Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is mostly practiced in African countries, few Middle East countries and few Asian countries.
FGM takes on three different forms (WHO):
1) removal of the clitoris
2) removal of the clitoris and labia
3) removal of the clitoris and labia, as well as sewing the vagina (leaving a small hole for urine and menstural blood to excrete)
sounds pretty harsh, doesn't it? I , along with many people in the North American society, concider this practice very brutal. But I stopped to think about it... and came to realize that our society does not differ with the cruel customs practiced today- Stilettos, "boob jobs", waxing (especially brazilian) and dieting obsession. Are we really that different? I think not. Next time you put those heals to go to the party, think about the problems that will be caused to your back, knees and feet. Next time you wax (or pluck out) your body hair, think about all the benifits it will contribute (is there really any??). Next time you question your body, just remember that not all of our bodies are the same; not all of our bodies are supposed to be the same; and just because one type is concidered to be the ''norm'' (which keeps getting thinner and thinner) doesn't mean we all have to conform and suffer to look like a toothpick. After all, men prefer voluptuous women with something to grab on!
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visits since 22/03/07
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2 comments:
While you can draw parallels, there is still one very stark difference: these women do NOT have a choice, we do. Big difference.
I think what bothers me the most (other than the actual procedure itself) is that the women are doing it to each other. Talk about betrayal. Talk about distorted ideas of femininity and sexuality.
you have to understand that women who do not get FGM in most societies will remain as social outcast, just like here women who are "overweight" for example . True, some cases girls are forced to to have FGM, however, in many cases, if they refuse they will not be touched. So why do these women still do it? like i said before, they want to fit into the society, just like girls of North America. To add to that, in England and US only a century ago clitoridectomy was practiced by physicians to cure upper class women of 'too much interest in sex'... and sometimes apply acid to the clitoris if girls were found masturbating.
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