Female Circumcision? Where is it still practiced or is it still practiced? Why?

Question

My interest has been peaked about this subject lately because I'm readying a book that although it is fiction it takes place in both present day Egypt and Egypt in the 1950's & 60's. I was wondering if it was still done. Or was it even done during that time period? Is it practiced in the US or has it ever been practiced here?

Pretty much any information that you know on the subject can you please share with me.

Thank you so very much for your answers.

Answer 1

It is illegal everywhere on earth; however, female genital multilation continues underground (especially in regions of North Africa).

The barbaric custom of female genital mutilation has NOTHING to do with 'circumcision' - so please use the correct terminology:

"Health consequences of FGM

The immediate and long-term health consequences of female genital mutilation vary according to the type and severity of the procedure performed.

Immediate complications include severe pain, shock, haemorrhage, urine retention, ulceration of the genital region and injury to adjacent tissue. Haemorrhage and infection can cause death.

More recently, concern has arisen about possible transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) due to the use of one instrument in multiple operations, but this has not been the subject of detailed research.

Long-term consequences include cysts and abscesses, keloid scar formation, damage to the urethra resulting in urinary incontinence, dyspareunia (painful sexual intercourse) and sexual dysfunction and difficulties with childbirth.

Psychosexual and psychological health: Genital mutilation may leave a lasting mark on the life and mind of the woman who has undergone it. In the longer term, women may suffer feelings of incompleteness, anxiety and depression.


In cultures where it is an accepted norm, female genital mutilation is practiced by followers of all religious beliefs as well as animists and non believers. FGM is usually performed by a traditional practitioner with crude instruments and without anaesthetic. Among the more affluent in society it may be performed in a health care facility by qualified health personnel. WHO is opposed to medicalization of all the types of female genital mutilation.

The age at which female genital mutilation is performed varies from area to area. It is performed on infants a few days old, female children and adolescents and, occasionally, on mature women.

The reasons given by families for having FGM performed include:

psychosexual reasons: reduction or elimination of the sensitive tissue of the outer genitalia, particularly the clitoris, in order to attenuate sexual desire in the female, maintain chastity and virginity before marriage and fidelity during marriage, and increase male sexual pleasure;
sociological reasons: identification with the cultural heritage, initiation of girls into womanhood, social integration and the maintenance of social cohesion;
hygiene and aesthetic reasons: the external female genitalia are considered dirty and unsightly and are to be removed to promote hygiene and provide aesthetic appeal;
myths: enhancement of fertility and promotion of child survival;
religious reasons: Some Muslim communities, however, practise FGM in the belief that it is demanded by the Islamic faith. The practice, however, predates Islam.
Prevalence and distribution of FGM

Most of the girls and women who have undergone genital mutilation live in 28 African countries, although some live in Asia and the Middle East. They are also increasingly found in Europe, Australia, Canada and the USA, primarily among immigrants from these countries.

Today, the number of girls and women who have been undergone female genital mutilation is estimated at between 100 and 140 million. It is estimated that each year, a further 2 million girls are at risk of undergoing FGM."

Answer 2

Where is it still practiced?
- Well in the US, no the same in lots of other country’s but it is done in about 20 other country’s these countries include: Iraq, Africa, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey and many more. BUT you can go in and get virginal reconstruction where they remove part of the clitoris hood. They don’t call it female circumcision but it basically is that is legal anywhere you have to be 18 to get it done though you can't do it to new born's like male circumcision.

Is it still done in Egypt?
- No, at the start of the year yes but it has been illegal since then but it has gone underground.

Why is it done?
- In many cases, female circumcision is done as an initiation into womanhood. While the age at which the procedure is done varies with the culture, it generally is performed before the girl reaches puberty. Among the reasons for the procedure are to ensure that a female is a virgin when she gets married and to reduce the female’s ability to experience sexual pleasure, which decreases the chance of extra-marital affairs. Some cultures also believe the clitoris (the small mass of highly sensitive tissue located near the opening of the vagina) is dangerous and must be removed for health reasons.

In many cultures that perform female circumcisions, the procedure is done in conjunction with a rite or ceremony. The procedure often is done by tribal leaders, midwives, or older women in the village, most of whom have no formal training or surgical skill. In many cases, the procedure is done with crude instruments, such as non-sterile knives or scissors, and without any anesthetic.

My thought
- I believe it's up to the person them self’s to be circumcised It's not up to parents to circumcise there son or daughter. I believe children have rights.

Answer 3

"Condemn" is the wrong word. Female "circumcision" is a problem brought about because of cultural traditions and ignorance. The only way to stop it is to show those who participate in such practices of the harm they are causing upon their daughters. They must be taught the biological meaning of what they're doing. My suspicion is that it was thought up by men who were lousy in the sack and a "disappointment" to their young brides. Just to back up the others clarifying, there IS a difference between male circumcision and female mutilation. If you look into biology, it becomes clear very quickly. It's not an overstatement to say that cutting off the clitoris is like cutting off a penis. Circumcision removes only the "foreskin", which in females is the very small piece of skin covering the clitoris..

Answer 4

Regardless of what anyone says it is still circumcision, but sometimes more. WHO classified FGC in to four types, but basically type 1 is the exact same thing as male circumcision. Type 1 is removal of the female prepuce (clitoral hood), as male circumcision is the removal of the male prepuce (foreskin). This is illegal to preform on an underage female in the US, but legal to do to little boys in the US. At some point, (Maybe 2014) they will either need to rewrite the FGM Act of 1996 or make male circumcision illegal to comply with the 14th amendment.

Yes it is still done, common in Muslim countries and many parts of Africa with the epicenter being north Africa. Since US involvement, we have endangered many women in more developed countries. Egypt for example, where women were once done by real doctors, are now going to back alley doctors to get this done. As with male circumcision in the US, circumcision is usually mandated by a mother that has undergone the procedure herself. For a mother in those regions, they can not bare the though of their daughter not being done. They worry that if it is not done, they will be looked down on by the community and possibly rejected by a husband. They also have similar views to the US and male circumcision, as they believe that it is hygienic, healthier and more aesthetically pleasing.

Most men and women in the regions that practice FGC/FGM would like us to mind our business, citing we have little room to talk as we preform circumcisions on our young as well. Basically how the US would react to another country telling us to stop circumcising our boys.

Most believe that FGC reduces female sexual pleasure, but most in the regions believe they are not victims, again like men in the US.

--- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_genital_cutting
This practice is reported to cause a reduction in women's sexual pleasure[citation needed], as well as major medical complications. However, a five-year study of 300 women and 100 men in Sudan found indications that "sexual desire, pleasure, and orgasm are experienced by the majority of women who have been subjected to this extreme sexual mutilation, in spite of their being culturally [bound] to hide these experiences."

Worldwide it is estimated 100-140 million women have undergone some level of FGC/FGM.

Answer 5

No different than male circumcision. Despite the cruelty and gruesomeness, those who practice it have their backward reasons why it should be done to defenseless children.

The victims usually want the next generation to likewise become victims, which is why both females and males who have had it done are the main perpetrators.

Answer 6

It's an ugly tradition that's still happens in such countries as egypt (rural regions) sudan and nigeria, pakistan ..not in north africa like one of the guys above said, they practice it to stop the sexual urges in women, that's just simply sick.

Answer 7

I love you Bast. I love you with all my heart. You are most likely asking yourself why am I putting this on here. Well I know that your on here a lot and I thought that it might surprise you. I love you!!!! I also love your mind. As far as the question goes it isn't really done anymore, but in Ancient Greece it was quit common, and also in most of the Roman Empire, were it came from who knows, but anyway I love you a lot of billions!!!

Answer 8

It's called female genital mutilation and it's an ugly, useless, painful, barbaric and heinous procedure meant to keep women in their place. It has nothing to do with circumcision. Unfortunately, some primitive, backward societies still practice it. You would do well to research FGM on the internet and not ask about it here.

Answer 9

Female Genital Mutilation is still performed.
Try going to :
www.religioustolerance.org/fem_cirm.htm
and see if this cite is of any assistance to you.

Answer 10

Umm....how?
We don't....

Were the women in Egypt very....VERY different?

because how could...it doesn't seem possible or even needed...like....