Arrogance Examined – Female Genital Mutilation

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Not so long ago, a Sierra Leonian male associate made a post about Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), asking what importance should be placed on culture as opposed to the rights of women and, as a consequence, which should take precedence when making laws. The post garnered a lively discussion in the comments section, championing both options. Most of the comments that supported the belief that culture should take precedence came from men citing the necessity of FGM to maintaining traditional values and save the country from moral decay. Knowing only what I had seen on television of screaming little girls being dragged in a hut and held down to have their labia and clitoris removed, often by an unfit practitioner using an unsanitized razor, knife, or broken glass, I was horrified. My response to the post reeked of disapproval, citing the inhumaneness and illegality of the act. My western sounding name did not help my cause as I was made to feel arrogant talking about an issue that I had little information about.

I had spoken merely out of what I had seen on television, with not enough facts to give credence to my opinion. My opinion was rubbished, and I was urged to re-examine my Western biases. During quarantine, with more time on my hands, I used the opportunity to do numerous certificate courses, one of which was Female Genital Mutilation Awareness. So what really is FGM? UNICEF refers to female genital mutilation as all procedures involving partial or total removal of the female genitalia or other injuries to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. It is usually carried out between infancy and the age of 15, most commonly before puberty starts.

Four types of FGM are identified by UNICEF;

(1) Clitoridectomy (Type 1) – Partial or total removal of the clitoris and surrounding skin.
(2) Excision (Type 2) – Partial or total excision of the clitoris and the inner skin folds Surrounding the vagina, with or without the removal of the labia majora (the outer lips).
(3) Infibulation (Type 3) – The cutting and repositioning of the labia. The vaginal opening
is narrowed through sewing, leaving only a small gap to pass menstrual fluid and urine.
(4) (Type 4) – All other harmful procedures like pricking, piercing, burning, and incising.

In an excerpt taken from bbc.com/news/world, renowned anti-FGM campaigner, Bishara, tells of her experience along with four other girls in Kenya: “I was blindfolded. Then she [the cutter] tied my hands behind my back. My legs were spread open and then they pinned down my labia. Then after a few minutes, I felt a sharp pain. I screamed, I yelled, but no one could hear me. I tried to kick myself free, but a vice-like grip held my leg. It was pathetic. It’s one of the most severe types of medical procedures, and so unhygienic. They used the same cutting tool on all of us girls. The only pain relief available was a traditional remedy: There was a hole in the ground, and they kept herbs in the hole. Then they tied my legs like a goat and rubbed the herbs on me. Then they said ‘next girl, next girl,’ and they took another girl…”

Despite its inhumaneness, FGM is still legal in some countries, although most countries have passed legislation to protect the genitalia of girls. I had accused the men on the post of promoting an illegal act, which is not the case in Sierra Leone. FGM is legal in Sierra Leone and statistics taken from UNICEF show that some 90% of women and girls in the country undergo female genital mutilation. However, in countries where FGM has been outlawed, the penalties for practicing FGM range from monetary fines to a minimum of three months to life
in prison. It must be noted that with legislation in place in some countries, a new problem arises in cross-border FGM, where girls are taken from countries where FGM is illegal to others where girls are offered no protection under the law against these practices.

There is no medical reason for this to be done. FGM is practiced solely for cultural, religious, and social reasons. It is seen as a rite of passage that prepares girls for marriage and motherhood. In some countries, FGM makes a girl socially acceptable and makes her more qualified for marriage. With the difficulty of having sexual intercourse after FGM, it is the belief that a girl is more likely to maintain her virginity until marriage, therefore, ensuring more pleasure for her husband. As identified by the World Health Organization, the effects of FGM are detrimental to the female’s body and mental health. Women are plagued by irregular periods, bladder problems, and recurrent infections. Women have lost their lives as a result during child’s birth as they are only able to give birth via Caesarean section. Emotional difficulties are also experienced through depression, anxiety, nightmares, and other sleep problems. Some girls perish from blood loss or infection as a direct result of the procedure. Though not confined to, FGM is mostly prevalent in parts of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. In countries where FGM has been outlawed, it is regarded as a form of child abuse.

For more information about FGM, visit www.unicef.org