Female Genital Mutilation

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how female genital mutilation, or female circumcision, is a cultural practice, not a religious practice and how in many cultures, female genital mutilation serves as an initiation rite. It looks at the different kinds of circumcisions in different cultures and contends that no ethical defense can be made for preserving a cultural practice that damages women's health and interferes with their sexuality.

From the Paper:

"Infibulation, also known as pharaonic circumcision, is the most severe form of female genital mutilation. It consists of a clitoridectomy and the excision of the labia minora as well as the inner layers of the labia majora. The raw edges are then sewn together with catguts or made to adhere to each other by means of thorns. The suturing together is done so that the remaining skin of the labia majora will heal together and form a bridge of scar tissue over the vaginal opening. A small piece of wood or straw is inserted into the vagina to prevent a complete occlusion, and to leave a passage for urine and menstrual flow (Lightfoot-Klein, 1989). "

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