Female genital mutilation fgm refers to all procedures involving partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for nonmedical reasons. Female genital mutilation in south africa africlaw. Not neccesarily according to sierra leoneanamerican anthropologist fuambai ahmadu. A provocative book, clearly written for both general and scholarly audiences. Female circumcision, described as female genital mutilation in western discourse, has been actively addressed in recent years. It found that women with fgm are significantly more likely than those without fgm to have adverse obstetric outcomes. Includes interviews with victims, activists against female circumcision, and circumcisers.
Book 2 bow and arrow 2 burkina faso 2 bwa people 2 cairo egypt 2 canadian horror 2. A young girl bleeds after under going female circumcision the pulitzer prizes photographs by hassan isilow. In an interview in anthropology today available free as pdf here, she attacks western feminists, media and antifemale genital mutilation campaigns and accuses them for presenting a onesided, ethnocentric picture of female circumcision. Female circumcision in africa and the problem of crosscultural perspectives by dr. Heated debates about and insurgencies against female circumcision are symptoms of a disease emanating from a mindset that produced hierarchies of humans, conquered colonies, and built empires. Fgm is a broad term that encapsulates different types of female circumcisionclitoridectomy, excision, infibulation, and other forms such as incising, scraping, or pricking the genital area. The purpose of this research is to investigate the issue of female genital mutilation in africa, as one of the biggest social problems that is affecting the majority of women and young girls. The following are some female genital mutilation facts and frequently asked questions. Female circumcision, the partial or total cutting away of the external female genitalia, has been practiced for centuries in parts of africa, generally as one element of a rite of passage preparing young girls for womanhood and marriage. Prevalence of fgmc among young women shows promise of decline.
Female circumcision is a very important health problem affecting about 140 million people all around the world. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. There is a widespread view among practitioners of female genital mutilation fgm that it is a religious requirement, although prevalence rates often vary according to geography and ethnic group. This book discusses the definition and types of fgm and explores the common justifications for the practice, along with the incidence in africa, global laws, legal. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Is it a good idea to fight against female circumcision. The first federal prosecution of female genital mutilation has women in the us sharing own stories. Most popular female genital mutilation movies and tv shows. Female genital cutting fgc, the current preferred term in the international community for the practice also known as female circumcision or female genital mutilation, is practiced in countries throughout the middle east and africa and in some muslim societies of southeast asia. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Most popular female circumcision movies and tv shows refine see titles to watch instantly. Most popular female circumcision movies and tv shows imdb. Female genital cutting fgc, also known as female circumcision or female genital mutilation, is an ancient practice that predates the abrahamic religions. Most popular female genital mutilation movies and tv shows imdb.
Female circumcision brings together african activists to examine the issue within its various cultural and historical contexts, the debates on circumcision regarding african refugee and immigrant populations in the u. Female genital mutilation fgm, also known as female genital cutting fgc, is practiced in 30 countries in western, eastern, and northeastern africa, in parts of the middle east and asia, and within some immigrant communities in europe, north america and australia. June 2009 bulletin of the school of oriental and african studies. Culture, controversy, and change directions in applied anthropology. Increasing trends away from traditional practitioners and toward medicalization of fgc. Female genital mutilation fgm, also termed as female cutting or female circumcision, is one type of genital mutilation and is defined by the world health organization who, 2008 as all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non medical reasons p. Female genital mutilation is recognized both internationally and locally to. How supermodel waris dirie saved girl from female genital. Not all ethnic groups in africa practice female circumcision, though it is found in 28 of the continents 53 countries. In their excellent introduction to this collection of essays, the editors an assistant professor and a graduate student, both from the university of washingtons anthropology department write that. Fraught with medical, legal, and bioethical debates, fgc is practiced in 28 african countries and some countries in asia. Female genital mutilation fgm comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for nonmedical reasons. Top 10 countries which practice female genital mutilation.
However, for many women living in africa, or emigrating from africa. Why some women choose to get circumcised the atlantic. The who defines the practice as all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or. How supermodel waris dirie saved girl from female genital mutilation. Feb 15, 2014 how supermodel waris dirie saved girl from female genital mutilation. Eight weeks or less after childbirth, venda women undergo a traditional ceremony called muthuso. Its global annual incidence is believed to be 3 in one million people. The loss of colonies and empires does not in any way mitigate the ideological underpinnings of empirebuilding and the knowledge construction that subtends it.
While the female form is used to denote both male and female genitalia, it should be considered to refer only to the male circumcised organ. He states that the arabic for the two circumcision organs is a single word used to connote two forms of circumcision. Religious views on female genital mutilation wikipedia. Often performed without anesthetic under septic conditions by lay practitioners with little or no knowledge of human anatomy or medicine, female circumcision. American ethnologistbolokoli, khifad, tahara, tahoor, qudiin, irua, bondo, kuruna, negekorsigin, and kenekene are a few of the terms used in local african languages to denote a set of cultural practices collectively known as female circumcision. Who female genital mutilation and obstetric outcome. Female genital mutilationcutting fgmc is the partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for cultural or other nontherapeutic reasons. For similar reasons, nahid toubia and anika rahman, editors of female genital mutilation, use fc as well as fgm. For nearly 17 years, migrants from all over the world have been flocking to south africa, bringing with them their cultural practices. Feb 15, 2010 is it a good idea to fight against female circumcision.
Female circumcision gathers together african activists to examine the issue within its various cultural and historical contexts, the debates on circumcision regarding african refugee and immigrant populations in the u. This paper presents an overview of female circumcision in africa. This study examines the effect of different types of fgm on obstetric outcome. Fgm secretly happening in south africa africa witness. Shes maid at the somalian embassy in london, then mcdonalds, where shes discovered and becomes intl top model. Medical, legal, and ethical considerations in pediatric practice, george c. As of september 1997, it will be illegal in the united states to circumcise females under the age of 18 prohibition of female genital mutilation act of 1995. This leaves them with reduced or no sexual feeling. Female circumcision is illegal in several african and european countries and in canada. Wouldbe filmmaker sophie left africa for canada as a child.
Female genital mutilation is defined as the removal of part or all of the female genitalia for nonmedical reasons. But, before i had even finished the introduction, my viewpoint was changing. Case studies from nine african countries where female genital cutting fgc is traditionally and currently. Female genital mutilationcutting fgmc is a traditional practice in which the external female genitalia is partially or totally incised or excised for a nontherapeutic reason, usually without.
Female circumcision provided a point of coalescence and impetus for this articulation. Charlotte feldmanjacobs and donna clifton, female genital mutilationcutting. Though the issue of female genital cutting, or circumcision, has become a nexus for debates on cultural relativism. For many years now, female circumcision has had only paradoxes to offerto borrow from joan scotts provocative title. In an interview in anthropology today available free as pdf here, she attacks western feminists, media and anti female genital mutilation campaigns and accuses them for presenting a onesided, ethnocentric picture of female circumcision. Female genital mutilation fgm, also known as female genital cutting and female circumcision, is the ritual cutting or removal of some or all of the external female genitalia.
Before i proceed, a brief overview of the ritual in africa, in general, and sudan, in particular, will help put this material in context. Proceedings of the fourth international symposium on sexual mutilations, lausanne, switzerland, 1996. Documentary about female genital mutilation in africa. Female circumcision brings together african activists to examine the issue within its various cultural and historical contexts, the debates. The practice is found in africa, asia and the middle east, and within communities from countries in which fgm is common.
Socalled female circumcision, in the form of excision of the labia minora and clitoris clitoridectomy aimed at destroying sexual sensation, is known in islam although it is a cultural, not a religious practice and in certain societies of africa, south america, and elsewhere. Reliable evidence about the effect of female genital mutilation fgm on obstetric outcome is scarce. Circumcision books research circumcision circumcision. While the exact number of girls and women worldwide who have undergone fgm remains unknown, at least 200 million girls and women have. Keeping this in mind, ellen gruenbaum in her book, the female circumcision controversy, uses the term female circumcision fc, despite the fact that circumcision for female genitalia trivializes the damage and scale of the practice. This book made me look at the practice of female circumcision with a much less biased perspective. Insisting that the hierarchy on which the imperialist project rests is not bipolar but multilayered and more complex, the contributions in this volume demonstrate how imperialist discourses complicate issues of gender, race, and history. List of books and articles about circumcision online. I had looked at a lot of research regarding female circumcision and was prepared to write paper loaded with righteous indignation over the practice. The practice is mostly carried out by traditional circumcisers, who often play other central roles in communities, such as attending childbirths.
The who identifies three broad types of female circumcision. Spatial modelling and mapping of female genital mutilation in kenya. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. The book s authors repeatedly allude to critics who have inquired into the basis for ignoring male circumcision while opposing even a ceremonial nick of female genitalia. Female genital mutilation fgm is a destructive, invasive procedure that is usually performed on girls before puberty. There is an ongoing debate about the extent to which the practices continuation is influenced by custom, social pressure, lack of healthcare information, and the position of women in society. Most popular female circumcision movies and tv shows. Chapter 4 female circumcision in africa and beyond the anthropology of a difficult issue. For many years now, female circumcision has had only paradoxes to offerto. Visit the choosing a pediatrician page for assistance in picking a doctor who is right for your family. This interdisciplinary volume examines the issue of fema. Female circumcision and the controversy it has engendered. Waris dirie, born 1965 in somalia, flees at when sold as 4th wife. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus.
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