Hi Benjamin, Thank you for your response. I absolutely agree that female circumcision is cruel, causes distress, and is extremely dangerous. As you noted, it partly meets the criteria of the 4 D's. However, female circumcision is integrated into their cultural beliefs and practices. Although it's distressful and dangerous, how do we determine whether or not the the behavior is normal or abnormal from a cultural perspective?…
Circumcision has been around for hundreds of thousands of years. Many religions command their followers be circumcised while others practice the ancient tradition for the presumed health benefits. However, more and more parents opt out of for various reasons such as the health benefits are not proven and the process of circumcision is counter intuitive to the partners rule of not hurting their child. Parents are allowed to choose if their baby gets circumcised, but if their reasonings are such listed earlier, they are misguided and are incorrect. When someone is questioned if their circumcision was painful, they would say they don't remember the experience.…
In Dominic Thomas’ book, Black France: Colonialism, Immigration, and Transnationalism, in chapter five, “Afro-Parisianism and African Feminisms,” he explores the position of French Africans and French African women through the context of female circumcision as it relates to feminism and culture. Thomas notes the different ways in which women of African origin living in France find themselves victim to both African and European modes of oppression and suggests that these women tend to benefit less from French feminism. Thomas utilizes the voices of various Afro-French authors through their works relating to these topics by analyzing their works, allowing the agency of women that are impacted by these practices to frame the debate about the topics. This essay intends to follow how Thomas explores female circumcision and feminism, and how the debate around the topic of criticism is framed in terms of “French universal values” vs. “traditional African culture”. Thomas opposes female circumcision, but notes that its opposition in France often takes the form of a condescending Eurocentric attitude.…
In these next few paragraphs, I will expose the problems with cultural relativism; namely, through the use of the law of non-contradiction. Cultural relativism is an ethical theory that states “correct moral standards are relative to cultures or societies …” (Shafer-Landau 293). For example, the Inuit people believed that infanticide was morally acceptable. In contrast, most of the world believes that infanticide is highly immoral and never acceptable.…
Cultural relativism is the thesis that there is no universal truth within ethics. This can also be explained that one’s culture determines what they see as right or wrong, acceptable or unacceptable, or even normal or not normal. For example, most are aware that many cultures view eating insects as a delicacy. However, in the United States culture, this seems odd and the majority of the population would not be okay with practicing this. In this example, neither culture can look at the other and deem the other as right or wrong.…
For instance, circumcision is an eminent procedure used to alter the genitalia of newborns. In North America, the practice of female circumcision has diminished, but the…
For instance, circumcision is an eminent procedure used to alter the genitalia of newborns. In North America, the practice of female circumcision has diminished, but…
Therefore, routine infant circumcision robs an infant of his potential sexual function and capabilities, which is unethical due to the fact that he has a right to bodily…
As time and society progressed, circumcision proponents provided more medically relevant reasons for this unnecessary…
Because of its many upsides, male circumcision should be performed among all males at birth, but that is not the case. Despite its outstanding statics, many stubbornly refuse to have the procedure completed. Because of denial from the simple procedure,…
There seem to be three types of female circumcision. The first one is where the women will have their clitoris is shaved or cut off. This practiced is used in middle east countries and in Africa. The second type is called clitoridectomy. And this is when the women’s clitoris and labia is removed.…
The article, “Hands Off Clitoridectomy” by Yael Tamir, discusses the controversial topic of clitoridectomy, and all the arguments within the subject while opening up a new way of perceiving it by comparing it to our own society and practices. She suggest that indeed the practice of clioridectomy is a gruesome and gutwrenching, but there is more to the subject than just the moral issues of it. She address the political and social aspects of performing and living with the procedure and addresses them with passive but firm arguments. Her main point of the article is that our society needs to stop judging and creating prejudices aimed at other cultures or societies when in fact we could be bettering our own society rather than critiquing others.…
Linking Detrimental Traditions to The Lottery Influential, award-winning author Shirley Jackson depicts a dystopian society in her world-renowned short story “The Lottery”. Jackson irrefutably illustrates how society can follow antiquated traditions to their detriment; consequently, empowering readers to form cogent connections to equivalently destructive traditions. Calamitous practices are present in multifarious countries in contemporary society: the tradition of female genital mutilation, child brides, and the stoning of women for adultery connect with the issues within the text. A multitude of communities around the world practice a procedure constructed to demolish sexual pleasure: female genital mutilation.…
are considered disposable and are thrown out if they do not meet the standards of the people buying them (Slavery Today). Female circumcision (also known as female genital mutilation) is a brutal act of altering a females reproductive organs. This practice is most common in Europe, Africa, and Asia. It is performed for cultural reasons and has no health benefits. The people who perform these procedures are the same people who help with child birth and other things like that.…
“Female circumcision in several cases has led to severe urinary tract infections, large cysts, hemorrhages, high-risk pregnancies, tetanus, and even death (K. Khaja et al., 668)”. While death is the most extreme outcome, it is still the largest overall risk. FGM reflects severe gender discrimination, divides the women from the men, and puts men on a podium. Women and men should be treated equally and be respected in the same way. Men should not be in control of a women’s body and women should not have to subject themselves to men in order to be wanted.…