Causes, effects and how to stop female genital mutilation

You’ll hear some things, and you’ll be wondering why human beings are still primitive despite the many signs of progress made over the centuries. Do you know that female genital mutilation is still a problem, even in Nigeria? The practice has caused more harm than good for women. Although significant progress has been made in eliminating the harmful practice, more is needed and fast, so it will end once and for all.

Let’s get one thing clear – female genital mutilation is a violation of girls’ and women’s fundamental human rights. The initial reason for it doesn’t matter, even if it sounds reasonable. It is a practice that should be abolished. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The first thing to do is understand the meaning of female genital mutilation and how it affects us as humans.

Table of Content hide 1What is female genital mutilation? 2Causes of female genital mutilation 2.11. Culture and tradition 2.22. To suppress a woman’s sexuality 2.33. Hygiene 2.44. Belief that FGM increases sexual pleasure for men 2.55. Religion 3Effects of female genital mutilation 4How to stop female genital mutilation 5Conclusion

What is female genital mutilation?

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), female genital mutilation (FGM) refers to all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injuries to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. FGM is usually carried out in traditional settings where crude items are mostly used for the procedure. WHO also posited that some healthcare providers are performing the procedure with the belief that FGM is safer when it’s medicalized. In fact, the practice of FGM is called medicalization by healthcare providers.

According to WHO, more than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, where it is practiced. However, the organisation, in conjunction with other international organisations, like UNICEF, strongly advocate against FGM because the practice is mostly carried out on underaged girls from infancy, thus violating their human rights.

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Causes of female genital mutilation

1. Culture and tradition

In many countries where FGM is practiced, it is considered as a rite of passage into womanhood. It is also often considered a necessary part of raising a girl properly and preparing her for marriage/adulthood. For these cultures, a woman is not considered ripe for marriage if she doesn’t undergo FGM. Families often feel pressure to have their daughter circumcised, so their community accepts her.

2. To suppress a woman’s sexuality

Female genital mutilation is practiced to suppress a woman’s sexual urges. To ensure a girl remains a virgin until she is married, part of her clitoris is removed. It’s a well-known fact that the clitoris is the “sweet spot” for a woman during sex. Since it is partially removed, the chances of the victim enjoying sex are slim. Arousal is nearly impossible, and some women live out the rest of their lives without enjoying sex.

3. Hygiene

Communities where female genital mutilation is practiced believe that the female genitalia is ugly and dirty and must be removed to enhance beauty and cleanliness. In this case, a woman who hasn’t done FGM is considered dirty, unclean, and unprepared for marriage and responsibilities. Such a woman or girl growing up will be an outcast within her community.

4. Belief that FGM increases sexual pleasure for men

Many communities believe that women are potential prostitutes. Hence, FGM  is perpetrated because it gives men power over women as a group. Since a woman’s sexuality is suppressed, a man can have his sexual satisfaction without “working hard” for it.

5. Religion

Well, there’s a lot of argument regarding what religion has to do with female genital mutilation. But don’t forget that many cultures and traditions are tied to religion. For instance, the rite of passage to womanhood is a cultural practice that has a religious undertone of what a “proper” woman is supposed to be. However, it is also important to note that some religions consider FGM irrelevant, while some contribute to eliminating it.

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Effects of female genital mutilation

Female genital mutilation has no benefits for girls and women. Instead, it brings several health complications, which could be long-term or short-term. According to WHO, the following are some of the short-term complications:

• Severe pain
• Excessive bleeding (haemorrhage)
• Genital tissue swelling
• Fever
• Infections, e.g. tetanus
• Urinary problems
• Wound healing problems
• Injury to surrounding genital tissue
• Shock
• Death

Some long-term complications include:

• Urinary problems (painful urination, urinary tract infections)
• Vaginal problems (discharge, itching, bacterial vaginosis, and other infections)
• Menstrual problems (painful menstruations, difficulty passing menstrual blood, etc.)
• Scar tissue and keloid
• Sexual problems (pain during intercourse, decreased satisfaction, etc.)
• Increased risk of childbirth complications (difficult delivery, excessive bleeding, caesarean section, need to resuscitate the baby, etc.) and newborn deaths.
• Need for surgeries to open up the sealed vagina etc.

Apart from health risks, FGM also has a psychological effect on girls. A girl who has gone through it will always feel tortured and lesser inclined to trust her caregivers. It can also lead to anxiety and depression as she grows into a woman.

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How to stop female genital mutilation

• Change traditions with the help of the older generation. When older people are recruited to spread awareness about the dangers of FGM, more people will listen and be willing to change their orientations.
• Educate girls on their rights to their bodies. Many girls are not aware of their fundamental human rights, rather ceding them to their supposed wiser parents or caregiver. However, when there are programmes to educate them on their rights, it will go a long way to stop FGM.
• Involve religious leaders in efforts to eradicate the practice. As previously stated, arguments about the involvement of religion in promoting FGM are still ongoing. However, when religious leaders are involved in the campaign against the practice, their followers will listen and comply.
• Fund and support activists against FGM. With your support, more awareness can be raised to eradicate FGM in more communities.
• Government should enact laws to ban female genital mutilation. Also, punishment should be outlined for perpetrators.

Conclusion

Culture doesn’t create people. People create and follow the culture. So the argument that female genital mutilation is an ancient culture and tradition that cannot be banned doesn’t make any sense. FGM has caused more harm than good for girls and women. It is more of a patriarchal tradition, pure torture, and a woman who has gone through it always faces negative effects in the long run. Let’s join hands together and stop the practice and make the world a more conducive place for a girl child to thrive.

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