Finally an End to Female Genital Mutilation

Michele Parsons
Mrs. Bennett
Period 2
3/23/17


Only when she turned 15 years of age, did Jaha Dukureh discover that she was one of the 6,000 girls who experience female genital mutilation every day. As an infant, a friend of her mother performed a non-surgical procedure sewing Dukureh’s vaginal opening up to preserve her virginity. Upon the time of her arranged marriage, for which emigrated from Gambia to the US, her vagina was cut open so that she could have sexual intercourse. During her time in the US, Jaha took the initiative to raise awareness for the issue and bring attention to the issue of FGM in the United States and subsequently was able to get it banned. However, in her home continent of Africa, the cultural practice of female genital mutilation remains prominent and largely unregulated or monitored by the government. Many African nations uphold the tradition of practicing female genital mutilation to preserve women’s virginity before marriage and to prevent women from having sexual urges.
Female genital mutilation is practiced across the continent of Africa. The main reasons for its practice are to control female sexuality due to its large taboo and for the desire to have virgin brides. The procedure itself has several variants. One of the most common is sometimes referred to as a clitoridectomy, which as the same suggests is a cutting of a woman’s clitoris. Other variants include sewing one’s vaginal opening to prevent a woman from having sexual intercourse before the stitch is removed after marriage.( Al Jazeera ) Besides the immediate pain caused by the procedure, the after-effects can include menstrual interference, bleeding, and potentially fatal infections. Despite the health detriments, FGM is incredibly prevalent due to cultural and societal pressures. In fact, 98% of women in Somalia between the ages of 15 and 49 are survivors of FGM. (Crouse)
In many of the African nations in which FGM is present, there have been recent efforts to aid victims and push for more law enforcement in attempts to alleviate the issue. Clitoraid is an organization that helps to provide discounted surgeries to the victims of female genital mutilation in Africa. The surgeries help to remove painful scar tissue as well as fix aesthetic aspects. Surgeons spoke to victims who stated that the “cut”, which is often used to refer to  FGM, affected them mentally and hurt their self-esteem. The surgeries that Clitoraid made possible, helped to restore some of what the cut took away. In many of the nations in which the practice of FGM has been banned, there has been little enforcement of the legislation. Recently, Tanzania has taken the initiative to combat this issue. Non-governmental organizations like Equality Now, have lobbied for the Tanzanian government to press for more enforcement of their anti-FGM laws. Local non-governmental organizations believe that by spreading information about the resulting detriments of FGM to the practicing population, it will begin to lessen its prevalence.(Equality Now) Other grassroots efforts to end female genital mutilation include people close to the issue working to educate practitioners in their communities about the dangers and immorality of FGM. Christine Nanjala, who leads a special prosecution unit ran in Kenya states, “You’re dealing with culture, and when you’re dealing with culture, you’re dealing with the identity of a community.” The practice is deeply ingrained in the culture and activists are working closely to help erase the stigma and discuss issues regarding the legitimacy of the cut and its detriments.(Moore) Throughout the continent of Africa and at all different levels, individuals and organizations are working to eradicate the practice of Female Genital Mutilation.
Female Genital Mutilation is a cultural practice that the majority of women in Africa have experienced. Despite its deep cultural significance, it is taboo to speak about as it relates directly to female sexuality, which is incredibly stigmatized. Only in recent years has there been a push to end the practice through the efforts of concerned civilians, non-governmental organizations, as well as lawmakers.

Beaumont, Hilary. “Nigeria Becomes Latest African Nation to Outlaw Female Genital Mutilation.” VICE News, 3 June 2015, news.vice.com/article/nigeria-becomes-latest-african-nation-to-outlaw-female-genital-mutilation

The source is biased against FGM. Vice news is a liberal news source and obviously they take a western standpoint which is against cutting which most western people are despite political leanings. It is celebrating the ban on FGM and gives a few objective points. I used this article from Vice, a reliable source, to show that some nations are taking action to help aid the issue in terms of legislation.

Crouse, Lindsay. “A Step Forward on FGM.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 13 Apr. 2016, 

kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/04/13/a-step-forward-on-fgm/?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FFemale%2BGenital%2BCutting&action=click&contentCollection=health®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=9&pgtype=collection.

The article is biased against FGM. It tells of how women’s basic human rights are being violated. It describes how that by the constitution the practice is technically unlawful, but there is some misconceptions and vagueness in this and somehow allow for the practice to continue. The article describes how the cut causes pain during intimacy and how women fear this. Overall the articles showcases Somalia’s steps towards eradicating the practice legally.The connects to the “fleeing” and the “For years” article as it discusses the victims struggles. The NY times is a very credible source therefore the information is accurate. I used the information to show how philanthropic groups are helping the issue.

Dixon, Robyn. “For Years, African Women Scarred by Female Genital Mutilation Had No Hope. A California Doctor Is Changing That.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2017, www.latimes.com/world/africa/la-fg-kenya-genital-mutilation-2017-story.html.

 The article is biased against FGM. The article talks about organizations aimed at ending FGM. It discusses the way that philanthropists are helping to aid the situation. Hence, it shows a distaste for the FGM itself. This is similar to the “fleeing” article as it shows the importance of NGOs and philanthropy for the issue. The LA times is a reliable source and therefore the information is very credible. I used it for the testimonies about NGOS

“Female Genital Mutilation.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/.

The Source takes on FGM from a medical perspective. It details the health risks and the long and short term impacts on women. It shed light on the logistic issues and physical impacts rather than the ethical. This connects to the Al Jazeera Article as they are similar in terms of FAQs. The article is very reliable as the world health organization is a credible source. I used this to get basic facts on FGM.

Jazeera, Al. “What Is Female Genital Mutilation or FGM?” Female Genital Mutilation | Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, 5 Oct. 2017, www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/10/female-genital-mutilation-fgm-171004101413764.html.

The source takes on the major FAQs of FGM. It answers what it is, how it impacts women, and it’s cultural significance. It talks more about facts rather than opinion, but sheds light on why FGM is practiced and the practitioner's justifications. THis connects to the WHO article as it is very FAQ based. Al Jazeera is a very reliable source that has a lot of credible information. I used this source to give some of the facts about the ramifications of FGM.

Moore, Jina. “She Ran From the Cut, and Helped Thousands of Other Girls Escape, Too.”The New York Times, The New York Times, 13 Jan. 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/01/13/world/africa/female-genital-mutilation-kenya.html.

The article is biased against FGM. It shows how girls ran away from their fate of having their Clitorises cut. They wanted to protest the way that FGM harms women in Africa. They also sought better Sexual education and to end the taboo on female sexuality. The article connects a little to the other medical article as it talks about the physical aspects as well. The article gives good information as it comes from a reliable source. The article takes references from first hand witnesses to FGM as well. The source gathers quotes from those directly impacted. I used the source to show how some of the people are going about trying to get rid of FGM.

works cited:

“Tanzania: Enforcement of the Law Against Female Genital Mutilation.” Equality Now, 20 Apr. 2017, www.equalitynow.org/action-alerts/tanzania-enforcement-law-against-female-genital-mutilation.

ic.galegroup.com/ic/gic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/ViewpointsDetailsWindow?disableHighlighting=false&displayGroupName=Viewpoints&currPage=&scanId=&query=&docIndex=&source=&prodId=GIC&search_within_results=&p=GIC%3AOVIC&mode=view&catId=&u=los42754&limiter=&display-query=&displayGroups=&contentModules=&action=e&sortBy=&documentId=GALE%7CA530310676&windowstate=normal&activityType=BasicSearch&failOverType=&commentary=.

Beaumont, Hilary. “Nigeria Becomes Latest African Nation to Outlaw Female Genital Mutilation.” VICE News, 3 June 2015, news.vice.com/article/nigeria-becomes-latest-african-nation-to-outlaw-female-genital-mutilation

Crouse, Lindsay. “A Step Forward on FGM.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 13 Apr. 2016, 

kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/04/13/a-step-forward-on-fgm/?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FFemale%2BGenital%2BCutting&action=click&contentCollection=health®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=9&pgtype=collection.

Dixon, Robyn. “For Years, African Women Scarred by Female Genital Mutilation Had No Hope. A California Doctor Is Changing That.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2017, www.latimes.com/world/africa/la-fg-kenya-genital-mutilation-2017-story.html.

Jazeera, Al. “What Is Female Genital Mutilation or FGM?” Female Genital Mutilation | Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, 5 Oct. 2017, www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/10/female-genital-mutilation-fgm-171004101413764.html.

Moore, Jina. “She Ran From the Cut, and Helped Thousands of Other Girls Escape, Too.”The New York Times, The New York Times, 13 Jan. 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/01/13/world/africa/female-genital-mutilation-kenya.html.