Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) became illegal in the UK in 1985. That's the good news. The bad news is that since then, prosecutions have been rare, and there has not been very much enthusiasm for taking the issue as seriously as it deserves.
In 2016 there is a greater public awareness of FGM than previously, and perhaps also a greater public revulsion.
FGM constitutes the mutilation of the female genitals in one or more of four different procedures. The reasons for FGM are predominantly cultural or religious: purity, chastity, honour are among the motivations.
FGM damages women. Designed to impact on female sexuality, FGM is effective: it inhibits sexual pleasure and makes sexual activity painful, difficult or impossible. It is hard to imagine such cruelty. Of course, it is men who wrote the rules.
If FGM is not taken seriously, Male Genital Mutilation, circumcision, is not even considered as an issue.
Why is this ?
Though the impact of FGM and circumcision may be different, the procedures are different in degree, not in kind. Both involve mutilation of the genitalia for non-medical reasons. Both are conducted for religious or cultural reasons. Both are routinely conducted on children without their permission.
If circumcision is not genital mutilation, what is it ?
If genital mutilation is required for reasons of cultural or religious identity, then surely the consent of the victim should be gained. If adults wish to undergo genital mutilation, then I have no problem with it. But to bring about such life-long changes without consent looks like child abuse to me.
FGM could be improved by the surgical removal of the 'F': genital mutilation is just that, regardless of gender. It is barbaric, atavistic, anachronistic and a sexual assault of the worst kind.
If there are no medical reasons for genital surgery, it should not take place. Full stop.
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