by Jennifer Buckett

Created on: April 13, 2010

To the Western world, female genital cutting appears shocking and outright uncivilized. The international humanitarian community has expressed adamant outrage that such a procedure still exists in the modern era. Organizations recite a laundry list of reasons why female genital cutting (FGC) violates human rights and promotes deep-rooted inequality between the sexes. But, few groups acknowledge the immense cultural and societal significance entrenched in the centuries-old procedure that will prevent cultures from ever completely discontinuing FGC. Recognizing this, there is no quick solution that will eradicate female genital cutting. Humanitarian efforts should focus on reshaping cultural values to view less severe forms of FGC as an acceptable substitute to the extreme types currently practiced. This can be done by educating and persuading medical health practitioners and midwives to refuse to perform infibulations and only agree to perform milder forms of FGC.

Female genital cutting is widespread, with three million girls at risk for FGC each year and an estimated one hundred forty million girls living with the consequences of the traditional practice. Young women, ages five to fifteen, are at the greatest risk, but the procedure is occasionally performed on adult women. FGC is most prevalent in African countries but also occurs in Asia, the Middle East, and some immigrant communities in North America and Europe (World Health Organization, 2008). FGC is also known as female circumcision and female genital mutilation, a debatable term because it “implies intentional harm and is tantamount to an accusation of evil intent” (Gruenbaum, 2001). In fact, FGC can be performed with minimal pain and consequence to the individual, if executed correctly.

The World Health Organization classifies FGC into four categories. The first is clitoridectomy, the “partial or total removal of the clitoris…and, rarely, the prepuce (the fold of skin surrounding the clitoris) as well”. Secondly, there is excision, the “partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora”. Thirdly, there is the most extreme form, infibulation, the “narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal…with or without removal of the clitoris”. And finally, there is a category of other, including “all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical

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