Argument against Female Genital Mutilation - Essay Example

An Argument against Female Genital Mutilation A cultural practice may be described as a manifestation ofculture,particularly in regard to some traditional as well as customary practices of a certain ethnic or cultural group. In a practical point of view, it can be described as the traditional practices that are developed within a particular ethnic culture. It includes the characteristics of culture that have been practiced by a given community since ancient times. Cultural practices are gaining momentum mainly due to the increased controversy over the rights of a given culture which are usually protected by many jurisdictions and ethnic minorities. Most cultural practices have become the subject of discussion in recent times. This is because most people are fighting to keep up with their cultural practices whereas the rest who see themselves as modernized, want to do away with their cultural practices. There are many popular cultural practices. Female genital mutilation is one of them. This paper argues against female genital mutilation that is a very popular cultural practice (Rosemarie 197). It argues that regardless of the cultural reasons that underlie this practice, it is ethically vulnerable. It suggests all the medical field has an obligation neither to take part in nor facilitate it. The fact that some females may settle to their own genital mutilation does not make any change. An agreement of such magnitude will be invalid ethically simply because it lacks voluntariness, and it is based on the insufficient understanding of the true situation. Female circumcision is a popular cultural practice mainly in Africa and Asia. It is a procedure that is traditionally carried out by the lay practitioners. This practice presents a very serious health hazard as it is performed in the community setting usually without the adequate operational conditions. Excessive bleeding, postoperative shock, and niggling infections are some of the immediate complications after the operation is done (Rosemarie 245). In recent times, however, trained healthcare professionals are increasingly becoming involved in carrying out the delicate procedure in order to minimize some health risks. Nevertheless, whether carried out by the trained health professionals or the lay practitioners, under hygienic conditions with an exemplary technique and skill the complications of the female circumcision are severe. Diagnosable psychiatric effects are the obvious occurrences on those who have undergone the procedure. The personal hygiene becomes a problem and enduring infections continually affect the uterus and the vagina. Child bearing becomes a problem due to recurrent complications. This cultural practice is unknown in most parts of the world. However, it is a very common occurrence in Africa, Indonesia and Malaysia. Historically, we can trace the roots of this practice in the ancient Egypt and Arabia. Arguably, this practice constitutes a vital part in the social-cultural heritages of the societies that are bound in this area. This situation has been echoed by the fact that most members that originate from these communities continue doing this practice even when they move to other parts of the world. The current worldwide approximations show that almost 74 million to 114 million women have been affected by this practice. The recent global dispersions have subjected the procedure to intense scrutiny from all quarters regarding the fundamental and variance with which this practice is considered acceptable in different societies. In most cases, the procedures have been condemned as they mitigate on the congenital rights of the women. In fact, they have been depicted as graphic expressions on the way in which man is inhuman to the woman. Additionally, the criticism is not only limited to the voices that discover their foundation in diverse cultural perspectives. The most recent development is that the procedures have been illegalized even in the countries that are historically known to carry out the practice. The situation is known to become very hard for the physicians in the countries that do not carry out the practice when they are approached by members of cultural Diasporas who tell them to carry out the procedure. When they are tempted to carry out the procedure, they reduce the risks of many complications as they under favorable conditions but they become the perpetrators of the law because of performing a procedure that is unethical. The physicians who reject such requests usually avoid the severe consequences. The ethical principles and cultural values are ethically unfounded and the historical foundations and the cultural networks notwithstanding. The circumcision of females and all associated practices may not be ethically defensible, and the imminent participation of the health professional creates a fundamental violation of the established medical ethics. This is to say that, despite the fact that a particular culture or group engagement in a given activity does not give a go ahead as the activity is intolerable (Rosemarie 114). A particular cultural activity such as genital mutilation that is embraced by a given groups of people should not be allowed to affect the persons involved in a negative way. Ethics is not just matter of what people are supposed to do or believe. It is a matter of what they are supposed to do. This is because ethics is not just based on the cultural or personal beliefs but is based on the ideologies that are supposed to be in a normal human being. Because they are engrained in a man’s nature, they then hold for all the human beings notwithstanding of the cultural, national, and religious setting. As a result, the sociological and historical deliberations which focus on the cultural values do not give a stamen whether a given a given cultural practice is defendable. In addition to that, it is important to note that the societies are not just collections of living bodies. Instead, they are interrelated social units that constitute of humans. Therefore, even the cultural practices which are rooted in peoples’ culture will find their basis in the ultimate values that depict the way in which people view life. Accepting the fact that female genital mutilation is a very bad cultural practice may not put an end to this argument. There could be some persuasive reasons that allow this practice to continue. However, it is important to consider the morality of a specific practice as culture and value are of no significance. In conclusion, it will be fashionable to argue that practices some practices which are grounded in certain cultural beliefs in any society will not the subject of scrutiny by the persons outside that cultural setting. In other words, each culture and society have got its own standards and the values. Good cultural practices should be embraced, and bad ones should be regarded as things of the past. Works cited Skaine, Rosemarie. Female Genital Mutilation: Legal, Cultural, and Medical Issues. Jefferson, N.C. [u.a.: McFarland, 2005 http://religionnerd.com/2010/11/01/female-genital-mutilation-%E2%80%93-cultural-or-religious-practice/ http://www.forwarduk.org.uk/key-issues/fgm/human-rights http://blog.practicalethics.ox.ac.uk/2014/02/cultural-relativism-and-female-genital-mutilation/ Read More