Female Genital Mutilation

[Anonymous]

WHAT IS IT?

Female Genital Mutilation, also known as female circumcision/cutting, is the practice of removing parts or all of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. This procedure is carried out extensively in Northern Africa and parts of the Middle East.

WHERE IS IT BEING PERFORMED?

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

TYPES OF MUTILATIONS

ANY HEALTH BENEFITS?

+ the benefit of never enjoying sex

+ the benefit of losing almost all your libido permanently

+ the benefit of lovely bacterial infections

+ the benefit of cysts

+ the benefit of a recurrent bladder and urinary tract infections

+ the benefit of highly likely infertility

+ the benefit of a high chance of your child dying in birth

WHOSE AT RISK?

Procedures are mostly carried out on young girls sometime between infancy and age 15, and occasionally on adult women. In Africa, more than three million girls have been estimated to be at risk for FGM annually.

WHY DOES THE PRACTICE PERSIST?

Anna-Moora Ndege, 86, clit cutter:

Girls are cut to ensure they remain faithful because the sexual organ is not there anymore. When you are cut you will not be a slut looking for men here and there like a prostitute.

"You are docile, waiting for your husband because after you are cut, sex is for having children not for anything else.

Agnes Keruba, 62, clit cutter:

Circumcision is an important festival. It's a celebration like Christmas. It unites people. There is feasting and drinking and dancing.

When you are cut that's when you can grow healthily into a woman because the bad blood is not there anymore. In the body there is good blood and bad blood. After a girl is cut the bad blood is gone.

Agnes also adds:

We use a sharp instrument like a knife or a razor blade. I put millet flour over the organs so that is not slippery so I can hold it. And the flour helps to stop the bleeding.

Agnes also adds that she places a removed clitoris on the ground so that Safari ants can take it away.

A neighbour might ask a mother if her daughter has fed the ants, as a way of asking if the girl has been circumcised.

Dixion Kibagendia, cultural leader of the Kisi tribe:

Women who still have a clitoris can't distinguish between her husband and other men.

They cannot control their emotions if they have a clitoris.

When the clit cutters were asked if they were aware of the complications that can arise from this practice:

Agnes answers:

If the girl becomes sick it is the failure of the mother because she should be at home looking after her daughter. I know two girls from this village who have died.

One of the mothers was made an outcast. She was accused of allowing her daughter to die. The mother is blamed for being unfaithful to her husband. The girl was buried like a dog. She was buried without a proper funeral, without the proper respect.

Anna-Moora answers:

I have known girls who are healthy to become sick after they are cut. If a girl is bleeding heavily after she has been cut she must lie down on the ground.

And Anna-Moora's final words:

We have been cut. I remember it was very painful but everyone was very happy – there was dancing and singing.

Well at least the Safari ants will be feasting on many clits and labias this summer :)

Source for the interview.