The Issue of Female Circumcision from a Medical Anthropology Perspective

890 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Debate on female circumcision

It is estimated that about 100 million women are circumcised (Toubia 1994,712). Female Circumcision or Female Genital Cutting or Female Genital Mutilation as it is also known is a very important issue that deserves much attention and understanding. Female Circumcision is closely related to women’s sexuality and reproductive role, which is why it has strong cultural significance to those that have the procedure done (Toubia 1994,712). The practice is done in a variety of cultural and ethnic groups (Toubia 1994,712). In order for change to occur, the practice must be understood from the culture it happens in. Once the problem is understood from that perspective, then the most appropriate and effective solutions can be suggested.
The age at which a circumcision is preformed on a female varies. Female Circumcisions are normally preformed on girls between the ages of 4 and 10 years of age (Toubia 1994, 712). It is also not uncommon to find female circumcisions preformed on other types of girls and women. This procedure can also be performed on babies, females that are about to be married or after a female has given birth for the first time (Toubia 1994, 712).
There are a variety of ways in which the procedure can be performed. One way is to have a clitoridectomy, which is defined as partial or total removal of the clitoris (Shell Duncan 2001, 1015) . Another way the procedure can be done is by removing completely or partially the clitoris along with the inner labia (Shell Duncan 2001, 1015). The last way the procedure can happen is when all outside genital parts are removed only to leave a small opening for fluids such as urine and menstrual blood to pass through (Shell Duncan 2001, 1015). That type is called an infibulation (Shell...

... middle of paper ...

... parts that is removed from the female genital area (Gruenbaum 2005, 431). There are solutions that range from performing a less painful procedure to empowering the women in hopes of changing the culture (Shell Duncan 2001, 1015) (Gruenbaum 2005, 431).

Bibliography
Duncan-Shell, Bettina. 2001. “The Medicalization of Female “Circumcision”: Harm Reduction or Promotion of a Dangerous Practice?” Social Science & Medicine 52:1013-1028.
Gordon,Daniel. 1991. “Female Circumcision and Genital Operations in Egypt and the Sudan: A Dilemme for Medical Anthropology” Medical Anthropology Quarterly 5: 3-14.
Gruenbaum,Ellen. 2005. “Socio-cultural Dynamics of Female Genital Cutting: Research Findings, Gaps, and Directions” Culture, Health and Sexuality 7:429-441.
Toubia,Naeid. 1994. “Female Circumcision as a Public Health Issue” The New England Journal of Medicine Sept:712-716.

Show More
Related

  • Female Circumcision: Rite Of Passage Or Violation Of

    1501 Words  | 4 Pages

    In Althaus’ article, she provides in-depth information about female circumcision; a highly controversial cultural ritual that is practiced in at least 28 countries

    Read More

  • Analyzing Edgerton's Argument

    1094 Words  | 3 Pages

    Female genital mutilation is mostly practiced in Islamic and African cultures, claiming young girls as t...

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of Circumcision

    760 Words  | 2 Pages

    Descriptions of ritual circumcision span across cultures, and have been described in ancient Egyptian texts as well as the Old Testament. With this being said, “The American Academy of Pediatrics believes that circumcision has potential medical benefits and advantages, as well as risks. Evaluation of current evidence indicates that the health benefits of newborn male circumcision outweigh the risks and that the procedure's benefits justify access to this procedure for families who choose it, however, existing scientific evidence is not sufficient to recommend routine circumcision.” (n.d.).

    Read More

  • Personal Issues In Intersexion: A Documentary About Being Intersex

    781 Words  | 2 Pages

    In her article “Should There Be Only Two Sexes,” Anne Fausto-Sterling discusses the implications of this genital surgery. She states that infantile genital surgery “causes extensive scarring, requires multiple surgeries, and often obliterates the possibility of orgasm” (80). Fausto-Sterling explains the consequences of these surgeries in order to argue against them. She instead says that intersex individuals should be allowed to make their own decisions regarding their bodies after being well-informed about the choices they have. The individuals interviewed in the documentary confirm the consequences Fausto-Sterling discusses and her conclusion. One person discusses how doctors had removed her clitoris and performed multiple surgeries to widen her vagina during her youth; however, these surgeries have caused sex to be painful and eliminated the possibility of orgasm. Another individual talks about how multiple childhood surgeries had led to significant pain and infections, resulting in scarring. These stories are not uncommon among the interviewed individuals, and all of them express the belief that genital surgery should be a choice made by the intersex individual later in life rather than by others early in life. While they concede that some intersex individuals may feel differently,

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Circumcision

    1448 Words  | 3 Pages

    Afterwards, the parents sign a surgical consent giving the provider the approval to perform the procedure. The purpose of the circumcision is to remove the foreskin from the head of the penis, and allow the head of the penis to be exposed. The provider will use various supplies during the procedure such as an topical or injection anesthetic, a scapula to cut the foreskin, and one of three different clamps to hold the foreskin. According to Bcheraoui et al. (2014), studies have revealed that male circumcisions have an overall side effects rate of 0.5% if performed during the child’s first year of life, but increase up to 20 times that if performed after

    Read More

  • The Lavender Scare

    1627 Words  | 4 Pages

    Certainly, in the United States (and much of the Western world), female circumcision is illegal; however, male circumcision is utterly legal. In fact, in 2007, the Center for Disease Control reported that almost eighty percent of men in the United States were circumcised (Morris): legally, zero percent were females. Yet, several nations, where the culture is absolutely polar from the West, have prohibited male circumcision (Evans). The predominant factor, of course. The ideologies of culture make the laws, including morals; thus, these laws represent each region’s civilization, morals, and culture. Again, doctors must conform—this time to the law, not the parent. So, any decision doctors make, regarding circumcision, is due to cultural restrictions and their own

    Read More

  • Female Genital Circumcision Essay

    2844 Words  | 6 Pages

    ... cause of a problem but it is the result of a situation’ (Greunbaum, 2001, pp. 177-178). There’s a need to understand the cultural and social dimension of female circumcision in order to realize and respect people for the culture; however, there is also a need for better medical environments for this procedure to be performed in.

    Read More

  • Cultural History Of Circumcision

    860 Words  | 2 Pages

    Unlike male circumcisions which were practice for religious purposes, female circumcision is done for social convention and is practiced as a way to prepare girls for marriage, as well as conform to societal norms of femininity. Female circumcisions are often motivated by what would be considered proper female behavior and as a way to promote virginity as well as cause pain during intercourse to uphold these beliefs. Much like male circumcision these societal beliefs about sex and purity, have affected these cultures in their convictions that circumcision must be performed to be pure and free of

    Read More

  • Female Genital Mutilation

    1710 Words  | 4 Pages

    What is female circumcision? The female genital mutilation term covers three main varieties of genital mutilation (2). There is the "sunna circumcision"; this consists of removal of the prepuce and/or the tip of the clitoris. Ironically, sunna in Arabic means "tradition". This is done because it is believed that the clitoris is a very dangerous part of the female anatomy. In our culture, Freud stated in his book, Sexuality and the Psychology of Love, that the "elimination of clitoral sexuality is a necessary precondition for the development of femininity. In 1979, the "Love Surgery" was performed on women in the United Sates. Dr. James Burt, the "Love Surgeon", introduced "clitoral relocation" (sunna circumcision) to the medical field. He believed and acted upon the idea that excision does not prevent sexual pleasure, but enhances it. Dr. Burt practiced in Ohio for almost ten years before he was exposed after which he gave up his license.

    Read More

  • Female Genital Mutilation: A Violation of Human Rights

    3259 Words  | 7 Pages

    Female genital mutilation (FGM) is an ancient traditional non-therapeutic surgical procedure that involves total or partial removal of the external parts of female genitalia. This paper aimed to define and classify FGM, identifies the prevalence, describes reasons for performing the practice, and concentrates on the problems associated to this practice with regard to women’s health, religious beliefs, and socio-cultural, behavioral and moral consequences. Researches and survey reports that the global actions have been taken to reduce or abolish the prevalence of the practice will be assessed.

    Read More

  • Female Circumcision

    1301 Words  | 3 Pages

    How do you end a tradition that a culture has had around for centuries? Every culture has a different and original tradition. What happens though when the tradition is a horrible and painful one? Female Circumcision is a procedure that is a tradition to many cultures. The purpose of this procedure is to make women stay faithful to their husbands and not become promiscuous, as they get older. This procedure is not safe and has many side effects. Female Circumcision is a shocking procedure that cause women pain and suffering for the rest of their lives.

    Read More

  • Analysis: The Initiation Of A Maasai Warrior

    929 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the Maasai society, genital cutting is a rite of passage from childhood to adulthood, and both men and women go through the process of circumcision. As society ages, opinions on cultural norms change. This is true for the Maasai society, where the views on female circumcision have and are changing. Female circumcision is classified into three categories, and defined by the World Health Organization, Type I is the removal of the foreskin on the vagina, Type II is the removal of the clitoris, and Type III is the removal of all external genitalia with the stitching or narrowing of the vaginal opening (“New Study”). Traditionally in the Maasai society, women underwent Type II or Type III circumcision. Written in 1988, “The Initiation of a Maasai Warrior,” by Tepilit Ole Saitoi, and is an autobiographical story of Saitoti’s circumcision in his initiation to a warrior. Though his story mainly focuses on the male circumcision part of the Maasai society, women’s circumcision and other basic traditions are discussed. Throughout the short story, the topic of circumcision and the rite of passage, both long- standing traditions in the Maasai society, are central themes.

    Read More

  • Female Circumcision As An Example Of Ethnocentrism In Western Culture

    935 Words  | 2 Pages

    Many feminists in the Western Culture have this ethnocentric idea that female circumcision is “female mutilation” portraying it as a “barbaric tradition” and “violence against women” (“Yes to Female Circumcision?”). According to Fuambai Ahmadu, a Sierra Leonean-American anthropologist, female circumcision is an initiation that symbolizes matriarchal power. The practice is “synonymous with women’s power, their political, economic, reproductive, and ritual spheres of influence” (Ahmadu, pg. 14). By having no regards to the cultures and traditions of these small-scale societies, we are invalidating their beliefs and presenting ethnocentric

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Female Circumcision

    1200 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many question whether female circumcision (FGM, genital cutting, etc.) is a form of abuse, is it a humane and morally acceptable practice and how can we fix this horrendous practice? These assumptive thoughts are typically made through the eyes of outsiders, female circumcision is many things and must be looked at through such a lens. Despite, all of this female circumcision is still framed very commonly between these three views, female circumcision is abuse, is a result of patriarchal societies, and is a cultural and religious practice.

    Read More

  • essay

    1246 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Searching for “Voices”: Feminism, Anthropology, and the Global Debates over Female Genital Operations, Walley discusses the social issues concerning female genital operations as perceived by “westerners”, as well as discusses her ethnographic account of female circumcision. Her main purpose of doing this was to lay the groundwork for “a more productive feminist and anthropological debate” capable of going beyond the binary terms in which female circumcisions are usually discussed. Since female circumcisions are known by a variety of names, such as female genital mutilation and female genital torture, and with her understanding of the negative connotation often associated with those varieties of names, Walley makes the decision to adopt the term female genital operations instead. In 1988, Walley went in the village of KiKhome, in western Kenya as an English teacher and immersed herself in the lives of the people living around the village to better understand the practice of female genital operations as an outsider. One day, some of her students invited her to assist at a female genital operation ceremony. She found out that the participants see circumcision as a rite of passage into adulthood. However, she truly wanted to know the participants’ personal views on the topic rather than the imposed views of their parents and their culture. The four women she interviewed told her that “their custom was good,” and it was something that a person needs to accept with her whole being not to feel the pain. Nevertheless, some of the women told her that they would not want their daughters to undergo circumcision, and that they themselves regretted having done the procedure. Walley finally gave up “searching for real voices,” because what t...

    Read More

More about The Issue of Female Circumcision from a Medical Anthropology Perspective

Open Document