Cutting edge

Is it a human rights violation, or is it a matter of culture? Despite the fact that female circumcision dates back centuries, the topic stepping forward as an important ethical debate in the national arena did not happen until recently. Female circumcision can be defined as the removal of a portion, or all of, the external female genitalia, specifically the clitoris. In the Americas, the law deems the procedure illegal. It is viewed as unnecessary, wrong, and cruel, but for many African cultures…

How does the custom of female circumcision in African countries and the culture surrounding it place certain influences on many young females within those countries and in America? All the luggage is packed and everyone is ready for vacation. Days pass. The family is still spilling vague details about the trip. Then, the big day comes around. They board the plane, bus, or train. She is introduced to confusion when they get to their destination but waves it off and she shakes her head…

Female genital cutting is a practice that up to a million young girls in 28 different countries around the world have done each year. Most of the practicing countries are in Africa but there are some in the Middle East and Asia as well. While these operations are sometimes referred to as female genital mutilation, the term mutilation seems to demonize the practitioners. Cutting however still expresses the seriousness without having to disparage the midwifes. There are three main types of female…

circumcise me. When I laid down on the table, the ladies started to hold me back so that I wouldn't move. My aunt was one of the ladies holding me, and she was telling me that it was going to be alright. Then, the next thing I know, I felt the blade cutting my flesh, pain rushed into my thighs as I screamed at my aunt to make them stop, but she kept saying, “It's going to be alright”. Then, it stopped and I had this relief that I can't even describe with words. However, it only last for a few…

The practice of female genital mutilation, where the female genital organs are altered or removed for non-medical reasons, still occurs to this day in some cultures. Female genital mutilation can include removing the clitoris, labia minora and labia majora, infibulation where the opening to the vagina is restricted, and other harmful procedures such as scraping and cauterizing the genital area (Female Genital Mutilation). The procedure is usually performed on girls under the age of 15 and the…

Crime against women is a separate issue of criminal justice studies, because as the men dominate the system. The men realize that the can punish themselves because under the patriarchy ideals; the violence against women is not a crime. The men who run the system tend to sell the idea to society that this violence against the women is a social problem. Therefore the society assume that the women know how this relationship works when agree to be part of this. It is for this reason that the…

genital cutting, and female genital mutilation all describe the same cultural practice, but each has its own connotation. When journalists attempt to inform readers upon this practice, there are personal assumptions and connotations that, if not addressed properly, perpetuate an ethnocentric point of view. In this paper, I compare and analyze two American newspaper articles: the daily Minneapolis/St. Paul Star Tribune’s “Minnesota Somalis see chance to lead fight against female genital cutting”…

the different types of FGM. Second, I plan to focus on why this practice still exists, and the harmful effects. Next, I will look at the rights it violates followed by organizations already in place attempting to stop female genital mutilation and cutting. Finally, I will offer doable solutions and recommendations on what we can do to make a positive change. Where Female…

type. Type 1 is a Ciltoridectomy: the removal of the Clitoris. Type 2 is called Excision: the removal the Clitoris and removal of Labia Minora which also may include the Labia Majora. Type 3 is Infibulation: the narrowing of the vaginal opening by cutting and moving the inner or outer Labia to form a plug which may also include removal of the Clitoris. And lastly, type 4 which is labeled other: this includes anything harmful done to the external female genitalia for…

as the Violence Emergency Response and Protection Initiative , a group that is devoted to giving the survivors of intense trauma aid. Another program is the FGM Working Donors Group, who work together to find the best ways to stop Female Genital Cutting along with using outlets like social media to reach out and inform the youth at risk about the practice to help prevent it and to make survivors feel as if they are not alone (USAID). The USAID, or the United States Agency for International…