Female genital mutilation: cultural practice or child abuse?

Abstract

Child abuse and neglect Culture and religion Female genital mutilation is a cultural practice carried out predominantly in countries of southern Africa. The World Health Organization (WHO) (1997) defines female genital mutilation as: ‘all procedures involving the partial or total removal or other injury to the female genital organs whether for cultural or other nontherapeutic purposes’ (Rawlings-Anderson and Cameron 2000). An estimated 130 million women and girls worldwide have undergone some form of female genital mutilation (Hobbs 1999, WHO 1997, cited in Rawlings-Anderson and Cameron 2000). There are three classifications of female genital mutilation: 1. ‘Sunna’ circumcision: this is the removal of the hood or prepuce of the clitoris. 2. ‘Excision’: this is the removal of either part or all of the clitoris and the labia minora. The resulting wound may be stitched together using catgut or thorns. The vaginal opening is not covered by this procedure. 3. ‘Infibulation’: this is the most radical of the three types and is the removal of the entire clitoris and labia minora. Additionally incisions are made in the labia majora to create raw edges, which are then stitched using catgut or thorns, or the legs are bound to together to hold the wound in place while healing occurs. The result is a firm band of tissue covering the usual urethra and vaginal openings, but leaving a small opening for the passage of urine and menstrual blood (RawlingsAnderson and Cameron 2000). There have been numerous anecdotal research studies revealing how female genital mutilation is performed. Usually when the girl is between the age of four and eight years old (Amnesty International 1997), either the grandmother or the mother decides that the operation will be done. The child, however, will generally have little or no idea of what is going to happen to her. The operation takes place in the home, or at a special ceremonial place. The girl is stripped naked and made to sit on a stool or on the floor. Held down by female relatives, a traditional birth attendant, lay person, or the local village practitioner, starts the cutting, using a knife, razor blade, scissors or sometimes even a piece of glass. The girl is given no anaesthesia or antiseptic during the procedure which can last up to 15 minutes (Wright 1996). Sometimes the relatives are invited to place their fingers into the hole created to check that enough tissue has been removed (Hosken 1989). As a woman living in the UK, learning about the details of these procedures filled me with horror and anger, as well as disbelief that anyone could do this to a child. Indeed, it is hard to believe that women who have been circumcised themselves can want the same to be done to their daughters. To understand why this happens it is important to view this practice as a small part of a whole belief system. For women living in these countries female genital mutilation is an initiation rite that all girls must go through to enable them to become an accepted member of adult society, and to allow them to marry. For these girls (the average age of marriage is between 12 and 16 years), marriage and producing children is their societal role. Also, it is through marriage that women can ensure their financial security. The most common reasons given for female genital mutilation are tradition and religion; other reasons are Female genital mutilation: cultural practice or child abuse?