Female_Genital_Mutilation

Female Genital Mutilation The first female circumcision recorded was performed in the 15th century, B.C. (McCarthy, 1996). Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) also known as female circumcision is a traditional procedure that is usually performed on girls before they reach puberty. Usually it is performed from a few days after birth to puberty, but in some regions, the torture can be put off until just before marriage or the seventh month of pregnancy. (Samad, 1996) Female genital mutilation originated in Africa and remains today a mainly African cultural practice. It is a cultural practice and not a religious practice (Mens, 1996) and it is also considered necessary in order for a girl to be considered a complete woman. Many cultures support female circumcision because of ancient native beliefs. For example, some believe that bodies are bisexual at birth. To enter adulthood, girls must be relieved of their male part, the clitoris (Brownlee, 1994). Others believe that the clitoris contains poison or will eventually grow to the size of a man’s penis (Toubia, 1995). The clitoris is believed to be dangerous and must be removed for health reasons. Some believe that it is a poisonous organ, which can cause a man to become sick or die fgm, practice, women, countries, clitoris, girls, genital, female, mutilation, health, circumcision, been, often, become, woman, reasons, prevalence, performed, operation, birth, believe, africa, removed, practiced, million, marriage, include, however, done, data, areas, 1996, painful, over, out, one