Genital Mutilation In African Countries and What We Should Do About It
Genital cutting or mutilation is a topic that I am very split on because at the heart of it, is the idea that we can push our customs onto people across international borders that have been using the practice for a while. While some places have been doing it recently as opposed to other places which have been doing it for a while as a custom, I still think it is a tough topic to undertake. Let me make this straight though, while I think the practice is disgusting and terrible, it is the role we as an international community should take that concerns me.
If I was ruler of the world and didn’t have to worry about geo political problems I would ban the practice all together, but then again someone else who might be in that position might think male circumcision, which is a popular practice for just cleanliness reasons, might think that is inhumane. One of my majors is Asian Studies with a focus on Japan, which is often attacked for their annual dolphin harvest in a few small villages near one of the coasts. As a practice, I believe that it is completely wrong and that animals like dolphins which have a level of sentience far greater than say a hamster, should have some form of right. However on the other side, it is a practice they have been doing for years and who are we to impose our values on their cultural past.
There is a line that can be crossed, but I don’t know the answer of where it is. To answer the question, I think in my personal opinion I would say that most cases should be outlawed while maybe a few exceptions could possibly be made if they can prove it vital to cutural integrity, but that point of view comes from a product of 23 years of free thought in this country where such a practice would be barbaric.
I completely believe that the practice should be called genital mutilation rather than genital cutting as it should be paired with a name that is equally terrible to what goes on. It not only affects the quality of life of those who undergo the practice, but it also makes the ease of bodily functions like urination troublesome. I mentioned circumcision before and female genital mutilation is worlds apart as it offers little (if you consider the desired result as a beneficial) to no benefit to those who undergo the practice. Lie states before if I was the ruler of the world and didn’t have to worry about political issues I would outlaw it completely.
I think genital mutilation is not only a breach of human right, but a breach of trust in the female population of the countries that partake in the practice. If we look past the destruction and mutilation of their genitals and the way they were meant to be used, the practice still shows that those who spearhead the use of such extreme measures are trying to control the female population. As much of the time only the clitoris is removed, it shows the enjoyment of sex or the freedom to do with their own body what they want is not allowed, which I believe to be a human rights issue. If given the choice I believe that most women subjected to the practice as children would not want their own children to be subject as well and the lasting effects of such a practice will scar them for life.
Circumcision is the same. Genital mutilation, yet people are so lost they can't see it.
It's not "the same." Female genital mutilation is objectively far more harmful.
I am shocked to see that people actually believe that cutting body parts off a girl is worse than it is for a boy. You would not believe how many babies die in the US every year from their lungs exploding during circumcision and I am not claiming that it's worse or better, because amputating either child is a barbaric practice.
Most def not the same - female genital mutilation is designed to remove a woman's ability to experience pleasure during sex!
Yeah sorry, it's not exactly the same in what is done, and it's not the same in all female "cutting" or mutilations cases either. Sometimes it's the skin that covers, just like in a man, and in a man it also removes pleasure from sex due to lack of sensation. It's not to the same degree again. So sorry for not being precise enough with my words. Genital mutilation is being masqueraded through social and cultural conventions everywhere, and in some places it is indeed worse as is the case with this post.
People are created equal, cultures are not. If a culture is mal-formed, usually by religious craziness, then it's time for the more evolved societies to force a little enlightenment upon them!
Let's call a spade a spade. It is grievous bodily harm, GBH. There is no justification for female 'circumcision' - though I would suggest that to call it that is to call a spade a salt spoon. I do not care how long anyone has been perpetrating such disgusting practice. They can stop right now or anyone with a moral compass should line up to counter this outrage.
There are certain social and cultural constructs which are the domain of that culture but the mutilation of children requires the full treatment it deserves from all human kind.
We could begin by not doing it in our own country.
Mutilation of a child that cannot say no is horrific abuse. These are sick mechanisms for control and dominance. The word 'culture' does not whitewash people's responsibility for their actions.
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My ex was from Ethiopia and had this done to her. She had no apparent psychological damage from it but any kind of mutilation is disgusting. As a circumcised male I understand why naive people do these kinds of things. When everyone around you tells you it is normal it is hard to go against it.