Cutting edge

Clitoridectomy is partial or total removal of the clitoris. Excision consists of removing the clitoris wholly or partially possibly including the removal of the labia minora. Infibulation is cutting the inner or outer labia and repositioning it (sometimes including the removal of the cloritis) to make the vaginal opening narrower. Other consists of all other ways that female circumcision can be performed. It is usually done when girls are between…

individual reflections, or physical examples like getting a tattoo or cutting hair. Some cultures in particular, may have more drastic measures of initiation. For example, circumcision is a surgical procedure in which the child is transformed into an adult. An initiation ritual that has stirred up quite the controversy is female genital cutting, as it is not a traditional ritual that most people follow. Female genital cutting is a surgical process that cuts or adjusts certain parts of female…

Anthropologist Franz Boas is well-known for promoting the concept of cultural relativism. Meaning, practices, beliefs, and ideas within a certain culture make sense within that culture. As an outsider, certain beliefs or practices of cultures that are different from our own can easily be misunderstood or interpreted incorrectly. Although cultural relativism promotes the idea of respecting and understanding the beliefs and practices of different cultures, when does a certain practice/belief…

The most common form of female genital cutting is the excision of the clitoris and the labia minora, which is 80% of the procedures around the world. Infibulation is a more extreme version of female circumcision and accounts for 15% of the procedures around the world. The other 5% is other random…

It is one of the vilest proscriptions against women: the unlawful killings of at least 20,000 women a year in the name of honor. Contrary to popular beliefs, this taboo is not only confined to Middle Eastern countries. Nevertheless, Middle Eastern countries have set a precedent which has caused a contagion effect that is spreading rapidly to other countries. The murders of these women being buried alive, beheaded, stoned to death, etc. all for the honor of their families, are appalling.…

freedom and puts fear to many. It is universally known as a breach of human rights of girls and women. FGM is rooted in culture, some believe it is done for religious reasons, however, there is no evidence in religious texts. FGM involves the cutting of a female’s external genitals (World Health Organization [WHO], 2016). FGM can be classified into four types. It is a common poor practice that provides no known health benefits. FGM is practiced in communities around the world and its usage…

Female genital cutting has been prevalent in a number of societies for hundreds of years, but has become more discussed and critiqued in recent years. Once thought to be a barbaric ritual practiced by imbeciles, Western researchers have noticed a substantial increase in similar practices in their own cultures. FGC is an issue that has a number of different focuses and evokes passionate feelings from proponents of the cutting and outsiders who abhor it. Traditionally, FGC was used as a cultural…

In the article by Richard A. Shweder, “Female Genital Mutilation”? And Why Understanding Culture Matters in the First Place”, the author emphasis female circumcision and the relationship to culture (Shweder, pg.1). The author is focusing on female circumcision however it can also be related as female genital mutilation (FGM) in other cultures. (Shweder, pg.1) Throughout this article, the author specifically focuses on the thought of the cultures which practice female circumcision (Shweder,…

Female Genital Mutilation, also known as Female Circumcision, happens to be one of the least topics talked about in the United States of America but extremely popular in other countries. Female Genital Mutilation is cruel and unlawful to some but to others it’s the best thing ever. Female Genital Mutilation is an invasive and painful surgical procedure that is often performed without anesthetic on girls before puberty. Various sources estimate that about 60 to 140 million women in the world have…

Introduction Female Mutilation also known as female circumcision and female genital cutting is a very popular practice in many countries in Africa and also known to be practiced in The Middle East and parts of Asia. Female genital cutting is a very popular practice in the non-western world and because this is relatively unknown in western culture, the thoughts on this practice are generally always negative in response to hearing it. The way it is done and most of the time forced upon these…