Female Circumcision, is it Genital Mutilation or Just a Way of Self Improvement?

I knew nothing of female circumcision; I thought the cutting was done only on men genitals. Why is it necessary? It is very interesting to me and I thought it might be of interest to some of you. What you are about to read will be a little graphic.

Female circumcision is widely known by females. Well, I have never heard of it. This is my first time hearing about it. You learn something new everyday. That is so true.

Clitoral circumcision- is an operation when the females clitoral are removed. Clitoral is the females genital. The clitoral is the piece of skin that hangs inside the vagina. It is how a woman feels sexual arousement.

Sunna Circumcision is an operation when the tip of the clitoral is removed. In some cases, the procedure is done by cutting a hole in a piece of cloth and placing it over the area. In some cases, the cutting has been done by a knife or razor. In some parts of Mexico and South America, the signs of a cross are cut into it. Sunna, in Arabic means Tradition.

Some women have this procedure done because lack of sexual arousement, pain, the length, meaning it is too long and cleanness. Most females in Western countries in the 1950’s did not know much about female anatomy. In parts of Africa and Egypt, having a circumcision is traditional. The whole procedure period is just considered wrong and a form of child abuse in other countries. Other women do it for cleanliness. It really does not have anything to do with religion in some cases.

This has been happening in Africa for centuries. It is believe to be done to prepare girls for womanhood and marriage. It is often performed with no anesthetic. In the 1950s and 1960s, it was brought to attention by African activists and medical practitioners to end the mutilation, fighting for the rights of their body. Cutting off the female’s clitoral has been reported to have bad side effects interfering with women’s health.

In 1950, in Egypt inside an illegal clinic, a 12-year-old girl died from an overdose of anesthetic while going under the operation to have her genital removed. The mother of the 12 year old paid only $9 to have the procedure done. A Minister in Maghagh fought to have the procedure banned. In 1995, it was reversed shortly after a CNN documentary and approved only to be performed by medical licensed staff. In certain parts of the country, it is still performed to lessen the child’s sexual desire.

In 2003, UNICEF did a survey and it was found that 97% of the women in Egypt had the procedure done. Another study was done about 50.3% of girls between the ages of 10-18 had been circumcised. Though some believe it is wrong, it is still being performed, because they think that it will protect their child’s virginity until marriage.

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