Female Genital Mutilation

Mill clearly states this by saying, “the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others.” (13) Mill continues by saying that one cannot intervene for the sake of the person’s own good, or for their happiness; it is only when others are affected by one’s decisions that interference is warranted. While Mill’s definition of liberty may seem acceptable at first glance, a question of what constitutes as harm remains. Once cannot lead a healthy public life if one does not understand what constitutes as harm, and when their actions can be considered harmful. Until harm is clearly defined, what one

FGM are “procedures which involve partial or total removal of external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital or organs for non-medical reasons” World Health Organisation (2016) and encompasses four different forms: Clitoridectomy (removal of clitoris), excision (removal of clitoris and labia minora and with/without the labia majora), infibulation (narrowing of the vaginal opening) and other non-medical harmful procedures i.e. piercing (NHS 2016). Girls and women can be vulnerable to FGM due to their age as FGM is largely carried out on young girls, the association that FGM is a cultural tradition and it is expected for all girls and women to have FGM within these communities and a lack of education for

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

The world health organization defines FGM as ‘all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons’. (World Health Organisation 2016) FGM is a tradition deeply rooted and practiced in Africa, Asia and the middle east by specific ethnic groups. It is for the most part performed on children and as such is recognised as a violation of human rights and the rights of a child. (Creighton, 2015)

This research is limited only to the ethical issues of Female Genital Mutilation(FGM). Ethical issues about other kinds/types of mutilation like the tattoos or markings, surgeries, transplants and piercings are not furthermore discussed, explained, and identified in this research.

Now that we know little about the mutilation process these females undergoes; let’s ask ourselves “Why would someone ever agree to conduct such procedure on their own will?” If mutilation emphasizes the clear violation of human rights, why is this procedure being implemented in many different countries? Well, this issue is due to different ethical, and moral perspective; one may believe that female mutilation is morally right; while others may think it’s a violation of human rights. Let’s first explore the ethical theories on this

Female Genital Mutilation is a practice in which external portions of female genitalia are removed for non-medical, cultural reasons. In many countries and cultures, young girls are forced to go through this procedure before getting married, based on the belief that the practice will keep them pure and virgins. This practice, set in place by a patriarchal hegemonic system, controls and decides the lives of any girls in a lot of places. Often times, these lives are ended because the practice is non-medical, not safe, and definitely not even done the right way.

The article, Female Genital Mutilation Is a Canadian Issue Too, explores how the act of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a social justice issues beyond the foreign nations it is associated with. While FGM is associated with countries in Africa and the Middle East where it is seen as the norm, we see cases in our modern and progressive nation. The article first defines FGM as girls being forced to have some or all of their external genitalia cut off and, in some cases, having their vaginal opening sown closed. This may be performed on girls anytime from infancy to puberty and can result in multiple life threatening health complications. The article goes on to explain how the act is deeply rooted in different cultures but is also experienced

John Stuart Mill’s Harm Principle is the idea that, “The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others.’’ 1 In other words, the state or society at large may only interfere in an individual’s life if that individual’s actions pose a large enough harm to others..

Female genital mutilation is considered intentionally alter or cause injuring the female genital organs. When females get their genitals remove they lack the professional help of a doctor or hospital. When females go through this procedure they normally bleed a lot and sometimes get infections. When females get this procedure done they can also lead to infertility issues which can cause women to have complication when given child birth and have a high rate in newborn death. There are over 20 countries in Africa and eastern where female genital mutilation is happening. There are more than 125 million girls who are affected in these children. Females who experience this are between the age of infancy and 15 years of age. Female genital mutilation

What is Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)? Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is often the removal or cutting of the labia and the clitoris. The World Health Organization describes FGM as any procedure that injures the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. In the video FGM survivor: Fundamentally, it’s ‘child abuse’, “CNN talks about FGM also known as female circumcision or female cutting. This is the ritual removal of some or all the external female genitalia. Mothers as well as neighbors and other family members are involved in this process”. FGM is important because they have no health benefits and is in fact very harmful to health in many ways. FGM is illegal. FGM

For one minute I just want you to think you were born a female in an African country. Did you no you are 90% more likely to have had gone through some form of female genital mutilation. Every day, thousands of girls are targeted for mutilation. Like torture, female genital mutilation (FGM) involves the deliberate infliction of severe pain and suffering. Its effects can be life-threatening. Most survivors have to cope with the physical and mental scars for the rest of their lives.

Also there was no statistic about how many people are affected from FGM. Today, "FGM is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women.”(Equality now, 2015). Furthermore, in UK the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 took place to protect the individual.

Imagine this! Being either a young girl or a woman forcefully bound against your will while elders perform a procedure called Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The young girls and women who are forced to have this procedure done not only loses their rights to sexual pleasure but their rights are sliced, chopped, punctured, and finally burnt away. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) otherwise known as Female Genital Circumcision (FGC) is also a controversial topic in Western societies. This paper will examine the history of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), hegemonic perspective on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), health consequences of having this procedure done, how Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) affects women’s sexual function, and women who

Female Genital Mutilation is believed to have started in Egypt 2,000 years ago and spread from there. Only a few years ago, FGM was considered a cultural tradition, but now the United Nations has labeled it as a violation of human rights. Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United States has declared Female Genital Mutilation grounds for seeking asylum and is a punishable offense (1).