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Autumn Cravener
Aughenbaugh
English 12
07 February 2014
Female Genital Mutilation
100 to 140 million girls and women have suffered female genital mutilation (FGM). No
one knows how many girls die per year due to female genital mutilation. In 1997 alone, 168,000
girls and women in the United States were at risk or had it done. In 2000, 227,887 had it done or
were at risk (Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)). Female genital mutilation should be illegal
because it causes lifelong health problems.
Female genital mutilation is also known as female circumcision. It is the partial or total
removal of the female genitalia. There are four major types of female genital mutilation,
Clitoridectomy, Excision, Infibuletion, and other (Female Genital Mutilation). Clitoridectomy
is the partial or total removal of the clitoris. Excision is the partial or total removal of the clitoris
and labia minora with or without the labia majora. Infibuletion is narrowing of the vaginal
opening through creation of a covering seal. The last category is called other; this includes other
harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes. Female genital mutilation
is a social convention, done without anesthetic. Female elders use scissors, knives, scalpels,
pieces of glass, and razors to remove the clitoris. Iodine or a mixture of herbs is placed on the
wound to tighten the vagina and stop the bleeding after the procedure is done. This procedure is
done anywhere from after birth to labor of the first child. The most common ages of girls
affected are four to ten. This procedure is usually done by an older woman with no medical
background. Female genital mutilation is done mostly during December breaks when they are
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not in school. Female genital mutilation is mostly practiced in western, eastern, and northeastern
parts of Africa, but can be found everywhere in the world.
Female genital mutilation is done as custom and tradition. Parents subject their children
to female genital mutilation and marriage for bride prices. Female genital mutilation is
considered to control womens sexuality and virginity until marriage, is a traditional rite of
passage into adulthood, is more acceptable and increases eligibility for marriage, is considered
feminine, modest, clean, beautiful, gives family honor, and it enhances fertility(Female Genital
Mutilation). Not having the clitoris removed is considered male or unclean.
Female genital mutilation in Indonesia is said to be less extreme than other places. Many
Indonesians view circumcision for boys and girls as a religious duty. They believe that female
genital mutilation purifies genitals and bestows gender identity. They also believe that it steadies
libido. A gift of celebration is given to the girls who get the mutilation done. It is held in spring
in Bandung, Indonesia, where they preform it in old elementary school buildings or in prayer
center. The amount taken off is about the size of a grain of rice. Guarenti, a native of Italy said,
These mothers believe they are doing something good for their children (Corbett).
Female genital mutilation has a lot of long term effects such as chronic infections, severe
pain during urination, actually causes infertility, child birth complications, sexual dysfunction,
psychological damage, cysts and neuromas, tearing of the vagina during child birth, lots of
surgeries later on, and girls can bleed to death(Female Genital Mutilation). No one knows
exactly how many girls die per year due to this procedure, because of instances where they bleed
to death, or the pain itself is just too unbearable.
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Awareness of female genital mutilation is growing around the world. This awareness is
helping to making a decrease in the number of cases of female genital mutilation. Female genital
mutilation is outlawed in fifteen African countries; only fifteen states in the United States have
this procedure banned. In Egypt it is less likely to undergo this procedure, and in Ethiopia 4,000
girls from six districts has been spared (Mohamed).
Female genital mutilation should be banned everywhere, because they cause more
problems than what it is worth. It causes so many health problems down the road like
miscarriages, infections, and death. Awareness is growing and more countries are banning it.











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Works Cited
Corbett, Sara. A Cutting Tradition. New York Times (2008). Web. 17 Jan. 2014.
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Equalitynow.org. Equality now, 2013. Web. 08 Jan. 2014
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Forwarduk.org.uk. Forward uk, 2014. Web. 15 Jan.2014.
Female Genital Mutilation. Who.int who, 2013 web. 16 Jan. 2014.
Mohamed, Faiza Jama. news. Awaken(2010). Rpt. In Equalitynow.org. Equality now, 2014.
Web. 14 Jan. 2014.