Introduction
Female Mutilation also known as female circumcision and female genital cutting is a very popular practice in many countries in Africa and also known to be practiced in The Middle East and parts of Asia. Female genital cutting is a very popular practice in the non-western world and because this is relatively unknown in western culture, the thoughts on this practice are generally always negative in response to hearing it. The way it is done and most of the time forced upon these woman and young girls highlights the real reason on why people think so negatively about it. The customs and practices in these cultures are so prominent in their daily lives that this is something that you have to do, even if you do not want it. The male dominance is these countries also puts pressure on women as they usually do not have a say and are looked down upon and seen lesser as a person and not equal to the man. This practice as described by UNICEF “refers to all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.” A western perspective on this practice is generally looked at with moral outrage and responses to this practice, especially in Africa can provide problematic and productive responses. Looking further into the issue, there could be a way to move forward from these generalized responses and establish positive thoughts about this non-western practice. FMG The response in moral outrage to this procedure has helped bring awareness to the practice and shows how unsafe this practice is being done in most of these countries and the negative affects it has on a woman. Walley (1997 p.406) establishes how “The issue strikes numerous nerves, as it challenges fundamental understandings of body, self, sexuality, family, and morality, and as it plays upon tensions relating to cultural difference, the relationship between women and “tradition,” and the legacy of colonial-era depictions of gender relations in non-Western countries.” The choice to have the cutting done is usually decided by the mother in Africa. If a young woman was to marry into a tribe where genital mutilation is practised the mother in law will usually demand that she have it done (Shaughnessy 1998 p.127). Although it is usually the mother, it is also the pressure on culture, tradition and society that makes them want to do it unless they are forceablly made to do it. If you become circumsised there is a celebration of one becoming a woman and a feast is held. The status you have after the circumcision is one of a woman, you can marry and be accepted into society. This accounts for the tremendous pressure that young girls are put under as they do not want to be isolated and looked down upon for not getting circumsised. In many middle eastern countries they have the same ideals. In Abusharafs (2001 p.131) article the author talks to a lady who has 5 children and she describes why cirumcision is important, saying “circumcision protects the girls from getting in trouble and protects them from engaging in sex. Ithink that it is very important for the virginity of women to be protected if they want to get …show more content…
Most of the people that were interviewed said they did not want it in their village and said that it was not an important part of their culture and it was popular elsewhere. The girls who said they had it done were out of curiosity and because their friends were getting it done, this sounding like a fad that many people are guilty of doing in the western world also. These girls were not forced and went voluntarily to get circumsiced, they had little knowledge about what was getting cut and if they knew what they do now they would never of went through with the circumcision. The reason mnay of them wanted the circumcision was because of the celebration you receive after you have been cut, you get to wear beautiful clothes and dance in celebration. This highlights how complex the issue is and how it can not be pigeon holed into one problem and should be looked at seperatley by region, customs, culture and so
Female Mutilation also known as female circumcision and female genital cutting is a very popular practice in many countries in Africa and also known to be practiced in The Middle East and parts of Asia. Female genital cutting is a very popular practice in the non-western world and because this is relatively unknown in western culture, the thoughts on this practice are generally always negative in response to hearing it. The way it is done and most of the time forced upon these woman and young girls highlights the real reason on why people think so negatively about it. The customs and practices in these cultures are so prominent in their daily lives that this is something that you have to do, even if you do not want it. The male dominance is these countries also puts pressure on women as they usually do not have a say and are looked down upon and seen lesser as a person and not equal to the man. This practice as described by UNICEF “refers to all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.” A western perspective on this practice is generally looked at with moral outrage and responses to this practice, especially in Africa can provide problematic and productive responses. Looking further into the issue, there could be a way to move forward from these generalized responses and establish positive thoughts about this non-western practice. FMG The response in moral outrage to this procedure has helped bring awareness to the practice and shows how unsafe this practice is being done in most of these countries and the negative affects it has on a woman. Walley (1997 p.406) establishes how “The issue strikes numerous nerves, as it challenges fundamental understandings of body, self, sexuality, family, and morality, and as it plays upon tensions relating to cultural difference, the relationship between women and “tradition,” and the legacy of colonial-era depictions of gender relations in non-Western countries.” The choice to have the cutting done is usually decided by the mother in Africa. If a young woman was to marry into a tribe where genital mutilation is practised the mother in law will usually demand that she have it done (Shaughnessy 1998 p.127). Although it is usually the mother, it is also the pressure on culture, tradition and society that makes them want to do it unless they are forceablly made to do it. If you become circumsised there is a celebration of one becoming a woman and a feast is held. The status you have after the circumcision is one of a woman, you can marry and be accepted into society. This accounts for the tremendous pressure that young girls are put under as they do not want to be isolated and looked down upon for not getting circumsised. In many middle eastern countries they have the same ideals. In Abusharafs (2001 p.131) article the author talks to a lady who has 5 children and she describes why cirumcision is important, saying “circumcision protects the girls from getting in trouble and protects them from engaging in sex. Ithink that it is very important for the virginity of women to be protected if they want to get …show more content…
Most of the people that were interviewed said they did not want it in their village and said that it was not an important part of their culture and it was popular elsewhere. The girls who said they had it done were out of curiosity and because their friends were getting it done, this sounding like a fad that many people are guilty of doing in the western world also. These girls were not forced and went voluntarily to get circumsiced, they had little knowledge about what was getting cut and if they knew what they do now they would never of went through with the circumcision. The reason mnay of them wanted the circumcision was because of the celebration you receive after you have been cut, you get to wear beautiful clothes and dance in celebration. This highlights how complex the issue is and how it can not be pigeon holed into one problem and should be looked at seperatley by region, customs, culture and so