Female circumcision aka female genital mutilation involves all processes and procedures comprising of the total removal or else partially of the female external genitalia or any other type of injury to the female genital parts for reasons, for instance ritual or for some ethnic reasons, other than non-medical purposes. Generally, the FGM has no any recognizable health merits for women and girls whatsoever so far. Mostly, it turns very risky for the procedure can incur severe bleeding and other genital complications involving infections and childbirth complications. People who support the practice in most cases take in some funny misconceptions to go on with the risky and harmful procedure (Abusharaf, 2013).

Some of the misconceptions involve: FGM can be done in a way that it does not cause harm to girls. Female genital mutilation is a serious risk and violation to human rights and cause lots of harms to girls and women. A second misconception is that a woman chooses to undergo FGM. Barely girls who undergo FGM are infants and under the age of fifteen and can typically make a sound decision on their own. They only understand the consequences of the risky practice later at older age. Another misconception involves the belief that FGM doesn’t happen in the United States when the practice is being done in secret (Abusharaf, 2013).

Another misconception is that since FGM is not done in my community, it is not my obligation to stop and condemn it in other vulnerable communities. To surprise, many misconceive that FGM has been banned and criminalized across all states in the US when it is evident that about twenty six states have no laws against FGM. It is true that western countries engage in various types of body medication that other might consider unnatural, unnecessary, modifications that promote gender inequalities, leading the line is FGM, plastic surgeries, gene transplant and editing among others (Abusharaf, 2013).

Outlawing female circumcision does not in any way contradict multiculturalism and cultural relativism. At the expense of somebody’s life and rights, there is nothing like contradicting it is time we seized from taking culture as a hide around to promote FGM. The human rights should come first and a clear line must be drawn such practices which violate human rights and the advocacy of human rights at this age of civilization. The cultural beliefs that FGM, for instance will contain a gal from sexual arousal and engagements, are long passed by time and should be forever banned for they compromise and violate human rights (Abusharaf, 2013).

References

Rogaia Mustafa Abusharaf, (2013), Female Circumcision: Multicultural Perspectives, University of Pennsylvania Press.