Female Genital Mutilation in Africa

[Naphtali]

Although it is abolished by law, this is happening in Africa especially in the rural communities. It is a taboo in some societies in Africa for a female to get married without undergoing female genital mutilation. It is believed that female genital circumcision will make these girls responsible mothers when they get married. There are many problems associated with female genital mutilation including the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS and the loss of sexual pleasure (with clitoris gone). the knives and blades used in this ritual are transferable which makes matters worse. they are used to perform all girls present at a time.

Some say It is an honor to the girl who undergoes this rite and also her parents.. what do you think?. do you think this is a barbaric tradition?

[guru]

I don't argue with their traditions as long as it is done in a sterile manner. However, with what you've stated it seems like there is unhygienic practice that is happening. I pity those who have undergone such which was transmitted with any kind of illness.

[MattChow]

I think, this really is a bad tradition in Africa. I really believe that they don't have to resort to female genitalia mutilation/circumcision or to be blunt, removal of the clitoris, to make these young girls be responsible mothers when they get married. I've seen the report regarding this in the television and it horrified me, seeing these girls subjected to such abuse. Adding to that, the equipment used are not sterilized and is vulnerable to diseases that grips Africa. This kind of tradition needs to be stopped.

[Walker]

I am terribly horrified reading this news...I never thought, not in the wildest of dreams that present day human being can carry out such practices...

It is really disgusting to say the least.....Who on earth has given them powers to do such thing against female community?

I really feel ashamed of this...and cannot just come to grips of such rituals.

Whats the pride in landing on the moon and trying to discover our universe when in our own backyard, such cruel rituals are allowed to happen in the name of tradition....

By doing such things, they are in fact challenging GOD for his best creation !!!!

Regards,

Walker

[bluesnow]

I think this have to be stopped. Female genital circumcision will make these girls responsible mothers??? What kind of logic is that? Whether a mother will be responsible or not will only depend on her character. How does physical attributes affect their responsibility?

I think education is necessary in order to educate them about the risk they are putting themselves in and to change their mindset and do away with such perverse traditions. The women don't have to go through this sort of suffering or torture!

[Cermet]

It seems to be a horrible barbaric tradition, but it is their tradition and an accepted form of their society -- we have to remember what we find horrifying and disgusting is seen as beautiful and it honors the woman -- you can even look back at foot binding in China for an example of a barbaric practice, of human mutilation... but they saw it as a form of beauty -- The deeper question is... why do women always have to suffer through this 'so called' traditions - let the men in on some of this playing with knives.

[zowie]

This is one of the crazy practices still in practice even in this millennium. Women of Muslim community are mostly submitted to this barbaric act. Even if most cases are reported from Africa, there are cases of this happening in other parts of the world as well.

[Aleiah]

I beg to disagree with you Cermet, I don't think these women or young girls agreed willfully to be subjected to such abuse. They are forced to undergo these procedures because of the traditions. I have read or seen in the television that some African women have voiced out their complaint against this horrible practice. Although, it would not immediately go away, I hope that these women would get educated that doing the genitalia mutilations cannot make these women responsible mothers. Of course, they would refrain from having intercourse since that is so painful that I can't just imagine.

[BlueSword]

yes, this has got to stop. i pity the women of this country they usually suffer badly than the men. aside from these horrible traditions, they are treated like dirt, they are made to work the fields and to work for their men.i have heard reports also that four women in Africa are raped every minute. this is very bad, they need to respect their women.

[jessika]

this is really unbelievable and barbaric a tradition. i don't understand what's wrong with these people. why doesn't the government do something to stop them and aware them of their rights, educate them and get them back on track of humanity. God when will this world stop punishing a girl of being a girl???

[William]

I believe that if this is done under their will, then why not? However this is barring the more obvious items like, proper safety, understanding of potential consequences, and again consent.

[BCRoller]

I find the practice of female genital mutilation to be one of the most barbaric and horrendous acts of them all. To think that removing a woman's clitoris will make her a more responsible mother is one of the most ridiculous, far-fetched things I have ever heard in my life. Granted, I'm not saying that some don't claim that it's done for this reason (however, I'll be the first to say that I do have some VERY serious doubts about that claim altogether), I'm just saying that "that" reason is downright.....disturbing. Heck, come to think of it, "ANY" reason for this kind of mutilation is more than just a little disturbing. How on Earth does the removal of any woman's clitoris make her more responsible in any way, shape or form? I mean, really, I can't recall the last time my clitoris got in the way of me doing the dishes, mopping the floors, folding the laundry nor, in the very least, ever helped me out with my parenting duties. Good grief, what's next; chop off a man's doo-dads with the expectation that this means he'll suddenly start helping out around the house more? There is simply no logic behind this "more responsible mother" reasoning whatsoever and this grotesque act of complete and horrendous nature needs to stopped.

[DaughterUK]

This practice has to stop. There are absolutely no benefits to female genital mutilation whatsoever, but there are several downsides. I watched a TV programme about this practice in Somalia about a year ago, where the mutilation was done when the girls were eight years old, and WITHOUT ANY FORM OF ANAESTHETIC WHILST THE GIRLS OWN MOTHER AND AUNT WERE HOLDING HER DOWN ON THE FLOOR AS SHE SCREAMED IN PAIN. Added to that the place was somebodys kitchen floor and was filthy. As a woman I found it unbelievable that women would not only contemplate having such a barbaric operation performed on their daughters, but to force it on them brutally and be a participant in this abuse.

These women had the impression that if the operation was not done, then it meant that a woman would want to have sex with any man the second that she looked at him. They seemed to believe that it was necessary to prevent infidelity.

Other stories on the same documentary highlighted that many women suffered from sexual problems as a direct result of their mutilation, and that by and large their husbands were unsympathetic. One of the women had had her vagina sewed shut, and the husband thought that it was HIS job to cut it back open and forbade her from getting medical treatment for it.

Basically, this practice continues due to the complete lack of education and the cultural problem of women being classed as the property of men. It's really really heartbreaking and horrifying that such barbarity and ignorance still exists in the 21st century.

[pasturel123]

This has to be one of the most disgusting things I have ever heard. Anyone who says we should be tolerant of these traditions should have the procedure performed on them. I don't care how sterile or medicated you want to make it, this is barbaric child abuse in it's worse form. The hell with tolerance and tradition. This will be stopped !!!!

[pasturel123]

Guru I can't believe you agree with FGM if it's done in a sterile manner.
This is a horrible practice that can only be called child abuse.

[Guinea-Bissau]

It is very sad that up till now female genital mutilation is still practiced in Africa. I support culture but not such barbaric traditions. I would support it if there were any health benefits at all. But from all indications there are no health benefits. It just puts young girls in pain and sorrow for no good reason. In my opinion people who perform female genital mutilation must be dealt with by law enforcement agencies. Illiteracy is killing us.

[Amaka]

I don't know which part of Africa you are talking about but it is quite a long time since I heard of Female Genital Mutilation in Africa. Those still practicing female genital mutilation are those living in far away villages. It is a criminal offense in my country and if you are caught engaging or practicing female genital mutilation you will be dealt with according to law.

This is just horrific. just looking at this picture makes me feel uneasy. I can't imagine myself in that position.