Female Genital Mutilation in Africa :: Genitals Reproduction Culture Essays

Fe male Genital Mutilation in Africaital Mutilation in Sudan In the country of Sudan, in Northern Africa, there is a procedure that is tradition and is per appointed on well-nigh women called female genital mutilation, or FGM, which used to be cognise as female circumcision. It has been a normal practice for generations, but is now the playing argona for international controversy on the morality and safety of this procedure. It is now known that 82 percent of Sudanese womanhave an extreme form of genital mutilation do on them, normally at a immature age. This form of mutilation is called the Pharaonic form and includes the total removal of the clitoris and labia, and sew together of the vulva, leaving only a small hole for micturition and menstrual cycle. This is normally through with(p) without any type of anaesthetic or professional medical care. There is also a more harbour form of mutilation, called Sunni, where only the covering of the clitoris is removed. This practi ce started and became tradition in foreign countries in order to ensure that women practice chaste behavior, and to stamp out female sexuality. It has also been attributed to religious beliefs of monogamy although most religions do non support this type of practice. In todays society it has become more of a traditional and social norm, and has less to do with religious beliefs. This problem is non only in Sudan it is practiced in the majority of the continent of Africa as well as other countries. In other cultures, such as Australian aborigines, genital mutilation is a part of the rite of passage into maturation, and is done on both men and women (Bodley, p. 58). FGM has often been referred to as female circumcision and compared to male circumcision. However, such comparison is often misleading. Both practices include the removal of well- mathematical operation parts of the genitalia and are quite unnecessary. However, FGM is far more forcefuland damaging than male circumcision because it is extremely dangerous and painful. It is believed that two thirds of these procedures are done by untrained birth attendants, who have little knowledge of health. They are often unconcerned with hygiene, and many use instruments that are not cleaned or disinfected properly. Instruments such as razor blades, scissors, kitchen knives, and pieces of glass are commonly used. These instruments are frequently used on several girls in succession and are rarely cleaned, causing the transmission of a variety of viruses such as the HIV virus, and other infections.