Thursday, January 31, 2013

Response to "Female Genital Cutting (mutilation)" Post

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I appreciate your efforts to be neutral on this topic from the understanding of your Western bias. However I feel as though certain things are right and wrong in this world and female genital mutilation is one.

We reviewed this extensively in my Human Sexuality class just a few weeks ago. The complications, risks, and pain that come with this practice are numerous and unimaginable. It has no relation to male circumcision which brings only momentary pain to the young boys. It is also important to look at why this practice is being done. While circumcision of males is a traditional practice and usually for health maintenance, female genital mutilation is done to remove any pleasure a woman may receive from sexual intercourse. It is a procedure put in place to police women's sexual expression and in turn their power. 

If we look at topics previously reviewed in this class we see that "Empowerment of Women" is on the short list of the UN's focus. Female genital mutilation is one of the most tragic and obvious tools various cultures have used to take a away power from women. The article discusses respecting and upholding the culture and autonomy of women by not pushing our foreign beliefs on their culture. I would have to argue these women have no autonomy in the first place, which is the core problem. The very act of FGM is the symbolic removal of all independence and power a woman contains. 

I respect your understanding of culture and attempting not impose your beliefs on another culture, however I urge you and everyone to look at this not simply as a cultural issue. It is in fact a political and human issue, which are fundamentally indivisible. Containing the act of female genital mutilation into the small box of a cultural issue gives the public license to ignore and separate themselves from these tragic acts. Placing FGM in the realm of health and human rights issues draws the public to necessity of intervention and allows for progress to be had.

Thank you for taking the time to post this on this issue, and I urge others to share their opinions as  this is an important topic!

1 comment:

  1. A very thorough, well-structured, and well-thought out argument. Thank you for posting!

    ReplyDelete