to provide for these individuals and educate them on the severe risks that go along with this practice it will consequently continue throughout life as we know it.
As I have noted earlier in this piece, the women we have studied have been able to voice their opinions somewhat openly and freely. Women in these societies who voice their disagreement with this practice are “discriminated against or ostracized from their communities.” This article introduces a case involving an educated Kenyan woman who is running for office in Parliament and refused to be circumcised. Following this decision, “her opponents used the fact that she was not circumcised to challenge her eligibility to hold a position that “only adults” could occupy.” This situation I feel to be completely immoral and unethical in every way, shape, and form.
We have witnessed throughout history that westernizing African nations has proven to be a complete failure. That being said, I was forced to pose a question, should FGM be considered a culturally accepted practice? I would have to decline. This practice of “cutting” young women from my perspective is gruesome and horrible. My opinion on the matter might seem predictable because of the society and environment that I have been raised in, fundamentally deters me from endorsing this practice. However, there exist many examples of why this practice of vagina mutilation should be stopped and removed from all cultures and societies due to severe health risks, destruction of females’ sexual experiences, and many more.
Although societies where this practice is exercised regularly, this procedure is not frowned upon because in some instances a girl would have to undergo this procedure to be accepted by a male counterpoint. In some cases women do not feel sufficient in society and do not feel as attractive as they would have if they had this procedure done to them, which has been previously noted. Cultural relativism is an ideal which, in some way entities a community to practice procedures like the one in focus. Furthermore, since this is a universal practice of their society FGM is considered to be a moral and ethical practice which enables even the most universally recognized unethical practices seem as a cultural norm, enter FGM. Even though this mind state is held true of the women in these societies, once FGM is completely not accepted these kinds of experiences that women are forced to conform to, will eventually diminish and open up a new door for women’s universal rights in Africa.
All of these procedures are done outside of the hospital and carried out with household objects such as kitchen knives or razors. Most, if not all procedures are done in a complete unsterile manner which leads to multiple complications for the victims of this gruesome practice. Fatal occurrences to these sufferers are viewed as a weak woman who was not fit to live in the society or be a suitable wife. Everything which I have previously noted makes me want to vomit. The way I perceive mothers in today’s world are caring figures who will do whatever it takes to preserve the health and safety of her children. Therefore, I see these mothers and grandmothers as cruel and twisted individuals because they are able to impose this pain and traumatizing practice on their children who they should be protecting not injuring. In many cases these girls are cut by the dozens by the same blade which ultimately spreads diseases and infects everyone who is a victim. Many of these professional “cutters” (if you will) posses no medical background just the skill to cut and leave. Therefore, there is no help provided for these girls if the procedure is carried out and things take a turn for the worst, even death in some cases. This issue is a problem on a day to day basis considering the “secret nature of FGM.” This practice is “highly confidential, and outsiders are strictly prohibited from having any contact with the girls and women during and after the ceremony.” Therefore, these girls are completely dependent on their own will and strength to heal themselves, which many girls, especially those who are “prone to infection” do not possess. Although the experience is dreadful and filled with pain, one of the largest underlying effects are the long term ones that go in accordance with this practice such as “post-operative shock, infections, urine retention caused by swelling and inflammation, excessive scar tissue, formation of cysts” and many more.
All in all, FGM should be stopped completely and should have been stopped before it ever started. Health risks and social dissonance are not factors that women should have to experience because she does not want to have her vagina mutilated. The evidence of the problems and risks involved with this practice are right in front of these peoples’ eyes. We must work to educate and rid the world of this inhumane practice before more girls are forcibly cut. To put things into perspective for us westerners, “a girl is circumcised every 15 seconds.” If that statistic does not light a spark the minds of the world to work and aid in the diminishment of this practice, then we are all condoning it and providing these victims with no way out! Therefore, NO FGM!
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