Against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Reasons for Female Genital Mutilation

In cultures where FGM is practiced it is seen as a norm. Women, girls and men see it as something that is a part of their culture. Parents often practice the tradition out of love for their daughter, to protect them and to ensure a safe future for her. Girls who have undergone FGM are often proud of it and see the pain as something every woman has to endure in her lifetime. There are several reasons to why people decide to practice FGM. We are going to make a distinction between cultural, social economical and aesthetical reasons to why parents choose to practice FGM on their daughters. This of course differs in the different communities/societies.

Religion

Practicing groups view FGM as a custom which is connected with their religion. There are for examples Muslims who believe that the custom is prescribed in the Holy Quran or Hadith (the oral traditions relating to the word and deeds of the Prophet Mohammed), and therefore should be performed. According to many Islamic scholars FGM has nothing to do with Islam. And then there is also the fact that FGM is not practiced in many Muslim countries such as Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, where Islam was introduced in the Seventh century while Islam was introduced to Central- and east Africa in the Nineteenth century, where the custom was being practiced for over centuries. So therefore FGM cannot be viewed as an Islamic tradition. This is also supported by the fact that the custom has never been established in the Middle East and in Asian countries with a majority of Muslim population. The custom is also common among Animists and (Coptic) Christians.

Tradition

FGM is considered a self-evident matter for many communities, while the origin of the practice stays unknown to them. These communities rather hold on to this tradition because it’s historically seen as something “good”.

Controlling of sexuality (sexual behavior)

Another reason to hold on to FGM is to prevent pre-marital sexual intercourse. It also ensures that a woman cannot commit adultery in absence of her spouse/husband. This is a way to ‘protect’ women from themselves, because a woman who is not circumcised would surely have multiple partners.

Pressure from relatives and the community

Parents saying no to female genital mutilation is no guarantee that it won’t happen at all. It is usually the grandparents, especially the grandmother, who have the most influence and put great pressure on the parents. This is the reason why young girls still get circumcised despite their parents’ efforts of preventing it. In every society there are certain values/principles that people hold on to. In these societies there is pressure to conform to what others do and have been doing for centuries. If FGM is a norm in a society chances are that parents will feel obligated to circumcise their daughter. Because only then will their daughter be acknowledged as a full member of the society.

Role of the woman

Through circumcision girls and women are literally made and kept virgins so that they can be given into marriage. Women are supposed to stay virgins in order for them to get a good spouse and a good dowry. This way the tradition is connected with a girl’s honor and shame as well as her family’s.

Beauty and hygiene

In some societies uncircumcised women are seen as ugly and more at risk of infections. This while infections are one of the physical consequences that are caused by FGM. Circumcised girls unlike uncircumcised girls are seen as beautiful and sanitary.

When a girl is not circumcised this can cause great social consequences for her. The girl is seen as unclean and suspected of sexual contact before marriage. An uncircumcised girl is disowned and has less chance of getting married. Often the girls themselves feel ugly and imperfect when they’re not circumcised. This theory however is becoming less and less applicable.

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