Female Circumcision: One Of The Most Barbaric Procedures Still Being Executed
Sure you’d think, different country and different culture. But once you hear about some of the most horrifying traditions that are still being carried out, it’s hard not being judgmental and not condoning these barbaric practices. One of the worst you will ever hear about is female circumcision: the removal of a young woman’s clitoris practiced by some African cultures as an initiation ritual.
Female genital cutting has been widely condemned by our western cultures and with any news report about the topic most of us just shake our heads in horror, trying to understand what could possibly make those people execute such a brutal, horrific abuse.
And of course we also don’t understand how someone like Dr. Fuambai Ahmadu of Sierra Leone, a post doctoral fellow at the University of Chicago, could argue in favor of the ritual. At the American Anthropological Association’s annual meeting.she is one of the pro-FGC, even had her own clitoris cut with fellow members of the Kono ethnic group as an adult. Ahmadu says “western feminist sisters insist on denying us this critical aspect of becoming a woman in accordance with our unique and powerful cultural heritage.” Perhaps I’m just not very “culture sensitive” but how exactly does cutting out your clitoris help you become a woman?
This is one of those things that you wish was just from some horror movie. Unfortunately, it isn’t. You’re right, how can we just ignore this as someone else’ cultural choice?
I agree with Tim E,
While yes, this is another different culture’s idea, its still offensive to women. Its not like body piercing or tatooing, its a severe modification that is removing something that is supposed to be there.
What can we do about it?
Unfortunately I doubt that FGM will be completely abolished anytime soon. Even though I’d like to believe that things will gradually improve, there’s still way too many people who think female genital mutilation is a cultural necessity.
I think that it will always go on, as long as there is a demand for it.
Perhaps it gives women an advantage when it comes to the possiblity of getting married, in the same way that ugly Muslim women agree with head dresses.