Author: Daniela Pamias
Artist: Laila Kandil
Editor: Dan Jacobson
Whether it is political or scientific remains unclear, but the fact that it is a disaster is for certain. The most systemic form of torture, yet in some cultures it is still a rite of passage for young girls. Not a single health benefit, yet over 200 million women today have undergone the procedure. A complete violation of women’s, children’s and human rights, yet every 10 seconds at least one woman undergoes Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). A stark representation of the deep-rooted gender inequality and violence against women, with over 80% of cases occurring in Africa. It is not just a women’s issue, it is everyone’s issue and it must be addressed immediately.
What is FGM?
FGM is a practice where the female genital organs, often of young girls, are cut or injured without medical reasoning. There are several types of mutilation, from removal of the clitoris (clitoridectomy) to the suturing of the vulva. It is often done by a traditional practitioner with very limited training using a single shard of glass on multiple women. No anesthesia is available for those undergoing female circumcision and the conditions make it impossible for a sterile environment, putting the woman at risk of various bacterial and viral infections. Despite these circumstances of severe pain, these women are encouraged to be ‘brave’ and hold back their tears so that they don’t bring shame upon their families.
Where does it come from?
FGM is believed to have originated in multiple locations and been spread through the routes of slave trade to western Africa. Initially established to segregate the different social classes, it represented the commitment of families with younger girls to men of a higher socioeconomic background. Today, FGM is primarily practiced as a rite of passage for women into society and to conserve virginity until marriage. In simple terms, it is a measure to control female sexuality and heavily perpetuate the existing inequality between sexes. FGM has been reported in 31 countries – predominantly in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. As the global population continues to increase, if global efforts are not put into place, by 2030, 68 million more girls will be at risk of FGM.
Medical disaster:
First and foremost, there is not a single health benefit, only harm, associated with FGM. Its medical implications cannot go unspoken and persist for the entirety of the victim’s life, causing significant morbidity and mortality. Above all, pain is a major life-changing consequence of this medical malpractice. Pain is a personal experience, which can be influenced by numerous genetic, social and psychological factors. FGM-related pain originates from damage to the vulvar and clitoral area but also from resulting infection and inflammation of cysts. Chronic pain syndrome is commonly reported in victims, who suffer from the sensitisation of pain transmission fibers in the affected area. This causes these fibers to be activated at lower sensory inputs thus, pain persists in the long term. Excessive bleeding and a heightened risk of HIV infection from damaged vaginal endothelium are a few others to add to the long list of immediate health consequences, which in extreme cases, also ends in death.
The increase in obstetric complications during childbirth as a result of FGM is extremely problematic in a society where reproduction plays such an important role in determining the value given to a female. Women who have undergone FGM are twice as likely to experience birth-related difficulties. The narrowing of the vaginal opening from FGM means childbirth is difficult without an episiotomy (a surgical procedure to widen the vaginal opening by cutting the area between the anus and the vagina). Some mothers even experience perineal tears without intervention from the healthcare provider to allow for the labor.
Furthermore, it goes without saying that this traumatic experience leads to multiple psychological problems which severely impact the women’s well-being, namely, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This mental health condition comes from experiencing or witnessing the mutilation and is characterized by symptoms of intrusive thoughts, hyperarousal and flashbacks. Victims who underwent the procedure during childhood or adolescence also reveal impaired sexual development due to the plastic nature of their nervous system at the time of the event.
With so much emphasis given to health in the modern day, why is this practice still tolerated?
Political disaster:
The continuation of FGM in the modern day is a complex issue tied to many political factors. This procedure perpetuates patriarchal societies and impedes the progression towards equality. Mutilation is culturally believed to improve hygiene, on the basis that female genital organs are ‘unclean’, and increase male sexual pleasure, making it a condition of marriage of girls in certain regions. This practice is thought to preserve ‘cultural identity’, with victims and their families threatened with exclusion from society if they are not mutilated. Notice not a single one of these beliefs benefit the woman whatsoever, and all demonstrate the deep-rooted desire of improving male satisfaction at the expense of basic women’s rights. It is this deep systemic sexism which drives the dehumanizing belief into practice, and widespread awareness, education and discussion are vital to put an end to it.
Above all, lack of education is a key factor fueling the alarming cultural acceptance of this tradition. In areas without the privilege to quality education, the lack of awareness of the medical impacts prevents the movement into a new cultural norm. Despite its recognition as a clear abuse of human rights, this issue is deeply ingrained on a cultural level and therefore intervention is needed from within the communities affected. Although mutilation is considered a Class E felony in the U.S., the regarded cultural significance of this practice poses a barrier against the political drive to enforce a law against it, so the issue remains unchallenged.
FGM is much more than a political and scientific disaster. It reflects the underlying sexism and subordination of females to a point where their basic rights have been completely violated. In a generation moving towards gender equality, it remains an indisputable priority to educate and empower women to break the chain. Emphasis must be redirected to allow women to change their attitudes around the practice and place them in a position where they can make choices about their own bodies and futures. This cycle can only be broken once they have the power and support to address the root causes, namely gender-based violence, poverty and discrimination.
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