An Executive Order to Abolish Female

Genital Mutilation
Sarah LaMaster and Machiko Raheem
April 21, 2016

The practice of female Genital Mutilation is still currently plaguing

women on a national scale. The most common misconceptions
regarding FGM are the beliefs the procedure strictly occurs in Africa
and the custom is a thing of the past. In reality, there have been over
4,989 new cases of FGM since the National Health Service began
recording cases, 1,026 of which occurred within a two-month time span
in England. The United Kingdom has long since worked to abrogate
FGM by criminalizing both the procedure and prohibiting traveling
abroad to seek the surgery. Unfortunately, successful prosecution has
yet to occur. Over 140 million women and young girls have undergone
some form of FGM across the world, 6,000 of these instances occurring
daily, and the complications accompanying the procedure have
reached insurmountable proportions.
While the United Kingdom ignited the movement against FGM by
banning it in 1985, the country of Nigeria has currently chosen to
follow suit and reignite the process of eradicating the heinous tradition.
Goodluck Jonathan, the President of Nigeria, signed the Violence
Against Persons (Prohibition) Act on May 25th of 2015, which officially
banned the practice of FGM in the country. While a few Nigerian states
had already outlawed the life-threatening procedure, this Act works to
ensure nation-wide abolishment; a political move that is paramount to
ending FGM and preserving the rights of the female population. The
political authority possessed by the country of Nigeria enables
Jonathans Act to serve as the precedent for other countries also
housing FGM victims. His final act as president was a historical
occurrence that, if implemented effectively, will catalyze the worldwide
eradication of female genital mutilation.

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FGM

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What is Female Genital Mutilation?
FGM is a procedure that intentionally alters or causes injury to the
female genital area that involves total or partial removal of female
genitalia, or other injury to the area (Female Genital Mutilation.
WHO). The term FGM acts a broad umbrella that encompasses four
different types of the procedure. The first form of the procedure, Type I.
FGM, is a clitoridectomy, which consist of the total or partial removal of
the clitoris and/or the prepuce. Type II. FGM is referred to as excision
and is comprised of the total or partial removal of the clitoris and labia
minora, which may include the excision of the labia majora.
Type III. and Type IV. FGM are the two most extreme versions of the
procedure. Type III., also known as infibulation, consists of cutting the
labia minora and/or labia majora and using stitches to narrow the
vaginal orifice, with the possible removal of the clitoris. In order to
keep this seal intact, the girls legs are bound for an extended period of
time. This form of the procedure leaves only a small opening for urine
and menstrual blood to exit, and undergoing surgery or engaging in
sexual intercourse must reopen the stitches. Type IV. FGM is a
compilation of all other procedures involving the female genitalia, such
as piercings.

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Why does FGM exist?
There are numerous reasons as to why FGM exists. The underlying
cause would be the Androcentric, patriarchal views and socials
structures in which the modern society is based on. This essentially
classifies the man as the norm and the women as the other, as the
lesser version of a male standard. This comes from Judeo-Christian
Theology from the story of Adam and Eve where Eve was described as
being made from a part of Adams ribs, thus implying that she is
merely a part of the perfect specimen. Furthermore, Eve and
consequently women are seen as the cause of the downfall of the
human race for which she must be punished.
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FGM

In most common in western, eastern, and north-eastern regions of

Africa. Some countries in Asia and the Middle East. These societies
believe that the virtue of women should be protected. The cultures
hold the belief that FGM will ensure proper sexual behavior on the part
of the women, who will be pure until she is married to her husband.
The idea of the importance of Femme Couverte or Femininity and
Modesty is prevalent in these cultures and henceforth it is considered a
necessary part of raising a girl properly. Although there are people that
oppose the practice, eventually they conform to the practice and the
cycle continues due to the immense social pressure they endure.
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_ _ _ _ Why is FGM a Problem?
According to a report conducted by UNICEF, more than 130 million
girls and women have experienced FGM in 29 countries in Africa and
the Middle East where the practice is most common. This is usually
carried out on very young girls without their consent, which is a blatant
violation of human rights against women. Furthermore, even if it is
carried out on older girls, it is often not done with their willing
participation, such is the case with Fauziya KAssindja, who authored
the novel Do They Hear When You Cry. The novel depicted her
escape from her tribe in Tongo, West Africa to America following her
marriage to a man much older than she was and her close encounter
with female circumcision in order to prepare her of the marriage (as
this was something the future husband had requested) at the age of 13
years.
Other than being a violation of womens rights, it also exacerbates the
inequality between sexes. The practice essentially prepares women for
marriage; following FGM sexual intercourse is extremely painful, as
the hole that is left is so small that it tears when any foreign object
enters it. Furthermore, it makes sexual intercourse more physically
pleasurable for men as the vagina is tighter, and apparently feels
better. It also increases the emotional and mental satisfaction of the
men by giving them power as they feel like they are strong enough to
enter such a small hole and have a female be an object of pleasure to
do with what they wish.
As the practice empowers men, it simultaneously disempowers women
who lose their rights to their own body. No longer are they viewed as
people, but rather as objects who are created to fulfill their duty
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FGM

towards their husbands. THis again ties in with Judeo-Christian

Theology; women are the lesser version as the physical pain that they
endure is justified as punishment for causing the downfall from grace
of humankind.
Not only does this make women feel as though they are nothing but
objects to fulfill male fantasy, the process is excruciatingly painful and
is often done without the aid of any form of anesthesia. This in turn
causes significant trauma, during and after the procedure and thus
leads to psychological health conditions such as PTSD and depression.
If the above mentioned problems were not startling enough, the
procedure, which is almost always carried out on minors, causes
immediate harmful effects, that include hemorrhage (bleeding),
bacterial infection, open sores, and long-term consequences that
include infertility, childbirth complications and recurring bladder
infections, and even death.

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Thesis Proposing Adopted Action
It is important to note that in order to make this procedure no longer
practiced, we must not only have political change, but cultural change
too. In order to change the hegemonic views, we must educate the
masses. Oftentimes, the problems that arise from conducting this
procedure is not blamed on the procedure itself, but rather on other
cultural and superstitious beliefs. In order to help these women we
must provide the masses with education on the topic. Although there
will always be people who oppose such information, hegemony is a
process, and we merely need to initiate a change in views of a few who
will hopefully spread their views over a period of time consequently
changing the hegemonic ideals of these patriarchal societies that
support violence against women.
However, there are numerous problems with trying to implement such
a change. Most important is that fact that these practices are so
deeply-rooted in ethnic and cultural practices of these nations that we
must be careful not to seem as though we are disrespecting their
ideals. As a foreign movement, we need to understand that although
this is a harsh practice and many women suffer from it, many that
have undergone the procedure will subject their children to the same
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suffering, not because they feel as though the child must be punished,
but rather because they are proud of their customs and traditions and
wish to uphold them.

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