Do you know that female genital mutilation is still a common practice in some places in the world? That sounds ridiculous but true. It is on record that more than 200 million girls and women alive today in more than 30 countries worldwide have had their genitals cut and during this process, they have gone through excruciating pains, infections, and shock for those who managed to survive. This practice is most common in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Female genital mutilation is barbaric, it has no medical benefits, it put the girl child at unnecessary risk and pain, it is a global public health concern.
What is Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) encompasses all techniques or procedures in the physical removal in total or partial of the female external genitalia. People who practice this act will try to call it “cutting” however due to the pain and torture it brings on the victims it has been widely designated as mutilation.
The practice is mostly carried out by local traditional health practitioners whose role in the communities includes birth delivery, health care providers and superstitions. FGM is internationally known as a violation of the human right especially of girls and women because they are the ones in this category. It is usually carried out when a girl is at infant age and it is often seen as a violation to person’s human right to health (when the victim eventually contracts disease or infections during the process), integrity ( the feeling of been different from the her peer in the society in terms of sexuality) security and right to life (when the procedure eventually leads to death)
Why Female Genital Mutilation?
There is absolutely no health benefits, we only have severe health risks. It is purely carried out in a bid to control the female sexual desires and appetite. It is believed that the most sensitive part of the female sex organ, the clitoris is responsible for the uncontrollable sexual appetite among the females especially in orgasm hence removal of the clitoris serves as a measure for the control of promiscuity. It is a general belief in Africa that men can have multiple partners but females must not be found with multiple partners hence the part believe of keeping women faithful to a man especially before marriage is what led to the removal of what gives the women the sexual desires which are the clitoris. In most African and Asian cultures, female virginity is a lot of respect and must be preserved until the wedding night. Although this belief is gradually eroding away with most girls already engaging in sexual practice at their teenage years.
Some believe it is a religious duty even though there is no religious obligation to FGM in both Christianity and Islam. I don’t know about the Hindu or Buddhist and other religions in Asia but there is no religious script that prescribes the practice.
Some cultural belief of FGM is just to observe a norm carried out by other communities irrespective of the consequences, while some believe it is a cultural initiation and preparedness into the womanhood.
Let’s take a look at the clitoris
In the female, the clitoris serves in function to the penis of the male reproductive system, except for the absence of urethra which allows for the passage of urine. The clitoris contains thousands of nerve endings that make it an extremely sensitive organ in the female reproductive organ. It has a small protection of erectile muscle which is sensitive to touch simulation and produces the sensation of sexual pleasure. The removal of the clitoris in some are total while some are partial
Female genital mutilation is classified into type 1, 2, 3 and 4
Type 1 is the partial or total removal of the clitoris
Type 2 is the partial or total removal of the clitoris along with the labia minora and majora. This type is often called excision
Type 3 is the act of narrowing the vagina opening by creating seal which is formed by cutting and repositioning the labia majora or labia minora or by stitching it together
Type 4 is the act of using all forms of cutting procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical reasons. Such includes piercing, incising, pricking, cauterizing and so on
Complications due to FGM
There are immediate complications and long-term consequences of FGM
In most cases where there is FGM, there is immediate excruciating pains, excessive bleeding, urinary tract infection as well as the urinary problem, shock and sometimes death. FGM often gives the victim a long-term psychological problem such as depression, low self-esteem, it can lead to painful menstrual problem, sexual problem and the need to undergo surgeries in the future because of seals attributed to the narrowing of the vagina
Sadly in Nigeria, FGM is still a common practice in the southwest and some part of northern Nigeria. Of all the six ethnic groups in Nigeria that practice FGM, Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Fulani, Kanuri and Ijaw, only the Fulani tribe are not known to practice.
FGM is a practice that must be completely discouraged, eradicated and condemned.
Let there be the continuous enlightenment of the general public to speak against this barbaric act and secure a total freedom for the girl child of sexual preference
Thank you for reading
References
World Health Organization Facts sheet
Wikipedia
National Public Radion Incorporation US
Image 1 Source
Image 2 Source
