For my cultural relativism topic I chose female genital mutilation (FGM) or otherwise known as female circumcision. The reason why I chose this topic was because when I was in middle school or early high school I read an article about this on a young woman who went through this procedure when she was younger, and it really touched me. FGM “is an invasive and painful surgical procedure that is often performed without anesthetic on girls before puberty. Various sources estimate that from about 60 to 140 million women in the world have been circumcised. An average of about four girls a minute continue to be mutilated. Their prepuce is removed and their clitoris may be partially or completely removed. In some traditions the operation is far more invasive: the labia minora are also surgically removed and the labia majora are sewn together, covering the urethra and vagina. A small opening is retained for the passage of urine and menstrual fluid”(http://www.religioustolerance.org/).
Therefore, I searched some articles on this topic and I found an interview on http://www.modernghana.com/, with the famous model and spokesperson against FGM. Waris Dire, is a victim of FGM and she speaks on her terrorizing memories. According to Dire, who is an UN ambassador she states “Female Genital Mutilation happens primarily in Africa, in particular in North-Eastern, Eastern and Western Africa. However, it also takes place in the Middle East, in South-East Asia - and also among immigrants in Europe”. She also goes on to give the supposed reasons as to why these excruciating procedures are done, for example she says “for instance the chastity of women; also, the mutilation is meant to ensure that the girls will still be virgins when they are married. Hygiene, aesthetics and health may also be found among the reasons provided. A further reason provided frequently is religion. In Muslim communities in Africa, in which FGM is performed, reference is made to the Qu''ran. But the Qur'an does not provide for Female Genital Mutilation - it has nothing to do with religion.” Also, it is done so that the woman does not enjoy sex, meaning if she does not enjoy sex then she won’t cheat on her husband and have sex with other men. However like Dire says, who would want to have sex with a woman if she does not enjoy it, in a way I think of that as a form of rape, if the woman does not enjoy it then why would she want to have sex in the first place? Also, she FGM can be related to the spread of HIV/AIDS. Most of these procedures are not done in a clean and sterilized area; in fact Dires’ procedure was done ON TOP of a ROCK with an OLD razor blade! I find this type of operation torture and it is absurd that it still exists today! Therefore bring my point of the spread of HIV/AIDS; the women perform FGM on these young girls more than likely use the same razor blade to mutilate many young girls without using a brand new one, or even worst using an old, raggedy, dirty blade.
All in all, I think that a stop NEEDS to be put to this mutilation, not only is it torture to these woman, but they do NOT choose too have these procedures done. It is done without their consent and this is a violation of our rights as humans, sure the people who perform these procedures defend it as being done to save the women, or being done so they can remain faithful, or some say that it has to do with the Qur’an, but it does not according to Dires. Cultural Relativism can defend this practice as culturally acceptable because in the definition it states that “there are no objective standards by which to evaluate a culture and that a culture can only be understood in terms of its own values and customs” basically saying that we can’t judge the culture since we do not practice it. I can see the reasoning behind why it would be defended by cultural relativism but I do not agree with the practice. I try to never judge a book by its cover, and I do not blame the people for doing these cruel practices because they do not know any different. The lack of education leads to problems like these all over the world. If we don’t have people that defend this issue and make it so that they can teach these people who lack the knowledge of the harm that these procedures are doing to these young victims than there would never be a stop to it.
These are the blades that are being used to do FGM's! Would you trust these?
Websites used:
First picture: http://www.globalpulsejournal.com/blog/index.php/2010/09/06/the-practice-of-female-genital-mutilation-across-the-world/
Second Picture :http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/entry/zero_tolerance_fgm
In post:
About FGM: Female Genital Mutilation . (2010, December 11). Retrieved February 11, 2011, from religioustolerance.org: http://www.religioustolerance.org/fem_circ.htm
These are the blades that are being used to do FGM's! Would you trust these?
Websites used:
First picture: http://www.globalpulsejournal.com/blog/index.php/2010/09/06/the-practice-of-female-genital-mutilation-across-the-world/
Second Picture :http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/entry/zero_tolerance_fgm
In post:
Voice, T. (2007, N ovember 14). The Horror of Female Genital Mutilation. Retrieved February 11, 2011, from modernghana.com: http://www.modernghana.com/lifestyle/186/16/the-horror-of-female-genital-mutilation.html
About FGM: Female Genital Mutilation . (2010, December 11). Retrieved February 11, 2011, from religioustolerance.org: http://www.religioustolerance.org/fem_circ.htm
I really enjoyed reading your blog. On the outside looking in, this could be accepted by different cultures, just like other practices we learned about in lecture all week. It's normal for the people who do this for the reasons you have mentioned above. I just can't believe that it still takes place, to me it just brings pain unto women and it's especially unfair for those who have no say in their circumcision. With all that has been brought up cause of new technologies and better education, you would think that people would have learned how this could be wrong. But it's apart of their culture to do so, so the thought may have never occurred to them. Like I said I understand, how things may be viewed differently because of culture differences, but this isn't right. Hopefully things can change for these women because it's not fair they have to go through something they don't agree with, it prevents them from their rights.
ReplyDeleteI chose to write about this topic too. I also believe that it brings pain to women because they are not given the opportunity say choose whether or not they want the procedure done. The fact that practitioners of the procedure are at most times inexperienced further aggravates me because they are putting women under extreme danger and seem not to care. I like the fact that you expressed that there should be a complete end to female circumcision. I feel like there would have to be a lot of debate before coming to that conclusion. How do you feel about male circumcision? That was something I read about too that further complicated the matter. A lot of people relate male circumcision to that of females. Do you agree that it is the same?
ReplyDeleteI covered this topic as well. I did however find some understanding in male circumcision. I stated how for hygiene purposes it made sense for young boys to have some of the skin removed. But for females it just cuts off some sensational parts of our body. Woman have a very complex systems & stimulating sensations that men would kill to understand. Im starting to believe a man created female circumcision. Just a thought!
ReplyDelete@ Selam: Thank you for reading my blog, I really appreciate it. I'm glad that you have agreed with me and that we feel the same way.
ReplyDelete@VjCanales:I totally agree with you on the fact that the world would have A LOT of debating to do before coming to such a conclusion, but the start should be educating these women, and giving them the most important thing a CHOICE.
Well considering the fact the male cicumcision in the US is much safer, and sterilized, and basically normal, the parents have a CHOICE on whether they would like for their son to become circumsized or not. And it is also done for hygene purposes. Bactreia can be caught on the skin if not circumsized, and cause infections.However, I do NOT think it is the same as FGM, considering the fact that most male circumcision is done at hospitals, with stererlized blades, and the healing process is not nearly as excrutiating as that of female circimcision. I appreciate the questions! =)
@AerialView: I completley agree with your statement, on the difference of FGM and male circumcision, I do not know if males came up wiht the idea of FGM, I can sort of see where you get you idea from but who knows. All I know from what I read is that WOMEN are the ones who are doing this to eachother, because it is a woman who is doing the procedure.
Thank you all for reading my post! =) I enjoyed the feedback!
I really think your blog was insightful, and well put. I didn't know much about the topic before reading this. Genital mutilation seems strange to me, because we dont practice that here, but I can understand why some cultures accept the practice. I still think it should be the woman's choice though. The question I ask myself is whether or not a culture can "force" women into making a decision they dont want to. This could be similar to "peer pressure" getting kids to experiment with drugs. Does a culture have the right to make this decision for women? Or pressure women into something they dont want? Very interesting stuff.
ReplyDelete@ Bret,
ReplyDeleteWell thank you for reading my blog. I agree with you and think that it should be the women’s choice. However, FGM is being done to LITTLE girls ages from newborn until puberty. So therefore, if it were in America they can not make decisions for themselves. So neither do these girls, they have basically no choice, and have to do this because it is part of their tradition. Until THESE PARENTS have been educated on the life threats, and consequences then the parents do not know that what they are doing is wrong. They see it as a norm, and that nothing is wrong with what they are doing, they think that it is just something that has to be done in order for their daughters to become marriageable and decent upon their society.
I am really impressed by the amount of information you gave us on this topic. It really makes this blog assignment more interesting when the blogger includes more information and (as we can tell from the comments) makes it much more enjoyable to discuss the topic. Personally, I agree with you that FGM is not something that can be completely excused by cultural relativism. I think that it would be less difficult for me to accept if it was not young girls who were having it done and it was instead adults. I know that it is naive to think that just because they are adults when the procedure is performed that they will have a 'choice' (the pressure of social norms would possibly be enough to erase the possibility of choice), but regardless of the irrationality, for some reason I would feel a little better about it.
ReplyDeleteI also wrote about this topic too and i agree it needs to stop. When I was researching FGM, it gave me the chills because I would hate to go through it. I feel bad for the girls that do have to go through this direful procedure. I think since its not a religious practice, rather just a cultural adaptation, there should be campaigns to get the word out and educate them and help stop FGM.
ReplyDelete