NEWS: WHO: FGM Torture

CULTURE: WHO: FGM Torture

Female "circumcision," also known as female genital mutilation, has been declared a form of "torture." The practice, mostly found in the Middle East and Africa, has been also found to increase postpartum hemorrhage. Over 100 million women have been affected.

If you have a chance, research the work of urologist Dr. Pierre Foldes, another hero in the world of FGM.

I don't even like to hear about this topic, it makes me sick

Good to hear, but why'd it take that long?

the only episode I've ever seen of Nip/Tuck had this on, and it was that her husband had cut off her clitoris, and the doctor replaced it with a pinky toe.

I made jokes about the clitoeris all night.

Some cultures even require removing the labia minor + major, and then add permanent stiches to make the girls "pure".
These cultures may die in fires.

[Edited on Jun 04, 2006 6:31PM]

wow ... basterds.



" it tames a girl's sexual desires, maintains her honour and increases her marriageability."

So what do they do to the guy to make sure he does the same? ?

Sounds like they are pretty much assuming the girl will be a slut before she even hits 10 so they best do it while she is young so she does not start having pleasures.

most patriarchal societies place the burden of sexual immorality squarely on the women, it happens in cultures the world over.

That's progress. Now let's ban male circumcision.

(Yes, I'm 100% serious.)

I don't think the two are equivalent.

Jews will love that.

No, they're not.

Many cultures that practice FGM do it around puberty, but the boys/men are also circumcised at that time, without painkillers or hygenic conditions, just like the girls/women. It would be nice to see that practice reviewed, as well.

First things first, though. Changing a custom is always slow.

Wow, that woman rocks. I imagine the possible punishment for her is quite severe according to our standards, and she risked everything to help thousands of young women. It makes me sick just to hear about this practice still going on, and it's a shame that there are not more enlightened people like this woman in these cultures.

What? How can something tame someone's sexual desires AND increase their marriageability?

There was a relatively famous Ethiopian spokeswoman against Female Genital Mutilation. She said, the practice was usually completed (in her village) with a very sharp rock (no joke.) She immigrated to America and has been campaigning against it for years.

They are not at all equivalent...unless you consider the "foreskin" to begin about halfway down the penile shaft, and cut the entire head off with a butcher knife.

I suspect that method, however, would probably have the desired effect of "limiting the sexual promiscuity" of the participants :-)


[Edited on Jun 04, 2006 11:57AM]

You gotta remember other cultures have completely different views than ours. Warped views, but there views nonetheless.

Definition of a woman in these (fucked-up) cultures...

- Life support system for a uterus. With a built in cook, nanny and maid.
- Receptacle for their manly man-ness.
- Scapegoat for their "honor" (heavy sarcastic quotes.)
- Punching bag.

I am really starting to have no tolerance for most of that part of the world. I really am.

I think FGM is an abomination, one of the most ghastly things human beings have ever conceived of to do to one another. Disturbing to read about how prevalent it still is.

About time.

i never understood who exactly said men where in charge of anything in the first place

I think it shows that the West's way of thinking of non-Western cultures is maturing. We went from colonialism (the White Man's Burden, we have to spread civilization to the savages) to cultural relativism (we don't understand it, but it's their culture, and we must respect it.) Now, I think we've seen that there is a universal code of conduct and respect for human rights that all cultures must follow, and if a non-Western culture violates that, they should be criticized as strongly as a Western culture that violates it.

Clearly, this is a vicious, horrid process that must be eradicated. There's no cultural excuse for it.

Myself as well.

I try to be as tolerant and open minded as possible, but that part of the world has stretched my tolerance to the absolute limit. Frankly, I've absolutely no tolerance left.

Right, the two practices are extremely different. But in both cases it is an unneccessary and forced act. In most US hospitals a new parent has to opt out of having a newborn son circumsized, which in turn causes the boy to lose sensitivity in his genitals. It's an archaic practice that has no use in modern society.

Back on topic of the article, I hope that the WHO is able to get the countries involved to actually educate their population about the dangers of female genital mutilation, and to combat it in those areas where it is still happening.

This is great news for pro-human rights people everywhere.

Most governments throughout human history.