FGM-- Female Genital Mutilation

Female genital mutilation is the custom in many countries. In my view, it's an oppressive custom. I was first introduced to this by the Oprah show a few years ago. At the time, I think there was African woman seeking asylum because she feared that the procedure would be performed against her will if she returned to her own country. It was a hot news topic for a while, but I don't remember the outcome of the immigration situation. I do remember the explicit video of a genital mutilation. It was performed by a local elder woman with no medical procedure. The victim, yes I call her a victim, was a teenage girl. She was held down by other women in a bed and the procedure was performed with a large dirty rusty knife. It was shocking. They admonished her for crying. Can you believe that? No anesthesia was used and she was scolded for crying and screaming. It's nightmarish to think that a girl would have to face this situation and lack the power to say no.

This is absolutely a form of collective violence against women. But, the procedure is usually performed by elder women. These women undoubtedly have undergone the procedure themselves in the past and know the pain and complications that the young girls will face. But these women are mandated by their culture to perform this "rite". Why do women accept such things? I was hesitant about speaking out against FGM because it is a cultural practice. I thought maybe I was being a bit ethnocentric about the situation and I needed to employ cultural relativism. But the story about Agatha, the African woman who worked to stop this practice in her community was encouraging. I believe that when cultural practices are in question, it is important for the women in these communities to find strength and mobilize if only in a small way. They have to let the world know that FGM goes beyond a cultural practice. It is forced, undesired, and oppressive. Currently, more and more women are condemning this practice within their own communities. They are asking for help and the world should respond.