Revolution Against Tradition

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses female genital mutilation (FGM), its various forms, theories on its origins, and its effects on the women and the female children of Africa.

From the Paper:

"Traditions carry the intrinsic characteristics of a civilization. They are fundamental in nation-building, for they are uniting symbols of members of the same culture. Some traditions, however, are either barbaric or senseless, or both. A perfect example of such a tradition is female genital mutilation (FGM). Mackie (1998) defines FGM as a "painful and dangerous practice whereby part or all of the female child's external genitalia are cut away". Traditionalists justify this practice for the benefits it supposedly gives the patient, and for Muslims, FGM is believed to be a religious obligation. This custom has been practiced for thousands of years, and is still being practiced, in different parts of the world. Although FGM has been part of many African communities' tradition for generations, it is irrelevant and medically harmful, as well as a cheap form of sexism in the guise of religious obligation. Despite campaigns against this inhuman practice, it continues to exist where people refuse to renounce this part of their beliefs. Some success is attributed to these efforts, but an effective method is yet to be thought of and done in order to eradicate this cruel rite."

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