Post#6 Female Genital Mutilation

Today I read about female genital mutilation also known as female genital cutting (FGC), and I found myself cringing in my seat at the thought of the pain, and the torture. It is such disrespect and a violation of human rights, more specifically women and child rights.

To begin, there are four types of female circumcision. One of them being clitoridectomy which is partial or total removal of the clitoris and sometimes (this is rare) the removal of the fold of skin that surround ts the clitoris, this is known as the prepuce. Another type of circumcision is known as excision which is partial or total removal of the clitoris as well as the labia minora. As well there may be excision of the labia majora, which are the “lips” that surround the vagina. Another type of circumcision is called infibulations, which is narrowing the opening of the vagina through creating a covering seal. This seal is made by cutting and repositioning the inner or outer labia, where the clitoris may or may not be removed. Lastly there is also circumcision just known as “others” which involved pricking, piercing, scraping and pricking the genital area for non medical purposes.

This is most common in eastern, north-eastern and western regions of Africa as well Asian some countries in the Middle East and in Asia. This is also practiced by a few immigrant communities in North America as well as in Europe.

This article does not say that female genital mutilation is done on the onset of puberty but does state that it can take place from infancy to the age of 15. This is not to say that adult woman do not have this done to them also. Occasionally adult woman are also forced to undergo female genital mutilation.

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/