Broad Overview of Female Genital Surgeries.

The topic of female genital surgeries (FGS) has been discussed in several of my classes this semester. It is an extremely dark topic; to which I am shook every time we talk about it in class. Rather than discussing FGS solely from a human rights perspective, I would like to touch on what FGS is, and that it has cultural, religious, and superstitious implications depending on the society depending on the society.

I use the term female genital surgery because this is what I was taught to use by my anthropology professor. That many of these societies performing FGS are not purposefully attempting to mutilate female genitalia. In many cases they are performing them for cultural reasons. As an example I will use the Masai people. Both men and women are circumcised in this society. There is a belief among the Masai, that for women, their labia and clitoris will continue to grow, and that for men their foreskin will continue to gown and touch the ground. This is one reason for circumcision. Their religion and culture also revolves heavily around fertility. The women of the society agree that men are circumcised, so too should the women. According to the Masai people, men are circumcised for reasons of fertility, and women are circumcised for reasons of fertility. Furthermore, without being circumcised, women have no right to be married, or to have children, or even be born.

 What we can see from this example is that circumcision is deeply embedded into some cultures. That female circumcision is not as simple as members within a culture mutilating other members’ genitalia for a mere sense of power or control over females. However, in most of the societies performing FGS, men dominate, and women have little to no power.

Before I discuss the topic I would like to inform the reader that I do not condone any variation of these surgeries. When studying anthropology, and psychology, we are taught to keep our own biases from affecting our studies. I try my best to approach all subjects of study with an unbiased point of view.

There are several names for FGS. It is best known as female genital mutilation (FGM), or female circumcision. These surgeries affect over 200 million females, and 3 million females are at risk of undergoing the procedure every year (Female genital mutilation (FGM), 2018).

FGS is most heavily practiced in 28 counties across Africa, though there are other various areas worldwide that also practice it such as some areas of India. There are various cultural and religious reasons for FGS. A few of which are, initiation of the girl into woman hood, to ensure virginity, and curb female sexual energy (okeke, Anyaehie, and Ezenyeaku, 2012). Below is a graph of age groups and a map of where FGS takes place.

(Female genital mutilation (FGM), 2018).

 (Female genital mutilation (FGM), 2018).

As stated by okeke, Anyaehie, and Ezenyeaku, other reason for FGS as proposed by participants in their study is that FGS are regarded as “tribal traditional practice (our custom is a good tradition and has to be protected), as a superstitious belief practiced for preservation of chastity and purification, family honor, hygiene, esthetic reasons, protection of virginity and prevention of promiscuity, modification of sociosexual attitudes (countering failure of a woman to attain orgasm), increasing sexual pleasure of husband, enhancing fertility and increasing matrimonial opportunities. Other reasons are to prevent mother and child from dying during childbirth and for legal reasons (one cannot inherit property if not circumcised) …” (2012). Many of these stated reasons are counter intuitive of the actual effects from undergoing FGS.

What are the complications of FGS and what are the various types of female circumcisions practiced? There are two main types: Pharaonic circumcision and Sunna circumcision.

  Pharaonic circumcision is the removal of all of the external female genitalia, including the clitoris, some or all of the labia majora and infibulation (generally done when the girl is very young). Infibulation is the closing of the vaginal opening leaving a small hole for urination and menses.

Sunna Circumcision is less common and less extensive than pharaonic circumcision. It consists of removal of the clitoris, and/or partial or no infibulation.

The complications with these practices range widely. They include death, hemorrhaging, infections, shock from severe pain, retention of urine and menses leading that to severe urinary tract infections, and chronic pelvic infections. Complications also occur with inelastic scaring, child birth, and death of the child during child birth.

 In the case of human rights issue with FGS – with no doubt, I do have serious issues with FGS. But also who is any one to change another culture’s ways. We have seen time and time again where Europeans have made contact with another culture and tried to change that culture in some fashion to fit their own belief systems. I believe this is one of those sticky situations of whether or not human rights activists should intervene or not. If they did intervene, what would their process be?

One of my thoughts for intervening and attempting to better the situation is to educate the societies practicing FGS. To teach them that their society will continue to progress if the surgeries cease to continue.

Another tactic would be to teach the midwives and husbands who perform these FGS to use a consistent procedure that would limit the risk of complications. To teach them to use proper equipment, and to supply developing areas with the proper supplies, pain medication, and antibiotics.

Aria Newell-Sowash

Submitted 11-02-18

Female genital mutilation (FGM). (2018). Retrieved from http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/fgm/prevalence/en/

Okeke, T., Anyaehie, U., & Ezenyeaku, C. (2012). An overview of female genital mutilation in Nigeria. Annals of medical and health sciences research, 2(1), 70-3.