Sociology

The term Female Genital Mutilation also referred to as Female Genital Cutting is a procedure that entails removal of either all or part of the female external genitalia for traditional, cultural, religious or any other non-therapeutic reasons.  It is mostly used to describe exclusively, this process when it is performed on minors without their consent.  This procedure is performed throughout the world but it is most widespread in Asia and Africa.  The effects it caused on women degrades there human dignity hence it has called for campaigns against it.

Female Genital Mutilation is not a medical procedure and in any case if performed for therapeutic reasons it will be referred to, in a different term. In a society that uphold Female Genital Mutilation a girl can neither be considered an adult nor get married a virgin, if she does not undergo the procedure hence it is a means of  identity and social control. The type of procedure used also depends with the girls ethnic group, the community set up and her familys social status (Heitman, 2000).

Generally, there are no other forms of physical mutilation other then Female Genital Mutilation which vary in types.  However, it is evident that in some cultures, it is imposed on women the number of children they should have, the gender of the kids and who to inherit her incase of her spouses death.

For more than a decade, many organizations have come up to speak against the Female Genital Mutilation by having programs that are proactive and reactive to the communities that allow the practice (Hosken, 1989).  In areas where the practice is widely spread, it can be reduced by promoting the use of other ethical alternative rites of passage that seem to preserve the symbolic component of Female Genital Mutilation to mark the shift of a girl from child hood to adulthood.  Moreover, campaigns aimed at sensitizing the negative effects of the practice to women should be made through the media as well as physically visiting the affected areas. Also, educational programs should be run in the affected area by allowing those who have suffered the consequence of Female Genital Mutilation to share their experiences with the people and warn them against taking part in the practice.  This will help men and women to know that there are better ways to do things and the need to embrace civilization.

Female genital mutilation is a violation of the human rights.  This is because the female to whom it is performed is either an infant or a girl. Usually, it is done without the girls consent and if consent is given, it is due to lack of maturity and knowledge to make the right judgment.  This means that it was indirectly imposed on her by either the culture or religion.  The girl is also young and vulnerable to the short-term and long-term effect of the cut to her.  It is therefore very important that human being take their stand on prohibiting Female Genital Mutilation and treating those involved as degraders of human dignity.