Cultural Controversy - Essay Example

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) involves partial or total removal of the external parts of the female genitalia; these include; the clitoris, or labia and other tissues around the Urethra and virginal (Reymond, et al n.d). Different cultures practice it for different reasons, most common, as a cultural rite of passage or a means to curb immorality among girls. The cut is often referred to as circumcision, who to those unfamiliar with it makes it analogous to male circumcision and legitimizes it; conversely, the extent of the cutting is not comparable to male circumcision.

The long and short-term effects it has on girls mental, physical and reproductive health renders the term circumcision inapplicable. Furthermore, the process is considered an abuse of human and more so children rights since it is often performed on young girls (World Health Organization). While the proponents insist, the term Female Genital is meant to dehumanize it, the truth is; the term describes it and any objective description of the torturers process is enough to dehumanize it.It is most prevalent in sub Saharan Africa especially among the Somali culture and several others, North, East and horn of Africa communities especially Somalia and Ethiopia (Reymond, et al n.d). In the United Kingdom, girls fall also victim to this senseless ritual, during the summer holiday, which is the longest for schoolchildren.

Many girls of African descent, as young as five are sent off to Somalia and elsewhere they are put through this scaring process (Foreign and Commonwealth Office). The tools used are often not sterile, and the resulting wounds can result in fatalities especially when it is done in Africa by illiterate old women trying to uphold “culture.” It also poses a significant risk of complication during childbirth; this is evidenced by the fact that infant mortality rates are often notably higher in countries that are known to practice FGM.

Besides, the removal of the clitoris ensures they can never hope to enjoy sex in posterity. Ultimately, FGM is an extremely painful and inhuman procedure that no girl should have ever to undergo and in most countries, even in Africa it has been outlawed and is only done in secret.Works Cited“Female genital mutilation”. Foreign and Commonwealth Office. n.d. Web. 23 November 2012. “Female genital mutilation”. World Health Organization. 2012. Web. 23 November 2012. Reymond, Laura, Mohamud, Asha and Nancy, Ali.

“Female Genital Mutilation; The Facts”. The Wallace Global Fund/path.org. n.d. Web. 23 November 2012