Infanticide and Female Genital Mutilation from the Point of View of a Cultural Relativist - Essay Example

Anthropology Through the centuries, the attitude and behaviour of man has been influenced by the customs and traditions of the society within which he lives. These customs and traditions constitute the culture of that particular society or race and with time, some of these values have evolved to embrace the changing time. The others, good or bad, might have continued to uphold the traditions and sometimes, they may have continued because of the vested interests of some bigoted religious fanatics.

Either way, these traditions define the culture of the people. Infanticide and ‘female genital mutilation’ are two of the practices that I would like to discuss looking from the point of view of a cultural relativist and later observe it as an ethnocentric anthropologist would. A cultural relativist would view these practices in the socio-cultural perspective of the people where it is practices and rationalise it as per the need and demand of the people and place. Infanticide is still prevalent in the far-east, especially in some part of India.

It is the practice of killing infants in womb of the mother, especially if it is a girl child. As per the Indian custom, male children are supposed to carry on the family name and traditions and they are often preferred over girl child. It is also believed that last rites of a dead person must be carried by his or her ‘son’ so that he attains salvation of the soul. Under dire economic compulsions, mothers have been forced to kill the infant in the womb. On the other hand, female genital mutilation is practices among certain Moslim clan where pre pubescent girls are forced to undergo surgical mutilation of their genitals without anaesthesia.

The Moslems believe that Quran1, their religious scripture, promoted this practice so that women do not become promiscuous and men are not swayed from the path of religion. It is the decree of Allah2, therefore, it is the personal choice of the individuals following that religion. As an ethnocentric anthropologist and as an American, I am totally aghast that such practices are still in vogue. Acts and proclamations that do not conform to basic human values of freedom of spirit and compassion for fellow human being, must be stopped at the earliest, even if they are carried on, in the name of religion and culture.

Infanticide and FGM3 are both barbaric acts which violate the basic values of our race. Infanticide is killing of another human being and no matter what the compulsions are behind the deed, it is a murder of the first order and the culprits must be punished as such. FGM, despite being a so called religious call, is a brutal act, performed on the innocent children. The religious scriptures seem to be misinterpreted and misrepresented by few of the vested interest and religious fanatics, who need to demonstrate their dominance over the women of their race.

Certain women groups of that culture have come out and protested against this practice which is still prevalent among certain Moslim sects. This is a primitive system which deliberately commits a brutal act against fellow human-being and as such is totally unacceptable in a civilized society.