Female Genital Mutilation - Report Example

Female Genital Mutilation College: Female genital mutilation, also referred to as female circumcision and female genital cutting, is defined as “all procedures involving partial or total removal of external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons” (World Health Organization, 2008, p. 4). It is documented that today it is practiced in twenty-eight countries in African region as well as in a range of countries in the Middle East and Asia, in which connection to Muslim traditions are very strong. Different countries report various levels of female genital mutilation. The highest levels of female circumcision are characteristic of the following east African countries: Somalia (98%), Djibouti (93%), Eritrea (89%), and Ethiopia (74%) (Bogale, Markos & Kaso, 2014). In addition to the above-mentioned regions and countries, female genital mutilation is also practiced in Europe, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand and Africa among immigrants. In total, about 100-140 million of women have been circumcised. In Africa, more that 90 million of girls and women have been subjected to this procedure. In addition to this, the current estimations suggest that every year in Africa about 3 million girls are at risk of being circumcised (WHO, 2008). In accordance with the classification presented in the publication of the World Health Organization titled Eliminating Female Genital Mutilation: An Interagency Statement UNAIDS, UNDP, UNECA, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNHCHR, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIFEM, WHO, there are four types of female circumcision. The first type of female genital mutilation is called clitoridectomy, which presupposes total or partial removal of the clitoris and / or prepuce. There are two subtypes of the Type I: removal of either the prepuce clitoral hood and removal of both of them. The second type of female circumcision is called excision, and it presupposes total or partial removal of labia minora and the clitoris, with or without removal of the labia majora. There are three subtypes within the Type II: excision of the labia minora; total or partial excision of both the clitoris and the labia minora; total or partial excision of the labia minora, the labia majora and the clitoris. The third type is referred to as infibulation and defined as total or partial removal of the external genitalia and stitching the two sides with the aim to narrow the vaginal orifice by creation a covering seal. As well as in the previous two cases, there are subtypes within the Type III: removal of the labia minora and removal of the labia majora. The fourth type does not presuppose the excision of tissue and includes such procedures as scraping, piercing, pricking, and stretching with the aim to harm the labia and the clitoris (WHO; Kaplan, Hechavarria, Martin, Bonhoure, 2011). For today, there is no accurate data on the overall proportion of the girls of women who have been subjected to each type of female genital mutilation. There are several groups of reasons behind the practice of female genital mutilation. In fact, female genital cutting is based on a range of cultural values, believes, and behavior patterns, which govern people’s life in the society. The first group of reasons to perform the procedure is psychosexual reasons. In many cultures and communities, virginity is regarded as female honor and perceived as a precondition for marriage. The performance of circumcision, in this regard, is believed to be a guarantee that a young woman will not engage in extramarital sex for female genital mutilation and infibulation in particular, are believed to lessen sexual desire and temptations in women; it is also believed to increase male sexual pleasure (United Nations Population Fund, 2013). There are also cultural and sociological reason to perform female genital cutting. More specifically, very often this procedure is regarded as a “girl’s initiation into womanhood and as an intrinsic part of a community’s cultural heritage / tradition” (United Nations Population Fund, 2013). There is a wide range of myths about female genitalia, which serve as the argument for the continuation of the practice performance. For instance, in some communities, people belief that the clitoris will increase to the size of a penis if uncut or that female genital mutilation may increase fertility (United Nations Population Fund, 2013). In addition to this, there are aesthetics and hygiene reasons for female circumcision. There is an idea that the procedure promotes aesthetic appeal and hygiene because female genitalia is perceived as ugly and dirty. If a woman is uncut, she is regarded as dirty and is not allowed to handle water and food. Gender based factors are also a background for the preservation of female circumcision practicing. More specifically, it is believed that girls may be considered a complete woman only in can she has undergone the procedure for the latter defines women’s roles in marriage and life in general. What is more, the excision of the labia and clitoris, which are sometimes considered as male parts of women, are thought to enhance femininity and make women more obedient (perhaps, because of effects the trauma has on a girl’s personality) (United Nations population Fund, 2013). Also, the practice continues due to the society’s pressure and it represents the society’s control over women. In accordance with the World Health Organization (2008), there is a direct correlation between women’s belief in the necessity to undergo circumcision and their ability to exercise control over their lives. In fact, the procedure is often held even when the family is aware of the harm it inflicts upon girls; this is so because of the pressure of the wider society as well as social benefits it may give. Traditionally, female genital mutilation is carries by elderly women, who are believed to be specialized in this task and who are perceived as gatekeepers of the procedure, by traditional birth attendants, and sometimes even by barbers, female relatives, herbalists, and traditional health practitioners. They use special scissors, knives, razor blades, scalpels and sometimes pieces of glass to perform the procedure, usually without antiseptics and anesthetics. In some countries, families can allow turning to health professionals to perform the procedure so that to avoid the complications; however, the World Health Organization condemns such practices (United Nations Population Fund, 2013). Female genital cutting is associated with a range of health risks and both short- and long-term harmful consequences. In general, the effects of female circumcision depend on such factors as types of the performed procedure, skills of the operator, state of health of a girl, extent of cutting, and cleanliness of the environment and tools used in the procedure. The complications can be: hemorrhage (excessive bleeding); acute anemia as a consequence of hemorrhage, infections, such as tetanus, septicemia, vulvovaginitis, repetitive infections of urinary tract, cystitis etc. Female genital cutting can also result in abnormal scarring, such as fibrosis, synechia, cheloids, organic dispareunia, and tissue rotation. Also, long-term complications include sexual dysfunction, psychological damage, difficulties in menstruation and a range of others (Kaplan, Hechavarria, Martin, Bonhoure, 2011). Today, female genital mutilation is recognized as a violation of the human rights of girls and women. It violates a number of human rights standards, norms, and principles, such as the principle of non-discrimination based on sex and the right to freedom from cruel treatment. In this regard, the rights of girls and women have found support in a series of human rights documents and treaties, among which are Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Convention on the Rights of the Child, Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, UNESCO Universal Declaration of Cultural Diversity and others (WHO, 2008). References Bogale, D., Markos, D., & Kaso, M. (2014). Prevalence of female genital mutilation and its effect on women’s health in Bale zone, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 14(1076), doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-14-1076 Kaplan, A., Hechavarria, S., Martin, M., & Bonhoure, I. (2011). Health consequences of female genital mutilation/cutting in the Gambia, evidence into action. Reproductive Health, 8(26), doi: 10.1186/1742-4755-8-26 United Nations Population Fund. (2013). Promoting gender equality. Retrieved from http://www.unfpa.org/resources/promoting-gender-equality WHO. (n.d.). Classification of female genital mutilation. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/fgm/overview/en/ World Health Organization. (2008). Eliminating female genital mutilation: An interagency statement UNAIDS, UNDP, UNECA, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNHCHR, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIFEM, WHO. Retrieved from World Health Organization website: http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2008/9789241596442_eng.pdf Read More