Female Genital Mutilation Research Paper

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Pages: 4

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), also known as female circumcision, or female genital cutting, has been practiced for several thousand years in almost 30 different African and Middle Eastern nations. The procedure is the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, causing injury to the female genital organs for no medical reason. Female Genital Mutilation is a cultural practice that is in violation of basic human rights for both girls and women. An inequality between the sexes, it is a discrimination against women. While Americans are well aware of male circumcision, they are completely clueless when it comes to female genital mutilation. The few that know about the practice believe it only takes place outside of the United States. …show more content…
or abroad. There are many different reasons on to why Female Genital Mutilation is performed but the most common one is to control women’s sexuality, by removing parts of the genitalia, especially the clitoris, the female is less pleased helping her control her urges. This is thought to ensure virginity before marriage and fidelity afterward, and to increase male sexual pleasure. There are four different yet similar types of Female Genital Mutilation. Type I is called clitoridectomy, this is when they remove Partial or total part of the clitoris or the prepuce. Type II, called excision is Partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora. Type III, called infibulation, is the Narrowing of the vaginal orifice with a covering seal. The last one type IV is basically all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for no medical purposes. Female Genital Mutilation Can be harmful to a women’s health, and often lead to issues throughout her life. The most extreme are death. When a girl dies as a direct result of FGC it is due to …show more content…
Female Genital Mutilation has been a crime under federal law since 1996 and is punishable by up to five years in prison, but Female genital mutilation is still present to this day in the United States because of