Empowerment Over Tradition: Taking a Stand Against FGM

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN OR TAKE CREDIT FOR THESE PICTURES.

In July, I was part of a school project that exposed me to life in a local community in Kenya. After that experience my friend and I had many discussions and reflections about the lives of young women like ourselves in rural communities not only in Kenya but in many parts of the world. It brought me to the realization that despite the fact that much progress has been made to advance women’s human rights in many areas, there are still some grave women's rights concerns that persist. One of them is FGM (Female Genital Mutilation).You might be curious as to what FGM is. How we can put a stop to it? Well so am I,I am interested in this topic because it involves women’s rights to make decisions about their bodies and sexuality. The practice limits opportunities for women and girls to realize their full rights and potential.

According to the World Health Organization female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.. There have been more than 200 million FGMs done on women and girls globally, according to Frontline Women's Fund. By 2030, it is anticipated that 60 million additional females would have surgery. This astounding statistic has me very perplexed as to how anybody could possibly believe that women have reached equality and freedom when such traditions and ideologies still dominate our daily lives.

FGM is now considered generational child abuse rather than a custom. To make room for the horrors occurring, I will not attempt to sugarcoat it or use politically acceptable rhetoric. The truth of the matter is that FGM remains a major human rights violation. The focus should be entirely on the safety of our women and girls and therefore the harmful cultural or religious justifications should not be allowed to stand.

The WHO classifies FGM into 4 groups :

1. Ranges from the partial or total removal of the clitoris

2. The removal of the clitoris, the cutting of the labia minora and majora

3. The removal of all external genitalia and the stitching together of the two sides of the vulva

4. All other medically unnecessary procedures involving the female genitalia like pricking, burning, piercing, incising, scraping etc.

The justifications for FGM can generally be divided into five groups according to UNFPA:

• One of the main reasons is to control and manage a women’s supposedly excessive sexual appetites, in this case FGM is done for psychosexual purposes. This is apparently true of the clitoris which is said to boost male sexual pleasure and to guarantee virginity before marriage and loyalty afterward.

• FGM is also justified in the name of culture and tradition as it is considered to be an important element of a communities’ history. It is seen as a necessity to show and introduce a girl into womanhood. Some even think undergoing this procedure promotes fertility or increases infant survival rates.

• Some just believe the external female genitalia is filthy and unsightly. The removal of this area is related to cleanliness and gives a more aesthetic appeal to the male counterparts.

• Despite the fact that neither Islam nor Christianity support the practice, FGM is frequently justified by pretended religious dogma.

• In several communities where women are heavily dependant on men, FGM is a requirement for marriage. It is an economic necessity for most women and also a significant source of income for those who perform the surgery.

How can you make a difference ? How can you help end FGM?

• Raising awareness by informing rural and urban communities about the damaging physical and psychological effects of FGM makes a difference. Even if you change the perspectives of two families on FGM that’s already 2 lives saved from potential death or traumatic experiences that could last a lifetime.

• Work with community and religious leaders to promote the abandonment of FGM and to speak out against it. Engaging reputable individuals or socialites that young people look up to can help persuade community members to change their minds about FGM.

• Advocating for women and girls in education will go a long way. Research shows that doing so is linked to decreasing incidences of FGM as people with higher levels of education are more likely to question established norms and are less likely to educated on their rights.

Together , with the help of the United Nations, CSOs and other like-minded institutions we can achieve the goal to end Female Genital Mutilation by 2030. Men and women partnering up to eliminate this practice will transform negative social and gender norms to end FGM.