What is FGM?

Female Genital Mutilation is defined as "a violation of the human rights of girls and women. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) compromises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genitalia for non-medical reasons". -World Health Organization

There are 4 types of female genital mutilation. 

Types of FGM

Female Genital Mutilation can be divided into four types.  

Type one includes the partial or total removal of the clitoris and/or the area surrounding the clitoris.

  Type two includes the partial or total removal of the clitoris and the removal of the labia.

Type three includes the narrowing of the vaginal orifice by creating a seal through the cutting and apposition of the labia. This may be done with or without the removal of all or part of the clitoris.

Type four includes all other harmful procedures done to the female genitalia for non-medical reasons such as incision, burning, branding and scraping.

THE RESEARCH PAPER

It is an undeniable truth that more than fifty percent of the female population in the world are in danger of genital mutilation and subsequent severe health risks. Female genital mutilation is real, and it is a present problem that continues to exists even if the western world chooses to ignore it and it’s consequences. The harsh truth remains that until we as an informed and educated society face this problem head on, these horrifying acts will continue. The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) defines female genital mutilation as ”the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genitalia organs for non-medical reasons”. 

          Female genital mutilation can be divided into 4 types. Type one includes the partial or total removal of the clitoris and/or the area surrounding the clitoris. Type two includes the partial or total removal of the clitoris and the removal of the labia. Type three includes the narrowing of the vaginal orifice by creating a seal through the cutting and apposition of the labia. This may be done with or without the removal of all or part of the clitoris. Type four includes all other harmful procedures done to the female genitalia for non-medical reasons such as incision, burning, branding and scraping (IPPF). The mutilation is most commonly done by women within the community with little or no medical training. The procedure is carried out using common tools such as scissors, knives, broken glass, sharp stones and/or razor blades (WHO). These women receive a fee from the young child’s family members, in money or in some form. An estimated 100 to 140 million girls and women around with world are currently living with the consequences of female genital mutilation. Although female genital mutilation is done around the world, the majority of women in danger are in Africa (Religious Tolerance). In Africa alone, an estimated 92 million girls have already undergone female genital mutilation, and annually 3 million girls are at risk (UNICEF). It is important to note that female genital mutilation is a crime against the rights of women and children. In this paper I will discuss the act of female genital mutilation, its origins, justifications and the resolution.

The mutilation is usually carried out on girls from infancy to 15 years of age (WHO). We must realize that once the procedure is complete the horror does not end there. These women experience horrific and tormenting flashbacks daily that interfere with everyday life. Many women living with the consequences of female genital mutilation have reported feelings of anxiety, depression, and frigidity. Many women have also reported martial conflicts that lead to eventual divorce (Religious Tolerance). These women are stripped of all sexual emotions and are left with a wound that never heals, both physically and emotionally. Because the procedure involves so much blood loss and the instruments used are not cleaned the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission is increased. Also, because of the damage caused to sexual organs intercourse can result in lacerations of tissues which also increases the risk of transmission. During the procedure the child or young woman is often in so much pain that she will bite her own tongue off. Because this has happened so many times, the woman performing the procedure often has spices next to her that she can throw onto the child’s tongue when it flops out to force her to retract, and to prevent her from biting it off (Global Alliance). Once the clitoris is removed along with other female genitalia the child’s legs are tied together using ropes of goat skin for 2 weeks. During this time she must remain lying on a mat until the wound heals, and then she must relearn how to walk (Middle-East-Info). In this real life story we are able to grasp the horror the young woman endures.

The child, completely naked, is made to sit on a low stool. Several women take hold of her and open her legs wide. After separating her outer and inner lips, the operator, usually a woman experienced in this procedure, sits down facing the child. With her kitchen knife the operator first pierces and slices open the hood of the clitoris. Then she begins to cut it out. While another woman wipes off the blood with a rag, the operator digs with her sharp fingernail a hole the length of the clitoris to detach and pull out the organ. The little girl, held down by the women helpers, screams in extreme pain; but no one pays the slightest attention.

The operator finishes this job by entirely pulling out the clitoris, cutting it to the bone with her knife. Her helpers again wipe off the spurting blood with a rag. The operator then removes the remaining flesh, digging with her finger to remove any remnant of the clitoris among the flowing blood. The neighbour women are then invited to plunge their fingers into the bloody hole to verify that every piece of the clitoris is removed.This operation is not always well-managed, as the little girl struggles. It often happens that by clumsy use of the knife or a poorly-executed cut the urethra is pierced or the rectum is cut open. If the little girl faints, the women blowpili-pili (spice powder) into her nostrils. But this is not the end. The most important part of the operation begins only now. After a short moment, the woman takes the knife again and cuts off the inner lips (labia minora) of the victim. The helpers again wipe the blood with their rags. Then the operator, with a swift motion of her knife, begins to scrape the skin from the inside of the large lips.

The operator conscientiously scrapes the flesh of the screaming child without the slightest concern for the extreme pain she inflicts. When the wound is large enough, she adds some lengthwise cuts and several more incisions. The neighbor women carefully watch her 'work' and encourage her.

The child now howls even more. Sometimes in a spasm, children bite off their tongues. The women carefully watch to prevent such an accident. When her tongue flops out, they throw spice powder on it, which provokes an instant pulling back. With the abrasion of the skin completed according to the rules, the operator closes the bleeding large lips and fixes them one against the other with long acacia thorns.

At this stage of the operation the child is so exhausted that she stops crying but often has convulsions (Global Alliance).

          The origins of female genital mutilation are uncertain however the earliest reports of it's existence are recorded by Strabo, the Greek geographer in 25 BCE. We also have proof that In ancient Rome, metal rings were passed through the labia of female slaves to prevent them from procreating. The United Kingdom in the 19th century allowed the surgical removal of the clitoris as an accepted technique for the management of epilepsy, mental disorders, nymphomania, lesbianism, sterilization and masturbation (WHO). Today, the procedure is practiced across central Africa, Southern Sahara, parts of the Middle East and India. Some immigrants practice female genital mutilation in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, America and in European nations (IPPF). One of the lessons we can take from this is the idea that this practice is both ancient and barbaric. These rituals were done well before the understanding of modern medicine. Moreover, this was done in a time period when women had little to no rights and were therefore subject to this type of treatment. Knowing what we do now about the brutality and sheer ignorance surrounding this practice we must ask ourselves why this still takes place and more importantly, how can we stop it. Of course we must be sympathetic to other cultural and religious practices but only to the extent that they do not harm and especially not kill women. Both men and women in religions and culture that continue to practice the barbaric tactics need to be informed of the pain they are causing and danger they are putting on their women.

Female genital mutilation is an act of violence against women justified by tradition, religion and culture. However, it only truly serves to support patriarchal dominance and undermines the roles of women. The most common justifications include the preservation of virginity, identification with cultural heritage, a marking of transition from child to womanhood, hygienic purposes, infant survival, increase of sexual pleasure for the male, and religion. It is important to note that none of the holy scriptures of Christianity, Judaism or Islam advocate for female genital mutilation (Womens Health). Parents are aware of the harm female genital mutilation will cause their child, however they feel it is far less damaging than the ostracism and social stigma the child may face within the community if she does not undergo female genital mutilation. In some circumstances the child may have no chance at social acceptance or marriage if she remains uncircumcised (IPPF). Another justification is that girls may only be considered “clean” and “beautiful” after the removal of body parts that are considered to be “male” or “unclean”.  There are a number of shocking superstitions that surround the practice. In Sudan, it is believed that the clitoris will continue to grow to the length of a goose’s neck until it dangles between the legs in rivalry with the penis if it is not mutilated in time. When it comes to sex, it is believed that the clitoris is a poisonous organ which can cause a man to sicken and can be fatal. During delivery it is believed that if the baby’s head comes into contact with the clitoris the baby will be born with excess cranial fluid and the mother’s milk will turn to poison (FGM Network).

Although resolution may seem unrealistic, there are things we can do. What has been done so far is helpful but not nearly enough. Female genital mutilation has been banned by law in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States, as well as multiple countries in Africa. The penalties of breaking this law vary from a minimum of six months to a maximum of life in jail. Some countries include monetary fines within the penalty (Middle-East-Info). Research shows that if practicing communities decide to no longer practice female genital mutilation, the practice itself can be eliminated very rapidly. According to the Women’s Health Organization there are three major steps to eliminate female genital mutilation.

1. Advocacy. This means developing publications and advocacy tools for international, regional and local efforts to end female genital mutilation within a generation.
   
2. Research. We must generate the knowledge about how to prevent, eliminate and care for those who have undergone female genital mutilation.
   
3. Guidance. We need to form better guidance for health care systems. This means training materials/guidelines for health care professionals to help them treat and counsel women living with the consequences of female genital mutilation.
   

Female genital mutilation strips girls and women of equal opportunity and the right to health including sexual and reproductive choice. By denying women and girls equal sexual expression and pleasure it reinforces the subordination of girls and women. Female genital mutilation must be put to a stop today.

THE PROJECT

We hope to project a video, using images and existing videos of women and girls talking about and explaining female genital mutilation. We will also use an audio recording of Alice Walker, who discusses her views on the subject.

The ideal area of projection would be the bowery wall.