Female Genital Mutilation ( Fgm )

In life, we all make decisions rather they are good, or bad the choices we make will have an impact on our life in the future. Beza is an eleven-year-old girl who lives in an Ethiopian village. In this village, the practice of FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) is being carried out by force on girls who are far too young to make decisions for themselves. So what exactly is Female Genital Mutilation? There are three types of genital cutting that are practiced: the clitoridectomy which requires the removal of part or the whole clitoris to be amputated and the bleeding is stopped by apply pressure or stitches, the excision which requires both the clitoris and the inner lips to be amputated and the bleeding is stopped by stitching, but the vagina

This form of FGM is called female circumcision or Sunna circumcision. Another form of female genitalia mutilation is called excision or clitoridectomy. Removing the entire clitoris and either part or all of the labia minora is performed in this type of mutilation. Intermediate circumcision, another form of FGM, is very similar to a clitoridectomy. The difference is that in addition to the removal of the clitoris and part or all of the labia minora, that part or all of the labia majora is also removed. The last and most severe form of FGM is called infibulation or pharaonic circumcision. This includes the removal of both the clitoris and the labia minora, as well as much of the labia majora. Then the remaining sides are sewn together (Walker 367).

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

In an extensive article, by Richard Griffith he reinstates information from the WHO Organization that “It is estimated that 100–140 million girls and women worldwide are currently living with the consequences of female genital mutilation (FGM).” (World Health organization, 2008). It is a horrible practice in which young females between the ages of infant and fifteen years of age, undergo a surgery for the alteration, removal or partial removal of their genitalia for religious or cultural reasoning’s. If that isn’t terrifying enough, understand that this takes place against the will of the receiving party. This is reason by itself, along with many reasons to stands up against FGM, as it should be outlawed entirely. But, before we can establish the barrier between necessary and criminal in discussion with this topic, we must look at the research and history of this practice, and let the statistics speak for its self.

Female genital mutilation may be currently reaching a changing point in its history. It is a cultural practice that is considered to have long standing importance but female genital mutilation presents to most developed nations a need for education and a need to clarify ethical dilemmas regarding it. In most cases, the push for female genital mutilation to be eradicated comes from within individual cultures and communities but internationally there is also support for eradication of this problem. The main dilemma is that most groups that actively practice female genital mutilation see it as a necessary or even obligatory ritual that defines them as a culture and gives their culture or religion autonomy. It is (at the time that this paper was written) illegal to perform female genital mutilation on a child in the United Sates but not on an adult woman, which includes anyone who is who is older than 18 years old. However, ultimately, female genital mutilation is unethical regardless of who it is performed upon, so the United States’ health care providers and the laws governing them need to step beyond their traditionally followed roles on this issue. In fact, health care providers ought to join the ongoing worldwide efforts to completely eradicate female genital mutilation. Health care providers

Female genital mutilation, also known as female circumcision, is a practice that involves the removal of part or all of the female external genitalia. It occurs throughout the world, but most commonly in Africa where they say that it is a tradition and social custom to keep a young girl pure and a married woman faithful. But to some Westerners, the practice is viewed as being primitive and barbaric. We react with disgust and find it nearly incomprehensible that female genital mutilation can occur in the world today

The scope of this research is focused only on FGM for among all the kinds/types of mutilation, FGM are the most studied and controversial kind/type of mutilation.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), female genital mutilation consist of a non-medical procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs (Lauren V, 2011).Typically girls from two weeks old, through fourteen years old, are affected by this procedure. The mutilations are conducted under non-sterile conditions; by using razors, knifes, scissors etc.; and without any anesthesia.

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.

In some cultures, the common practice of Female Genital Mutilation in Africa and the Middle East, are causing concerns amongst these young girls.

The subject of FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) reminds me of the severity of FGM as well as its ties with culture and religion in Ethiopia - my country of origin. The issue personally affects me because it stirs up very unpleasant memories and thoughts. I remembered my oldest female cousins and neighbors going through this kind of practice twenty years ago. I even remember the women who executed the procedure. Like many of the people who carry out female circumcision, this woman was not medically trained to perform the procedure, nor did she use proper medical equipments and anesthesia. The majority of the people who support female circumcision use their religious and cultural values to explain their support for FGM. However, FGM is a brutal practice that exposes women to extreme pain and possible risk

When implementing a program like the Body Empowerment where services are provided to women and girls who have been either directly or indirectly impacted by FGM practices, there is a likely chance of there being some form of issues about clinical ethics and research ethics. One of the issues for research ethics pertaining to this evaluation project is that there is not sufficient amount of evidence to prove that providing safety kits will be effective for reducing harmful and unsafe FGM practices. Providing safety kits to those who perform FGM procedures may not necessarily encourage them to practice sanitary practices. That it is why it is crucial for further research to be done about the effectiveness of providing safety kits and that is

From a scientific standpoint there are many benefits in receiving FGM reversal surgery. It allows women to give birth naturally(not having to give birth through C-section), urinate and menstruate comfortably, and restores sexual feeling . There are many physical health concerns that are associated with FGM. Some of these health concerns include haemorrhage, urinary problems, menstrual disorders, infections from unsterile instruments, ulceration of the genital area, sexual dysfunction, infertility, and pregnancy and birth complications. In some cases girls or women die as a result of FGM, however there are few medical records on this because the practice of FGM is rarely reported to authorities. The psychological research on the impacts of

In certain societies and culture, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a rite of passage and the young girls are aware of the procedure (Nawal, 2008, pp. 135-139). Furthermore, the societies and cultures who partake in this procedure as a rite of passage, religious reasons, so the girls will not be promiscuous before they get married, so the men’s penis does not fall off, and men in certain societies would prefer their wife to be circumcised (Mascia-Lees 2010, pp. 159). Even though certain societies and cultures have their reasoning for performing Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), FGM can cause medical, psychological, and pyscho-sexual consequences (Reyners, 2004, pp. 242-251). According to Reyners (2004) most of the girls and women who had Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) type three conducted, they tend to experience heavily affected reproductive and urological functioning. Furthermore, according to Reyners (2004) also recommended if any woman is pregnant and has had any form of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) done, they should be monitored for their safety as well as the infants.

The practitioners' repeated use of the same, uncleaned instruments is also thought to help transmit illnesse like hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. ("Female genital mutilation." Wikipedia.) 49% of girls in Indonesia from 0-14 years old have undergone FGM. A medical practitioner cut more than half of these girls. ("New UNICEF Statistical Report on Female Genital Mutilation Shows Harmful Practice Is a Global Concern.") In a study of 1694 households in Indonesia were surveyed in six rural districts and two cities of six provinces 86-100% of girls aged 19 reported to have been cut. More than 90% of the women questioned supported the continuation of FGM. The age when the procedures were done can range from newborn to 9 years old. A survey in Iraqi Kurdistan of females aged up to 20 years included 1,508 participants with mean age of 13.5 years. Overall female genital mutilation prevalence was 23%, and the mean age at which it had been performed was 4.6 years. Type I (partial or total removal of the clitoris) comprised 76% of those who had had female genital mutilation. In Yemen, 23% of Yemeni women have undergone