FGM

The other day I was researching something for some project when I came across a video by BBC detailing the Egyptian government's attempts to end female genital mutilation (FGM) in the country. I now cannot even remember what I was supposed to be researching, for once I saw the video on FGM, I was completely sidetracked.

I have never really understood the point of FGM, and to be honest, I sort of avoided learning about the topic due to my general discomfort and disgust over just thinking about what it entails. But after watching a video of a five-year-old and her mom begging people to stop forcing girls to endure FGM at such a young age (and at all), I felt motivated to try and learn more about the topic.

According to the World Health Organization, FGM includes "all procedures that involve the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons." What's most bothersome about FGM to me is the fact that there is an extremely long list of harmful short-term and long-term consequences to having it, including severe pain, psychological problems, urinary problems, menstrual problems, etc., and no health benefits whatsoever. Plus, it completely targets and discriminates against women and violates their rights to health, security, and physical integrity.

After hearing about all of the problems that occur from FGM, I was confused as to why people would continue to force their girls into receiving the FGM procedure. I read all of these horror stories about families from poor villages dragging their daughters to the house of the local midwife, the Daya, (who typically receive no medical training at all) to get a FGM operation. One story detailed 4 different people having to restrain a young girl as she was forced to receive the painful FGM procedure (by a non-medically-trained person). And, even though the Egyptian government* and many other governments in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia (all places where FGM practices typically occur) have tried to prevent FGM by criminalizing it and threatening prison time, FGM is still a very common practice.

*Egypt has one of the highest rates of FGM in the world (according to CNN, 87% of girls and women between 15-49 have suffered from FGM procedures).

After reading several sites (three of which I listed below), I learned about some of the cultural and social factors that motivate people to receive FGM. In many communities, FGM is almost universally performed, so many families feel the societal pressure to do what others are doing in order to be accepted and fit in. Another large reason is the belief that FGM helps ensure premarital virginity and marital fidelity by reducing a woman's libido. Other people believe there are religious factors that encourage FGM. What's interesting (albeit very sad) about the process is the fact that many mothers who take their daughters to get FGM have had it themselves and know how painful the process is, yet they continue to encourage their daughters to receive it because of the fear that them not having it would shame the family.

While governments and international organizations are trying to band together to eradicate the practice of FGM, the practice is still very present in today's world. As a result, people must continue to educate others on the many issues of FGM and encourage its total eradication.

Source: https://themediaproject.org/news/2018/5/30/fighting-fgm-is-a-spiritual-war

To read more about FGM:
http://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/female-genital-mutilation
https://www.cnn.com/2017/02/06/africa/africa-view-egypt-fgm/index.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/c40rjmqdq5wt/fgm