Why Is Female Genital Cutting (FGC) A Violation Of Women ✓ Solved

Why Is Female Genital Cutting (FGC) a Violation of Women's Health

1. Why Is Female Genital Cutting (FGC) a Violation of Women's Health and Human Rights?

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Female genital cutting (FGC), also known as female genital mutilation (FGM), is a practice that involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. This procedure poses significant risks to women's health and violates their human rights. FGC is recognized by numerous health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN), as a harmful practice that can lead to severe physical and psychological consequences.

One of the primary reasons FGC is a violation of women's health is the immediate and long-term medical complications it can cause. The WHO reports that FGC can result in excessive bleeding, infections, and complications during childbirth (World Health Organization, 2022). These medical consequences are not only detrimental to a woman's health but also violate her right to bodily autonomy and informed consent. Such violations occur as many girls and women undergo FGC at a young age, often without their consent or understanding of the risks involved.

Moreover, FGC has long-lasting psychological effects. Women who have undergone FGC may experience anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to the trauma of the experience. Studies have indicated that the psychological consequences can persist throughout a woman's life (Behrendt & Moritz, 2005). This violates their human rights as individuals deserve to live free from harm, trauma, and the consequences of practices that are rooted in gender inequality.

FGC is also intertwined with cultural and societal norms that perpetuate gender inequality. The practice is often justified by cultural beliefs about female purity, traditions, and social acceptance. These beliefs undermine women's rights to health and bodily autonomy, placing cultural expectations over the well-being of individuals. As a result, women who refuse to undergo FGC may face social ostracism, economic hardship, or violence (Shell-Duncan, 2001). This societal pressure constitutes a violation of women's rights, as it forces them to conform to harmful traditions.

In conclusion, FGC is a violation of women's health and human rights due to its immediate and long-term health complications, psychological effects, and the cultural pressures surrounding the practice. Advocacy against FGC requires efforts to educate communities about the dangers of the practice and to promote gender equality. Sustainable change can only occur through empowering women and creating a shift in cultural attitudes towards the worth and rights of women and girls.

References

  • Behrendt, A., & Moritz, S. (2005). The perceived health consequences of female genital mutilation: A qualitative study. BMC Public Health, 5(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-5-9
  • Shell-Duncan, B. (2001). The Medicalization of Female Genital Cutting: Transformation of a Cultural Tradition into a Medical Practice. Medical Anthropology Quarterly, 15(3), 237-254. https://doi.org/10.1525/maq.2001.15.3.237
  • World Health Organization. (2022). Female Genital Mutilation. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/female-genital-mutilation
  • United Nations. (2020). Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/en/observances/end-female-genital-mutilation-day
  • Rainhorn, J. (2021). Evaluating the impact of social determinants on health outcomes among women who have undergone FGC. International Journal of Women's Health, 13, 231-243. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJWH.S276542
  • Morison, L., et al. (2004). The long-term effects of female genital mutilation on women’s health: A systematic review. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 84(1), 95-100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgo.2003.07.001
  • Sani, A., & Balogun, O. (2019). Female genital mutilation: A comprehensive review of the current literature. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 16(2), 214-224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.11.004
  • Thoma, M. E., et al. (2016). Prevalence of female genital mutilation among girls under 15 years of age in the United States: 2014-2015 data. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 27(1), 27-44. https://doi.org/10.1353/hpu.2016.0016
  • Almroth, L., et al. (2005). A 20-year follow-up of females who underwent infibulation: Obstetric and gynecological outcomes. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 193(3), 681-687. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2005.04.014

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