Female Circumcision

Loretta Kopelman’s dissertation, Female Genital Circumcision and Conventionalists Ethical Relativism, takes a new approach in a global plight. Kopelman begins her thesis by elaborating on a particular tribe in southern Kenya. She describes how young girls are being mutilated for marriageability. Their fathers, eager for large dowries, perform the ritual on girls as young as nine. While some victims are able to escape and seek sanctuary, this obviously isn’t always possible and thus these girls must live with an inflicted deformity their whole life that doesn’t only cause serious health complications but sometimes even death.

when the girls and boys are initiated into adulthood through the act of circumcision. After

Islamic, Jewish, West African, the Aborigines of Australia and many other religions and cultures use circumcision as a rite of passage that holds significant meaning. Most preform the act in infancy or early childhood and while some hold it as optional others see it as obligatory and will even make sure to circumcise their deceased before burial. (Darby) In Kenya, boys will wear the razor blade that was used on them around their necks as a sign of “initiation into manhood” (Morris) Some religions, such as Catholicism, have maintained that the act of circumcision is brutal, barbaric and unnecessary.(Wikipedia 1)

In my culture females are circumcised also are given mark of identity on their body. Also some tribe in my countries place facial scar on females and males when they are teen.

Throughout history, there has been a controversial argument on whether female genital mutilation should be banned from Africa. Some people describe female genital mutilation or FGM as a violation of women’s rights and others view it as served for a religious purpose having to do with the Islamic holy book, the Qur’an. Female Genital Mutilation is the removal of all or part of the external parts of the female genitalia. There are three different types of FGM; the first type of FGM is the Sunna Circumcision which is the removal of the tip of the clitoris. The second type is Clitoridectomy which is the removal of the entire clitoris and the adjacent labia. The third type is Infibulation which is the removal of the clitoris and the entire labia including the labia majora and minora. After the removal of the entire labia, the joining of the scraped sides are brought together using thorns or catgut, leaving only a small portion open for menstruation and urinating. Africa has the highest rates of FGM being performed. About 100 million women and girls are affected by FGM and at least 3 million girls are at risk undergoing this process every year. FGM is usually carried out by an elderly woman who is paid fees from the family of the girl undergoing this process (P.a.p.-Blog par. 2, 4). Female Genital Mutilation is usually performed on girl between the ages of three and adulthood. According to the UNICEF or United

Description: Male circumcision is an old traditional practice where the foreskin of the penis is removed by surgical means. The practice also has religious significance in a number of communities. The practice is less common in the West because of a poor awareness of the medical benefits. Recent research has shown that male circumcision significantly lowers the risk of infections and sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS in particular. However, male circumcision surgeries are expensive because of limited support in public health care programs.Â

In the USA, newborn male circumcision is a very common procedure, three-quarters of American men are circumcised. Though the rate of infant circumcision has always been high in the USA, the number varies depending on the State, “Circumcision rates vary wildly across the country - from more than 80% of newborns in states including Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin and Kentucky, to around 20% on the West coast, according to some calculations” (Hebblethwaite, C.,2012, August 21). However, in other countries, such as The UK, rates dropped after the National Health Service (NHS) rules that circumcisions was not medically necessary, so it would not be covered. In 1948 one-third of UK men were circumcised and now about 9% of men are. On the other hand, countries

Female excision is a practice that is performed in parts of Africa and in the Middle East countries. (Winter, Mary) Female excision can be preformed in a variety of different ways, all of which are just as damaging mentally, physically and emotionally to the young

Part A: Explain, from the perspective of a girl in a culture who participates in this ritual, one reason why they would agree to participate in female circumcision. So in essence, I want you to be culturally relativistic and use what you have learned this week to explain why young women still do this. Use what you’ve learned in the lecture, film, or readings.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) also known as female circumcision is a tradition passed down from generation to generation occurring all around the world affecting millions of women and young girls. FGM is controversial matter most prevalent in Africa (Ahanonu and Victor, 2014). To this day it’s estimated that about 28 African countries still practice this ritual including Nigeria (Ahanonu and Victor, 2014). In the past twenty years there has been a worldwide increased interest in FGM due to its multiplicity and lifelong effects. Some people believe FGM violates basic human rights where others believe this ritual is required to increase their chances of marriageability and that this practice is a transition from adolescents into adulthood

"I remember the blade. How it shone! There was a woman kneeling over me with the knife. I bit her; it was all I could do. Then three women came to hold me down. One of them sat on my chest. I bit her with all my might." These words reflect Banassiri Sylla’s account of her experience undergoing female circumcision, also known as female genital mutilation (FGM), at the young age of eight in the Ivory Coast. This disturbing description of her struggle makes it hard to understand why any culture could support such a practice. Yet, it is estimated that about 132 million women and girls in about thirty African countries have undergone the same, or at least similar, cultural

, Here in America this helps because patients do not have to endure the surgical removal of the foreskin when they get older, and they run the risk of the most considerable complications (Pillitteri, 2014). The socioeconomic influences of male circumcision are becoming more common because of the desire to be traditional in countries where the majority of boys are circumcised. Circumcision has health benefits, and it would be helpful for circumcision to be accessible to parents. This can be attained with health provider education. Today awareness of improved hygiene and lower risk of infections through male circumcision have motivated the spread of circumcision practices in the developing countries (Chiringa, Ramathuba, & Mashau,

In this country, majority of people are Muslims : they solely live for Allah. The religion requires, as you can know, the circumcision of girls to celebrate the arrival of their periods and to mark the beginning of their life as a woman. It consists in removing the clitoris to prevent women from having pleasure their sexual romps and to tie up the vagina just to let a little hole to pee. This ritual is done coldly in the middle of the desert, on a rock, with a dusty razor blade and rope. Half of these children die of infection or bleed to death. Because in her head it was positive event, Waris pleaded her mom to get circumcised to be considered as a complete women. At the age of five, her Mama succumbed to her wish and Waris lived the hell

     Female genial mutilation is mainly practiced in the African culture. It is also practiced in Christian, Judaism, Aboriginal, and Islamic cultures. FGM is not religious, but is a social custom (4). In some countries it is almost universal. There are over 30 million women currently living in Nigeria that have been circumcised and 24 million in Ethiopia and Eritrea. Some groups say that 114 to 130 million women worldwide have had the operation. FGM has spread worldwide with immigrants coming from Africa and other nations that accept this practice. It is outlawed in the United States, but the practice is still done. Specialists in Denver, CO reported in 1998 that at least 6,000 immigrants have settled in the area from African countries, which widely practices FGM. Dr. Terry Dunn, director of a women's clinic in that city commented: "I know of one patient where it was clear it was performed in this country." About 4 mutilation cases are seen each year at the clinic (5).

FGM originated in Africa. It was, and remains, a cultural, not a religious practice. Female genital mutilation (FGM) is also known as female circumcision is performed on young women before they reach puberty. There are three types of FGM practiced. One is Sunna circumcision in which the tip of the clitoris and/or its covering (prepuce) are removed, Clitoridectomy where the entire clitoris, the prepuce and adjacent labia are removed, and Infibulation (a.k.a. Pharaonic circumcision) which is a clitoridectomy followed by sewing up of the vulva. Only a small opening is left to allow urine and menstrual blood to pass. In all types of FGM, the vagina is sown up until the female is ready to have sexual intercourse