Female Genital Mutilation

What is Female Genital Mutilation?

Female genital mutilation (FGM) includes all procedures that involve the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
Female genital mutilation is classified into four major types:

Clitoridectomy: the partial or total removal of the clitoris (a small, sensitive and erectile part of the female genitals) and, rarely, the prepuce (the fold of skin surrounding the clitoris) as well.
Excision: the partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora (the labia are "the lips" that surround the vagina).
Infibulation: the narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal. The seal is formed by cutting and repositioning the inner, and sometimes outer, labia, with or without removal of the clitoris.
Other: all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, e.g. pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterizing the genital area.

FGM is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women. It reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes, and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women. It is nearly always carried out on minors and is a violation of the rights of children. The practice also violates a person's rights to health, security and physical integrity, the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and the right to life when the procedure results in death. The causes of female genital mutilation include a mix of cultural, religious and social factors within families and communities.

Myths about female genital mutilation

‘Female "circumcision" is equivalent to male circumcision’

FGM used to be called ‘female circumcision’ as a way of trying to suggest that it was equivalent. In order for male circumcision to be equivalent to even the "mildest" form of female genital cutting, the entire head of the penis would have to be removed, not just the foreskin. There are sometimes medical reasons as to why male circumcision is carried out, there are no medical reasons whatsoever to support FGM.

FGM is often associated with cultural ideals of femininity and modesty, which include the notion that girls are “clean” and "beautiful" after removal of body parts that are considered "male" or "unclean". The fact that the clitoris protrudes like a male penis means that in some cultures its removal is what is seen as creating a ‘female’.

‘FGM is performed just to guard virginity’

Although this is often an effect of FGM, there are a many reasons for performing FGM, including making a girl marriageable and mistakenly believing that the clitoris could grow long enough to drag along the ground. FGM is often considered a necessary part of raising a girl properly, and a way to prepare her for adulthood and marriage. A consequence of FGM is that it controls the behaviour of girls and any desire they have to explore their sexuality.

FGM is often motivated by beliefs about what is considered proper sexual behaviour, linking procedures to premarital virginity and marital fidelity. FGM is believed by some to reduce a woman's libido and help her resist "illicit" sexual acts. When a vaginal opening is covered or narrowed (type 3 above), for example, a woman is physically hindered from premarital sex. Afterwards, a painful procedure is needed to reopen the closure to enable sexual intercourse.

‘FGM is required by Islam and some other religions’

FGM is not required by any of the sacred Islamic texts, and there are no religions globally who officially prescribe the practice, although the people who carry out FGM often believe the practice has religious support and communities and buy into this false belief. However, as in other forms of violence against women religions can be misinterpreted by individuals and therefore religious leaders and their followers take varying positions with regard to FGM: some promote it, some consider it irrelevant to religion, and others contribute and work towards its elimination. Local structures of power and authority, such as community leaders, religious leaders, circumcisers, and even some medical personnel can contribute to upholding the practice or indeed challenging it.

‘FGM does not occur here in the United Kingdom it is an African "problem."

Due largely to immigration and the ability of people to travel globally, FGM is practiced on hundreds of girls in the United Kingdom each year. Estimates in the United States and other parts of Europe suggest that the level of FGM abuses there are at similar levels. However, the practice is most common in the western, eastern, and north-eastern regions of Africa, in some countries in Asia and the Middle East, and among certain immigrant communities in North America and Europe. In the UK girls may be taken aboard for the procedure to be conducted, but it is not unheard of for it to be conducted here but of course this would not be legal and would be considered to be an abuse of a child by our authorities.

‘FGM is an ancient custom in the cultures in which it is practiced.’

Though FGM has occurred in some cultures/regions for many generations, it is a relatively new tradition in others. In some societies, recent adoption of the practice is linked to copying the traditions of neighbouring groups. Sometimes it has started as part of a wider religious or traditional revival movement. In some societies, FGM is being practised by new groups when they move into areas where the local population practice FGM. In most societies where it is commonly practiced, FGM is considered a cultural tradition, which is often used as an argument for its continuation. Where FGM is a traditional practice in the community, the social pressure to conform to what others do is a strong motivation to continue the practice.

‘FGM is not that harmful’.

Thousands of women die each year shortly after undergoing FGM. Those who survive the procedure have complications ranging from difficulty urinating or passing menses to the inability to be penetrated to insuperably complicated births. The often communal nature of FGM, and the equipment used to perpetrate it, also makes HIV/AIDS, and other transferable infections and diseases, a threat.

Impact of female genital mutilation

FGM is usually performed on girls between the ages of 9-12, but may also be performed earlier or later. FGM has no health benefits, and it harms girls and women in many ways. It involves removing and damaging healthy and normal female genital tissue, and interferes with the natural functions of girls' and women's bodies. Health workers say that the operation is often carried out in unsanitary conditions. Razor blades, scissors, kitchen knives and even pieces of glass are used, often on more than one girl, which increases the risk of infection, and anaesthesia is rarely used. Immediate complications can include severe pain, shock, haemorrhage (bleeding), tetanus or sepsis (bacterial infection), urine retention, open sores in the genital region and injury to nearby genital tissue. Sometimes girls die as a direct result of the procedure and/or infection.

Long-term consequences can include:

Recurrent bladder and urinary tract infections;
Cysts;
Infertility;
The need for later surgeries. For example, the FGM procedure that seals or narrows a vaginal opening (type 3 above) is surgically changed to allow for sexual intercourse and childbirth, and sometimes stitched close again afterwards;
An increased risk of childbirth complications and newborn deaths.
Depression
Post traumatic stress

Risks

Procedures are mostly carried out on young girls sometime between infancy and age 15, and occasionally on adult women. In Africa, about three million girls are at risk for FGM annually. Between 100 to 140 million girls and women worldwide are living with the consequences of FGM. In Africa, about 92 million girls age 10 years and above are estimated to have undergone FGM. There are many risks linked to FGM including post traumatic stress, serious injuries and health consequences, complicated or difficult childbirth or death of mother and/or child. Many girls die as a result of the procedure itself.

Help seeking and keeping safe

If you believe that anybody, including yourself, is at risk of FGM procedures then it is important that you tell someone and seek help. If the person at risk is a child then this is a child protection issue and must be reported accordingly using local safeguarding children procedures.

If you feel that you are at risk then please approach a teacher, a trusted medical professional, or contact the Family Crimes Investigation Unit, Vulnerable Victims Advocates Team or Children’s Services and ask to speak to someone who can help you. Please SAY NO TO FEAR do not suffer in silence.

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