Female and Male Genital Mutilation

Paper Summary:

This paper puts forward the argument that female genital mutilation is no more a human rights violation than male circumcision, and therefore, both should be abolished. It discusses how, although genital mutilations are usually referred to as a cultural practice, there is increasing evidence that this innocent and benign label actually evades, dismisses, and covers up the horrific effects these mutilations have upon a child's psyche and soma and, moreover, present a very real danger to the child's health. It shows how people or cultures that engage in such practices view them as an essential right of passage and, often, an important requirement for a marriage partner, while those who do not practice genital circumcision view the practice with disbelief, horrified that any human would willingly permit such a thing to be performed on his or her child. It also looks at the origins of some these religious practices.

From the Paper:

"According to James DeMeo in his article "The Geography of Genital Mutilations," the time frame and location of origins of female genital mutilations are most likely identical to that of male genital mutilations, "given their similar distributions, similar cross-cultural aspects, and similar psychological motifs," the use of each of which being "mandated and widely expanded by groups where dominance of the sexual live of children by adults, and females by males, was most extreme." With the decline of the harem system during the last 100 years, the use of eunuchs has died out, however, female infibulations and other forms female genital mutilations remain part of the certain cultures "in accordance with the arranged marriage system and other vestiges of a powerful and hysterical virginity taboo." "

More papers on Female and Male Genital Mutilation:

• Analytical Essay # 148359 : "Female Genital Mutilation: A Sociological Perspective"
• Term Paper # 138423 : "Female Genital Mutilation"
• Essay # 67609 : "Circumcision"

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