Female Genital Mutilation Research Paper

Why FGM?

By: Karissa Little

PSYC 223

Female genital mutilation, or also referred to as the female circumcision, is a horrible act of violence on young girls between the ages of infant to fifteen years young. Each of the four types of circumcision includes some type of cutting to the outer female genital area. For what reason though? People from all over the world need to not only know the difference between the four different types of circumcision, but also need to know why people perform this task and the harmful scenarios that come from each of circumcision. However, some may already know about these many different aspects of mutilation on women. There are not as many as Seyta, whom Stephanie got to work with, that are educated

The female genital mutilation can be performed in four different ways. The first way is titled clitoridectomy. When clitoridectomy is performed, the clitoris (which is the small, sensitive part of the skin in the genital area) is either completely removed or partially removed. It very rare cases, however, the prepuce (the skin fold that surrounds the clitoris) may also get cut. The second way of mutilation is referred to as excision. This is where the clitoris is partially or completely removed, as well as the labia minora. The labia majora may or may not get cut in the exercise of mutilation. The labia majora and minora is known as the “lips” that surround the vagina. During the third form of mutilation, which is call infibulation, the vaginal opening is narrowed with the creation of a covering seal. The covering seal is made by the form of cutting and repositioning of both the labia majora and minora. This act of mutilation may also have the clitoris removed. Finally, the fourth form of mutilation is referred to as being “other”. In this form, any other harmful procedures may be acted upon. For instance, a young girl may be pricked, pierced, incised, scraped, and cauterized

They also believe that women will never have a good husband. It is believed by their culture that a young girl whom has not undergone FGM she has not been properly raised or prepared for adulthood or marriage (Female). They also say, “We are brought up to believe that all sorts of evil things will happen to us if we are not circumcised,” (Eclas). The practice of FGM also makes a girl feel “‘clean’ and ‘beautiful’” whenever her body parts have been removed (Female). Due to female genital mutilation being referred to in most cultures as a cultural tradition, it is more often than not continued to do even though it is against the law. The law cannot abide to anyone’s culture tradition. Even though it is a law, or it “bans circumcision unless deemed necessary for a female’s health” the people will continue to practice their tradition “this ruling won’t work here, it won’t be obeyed, it’s an evil