Summary: Cutting For Stone

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Pages: 5

Social gender constructs influence female genital mutilation or circumcision (FGM/FGC) in Asia which affect the overall health of females. The purpose of this paper is to compare the social constructs that affect females in Asia and the representation of female social constructs in Ethiopia in the novel “Cutting for Stone”. FGM in Asia is considered part of religion and a social norm, but in “Cutting for Stone,” it is used as a form of punishment in violation of fornication. Furthermore, both cultures accept and consider sexual seeking behaviors and fornication as a social construct of males.
FGM in Asia is prevalent in association with the expectations, religious beliefs, and societal norms formed for women which are associated with health
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1). The World Health Organization (2017) also states the reasons FGM is still prevalent is due to sociocultural factors. An Iran survey displayed that only 4% believed that FGM was not obligatory or associated with religious beliefs, and a mere 9% believed there were no benefits of FGM (Mahmoudi, 2016). Not only do majority of the Iranians believe FGM is mandatory and an expected practice, but they also do not practice FGM for beneficial reasons. When asked, directly, in the survey the benefits of FGM, the response revealed the benefits were to control women’s sexual desires, and for infection control (Mahmoodi, 2016). This implies that Iranians see the practice as an expectation of women to control sexual behaviors, and as a primary intervention to health concerns. World Health Organization disagrees and states, “FGM has no health benefits, and it harms girls and women in many ways. It involves removing and damaging healthy and normal female genital tissue, and interferes with the natural functions of girls' and women's bodies” (World Health Organization, 2017, para. 7). The World Health …show more content…
In the current population of 2.8 million 15-year-old women in the six African countries, a loss of 130,000 life years is expected owing to FGM’s association with obstetric hemorrhage. This is equivalent to losing half a month from each lifespan. (para.