* What is female circumcision?
Female circumcision refers to a range of procedures performed on the genitals of females of all different ages, though mainly on teenage girls aged from 4 to 12 years old before they go through puberty. It basically consists of the partially or totally removal of female external genitals.
According to Alison in her article “Female Circumcision: A Critical Appraisal”, published in 1988, this practice can be classified into 4 types of circumcision (Slack, 1988). Type I is called “Sunna,” which includes the excision of clitoral prepuce, which is the outer layer of skin over the clitoris, also called “clitorishood”; however, the gland and body of the clitoris still remain intact. This procedure causes bleeding but actually is the least humiliating form of female circumcision. To prevent bleeding, saturation and packing around the wound would help. Type II, clidoridectomy, in which the gland of the clitoris or usually the …show more content…
It may leave them the feeling of frightening for the pain they have to handle throughout the procedure and later on (Utz-Billing & Kentenich, 2008). Sexual productive system of anyone is considered personally and belonging to the person only; now when part of it is taken away, feeling of emptiness and inferiority comes along. Circumcised women may be put in a depression state with lack of confidence in themselves. From the survey of 47 women indicated in “Injury, physical and mental harm”, 90% cases described female circumcision as painful, threatening, horrific event in which they feel powerless.
In regard of human rights, female genital mutilation is not acceptable because it “refuses the right of women from bodily harm” (Utz-Blling & Kentenich, 2008). Even female genital mutilation can be given more and more supporting reasons for itself; there is the fact that cannot be denied, which is that female circumcision tortures woman, as mentioned above, both physically and mentally. * Interview/ Personal …show more content…
Sharon heard about it before; she knew of it as a practice used on women and common among tribe fighting (S. Stark, personal communication, September 16, 2010). It was ambiguous for her what they exactly did to female but something that devalues women. In particular, she said “A tribe would apply “female circumcision” to a woman of another tribe that they are fighting with”. Even not understanding it completely, she still thinks that it is not right; women are fragile and hurting them is the weakest behavior that people can do. After listening to explanation of what female circumcision actually does, her reaction against it became even stronger. She said she could not believe that they would do such cruel procedure to their own people. Listening to all the reasons given for the practice of female genital mutilation, none of those are valid according to Sharon. Religion heightening the value and importance of virginity is absolutely appropriate but it is not necessary that women should be tortured or threaten in order to keep their virginity. What should have been done is to help them understand the significance of virginity; after that it is their life and they have the choice to do whatever they want. Having the understanding that it is a part of their culture and tradition, there is also right and wrong existed for her. Even if the custom has