"These practices like female genital mutilation are carried out by women for the benefit of men."
What is a Clitoridectomy?
Did You Know...
-If your clitoris is "longer than average" at birth, it's highly likely it'll be cut off (clitoridectomy) by a pediatric surgeon?
-In some parts of the world, the clitoris is cut (most of the time, completely removed) at birth or later, simply because it will “prevent a girl from being horny.” In other words, it could bring her sexual pleasure if she were allowed to keep it.
-During the Victorian era (19th century), many females had partial or complete clitoridectomies to prevent masturbation.
-An estimated 2,000 female babies per year are "given" clitoridectomies in the US.
-Women who were deemed "promiscuous" often had the procedure forced upon them, unwillingly, and sometimes without even being aware of the procedure being performed. Until they awoke without a clitoris, of course. As hard as this is to believe, it has happened. Some women claimed to have been put to sleep only to awake and not have their clitoris anymore.
-Mothers in some parts of the world are told that if the clitoris is not removed, it will continue to grow until it drags on the ground, and that if they leave their daughters' clitorises intact, they'll become wild and will crave men. Some believe that one reason this tradition has been able to flourish is due to lack of education. In these parts of the world, they've been taught very little (or nothing at all) about their anatomies, so they only know what they're told.
This is one primary reason that they continue to remove clitoris after clitoris, and it's believed that part of the reason clitoridectomy is still alive in the United States is due to immigrants who come to the US and continue their practices of at-home clitoridectomies. Keep in mind, though, that masturbation is not the only reason for female genital mutilation. It’s done in many different parts of the world, and for many different reasons. It is done for cultural practices, for example. Or, for instance, in parts of Nigeria and Burkina Faso, during the first seven months of a woman’s first pregnancy, the clitoris is removed because they believe that if the baby comes in contact with the clitoris, it will die.
Female genital mutilation has made it to the surface and we’re being made more aware of it, but I didn’t know just how horrific and common this “procedure” was until doing some research of my own. I’d read about it, seen photos which were enough to momentarily make my heart stop, and even had seen on television years ago where infant girls had their clitorises removed in order to prevent them from desiring or getting any pleasure from it. Then, when I learned how common it was and found out that it even happens in my country (U.S.), I was absolutely horrified.
-If your clitoris is "longer than average" at birth, it's highly likely it'll be cut off (clitoridectomy) by a pediatric surgeon?
-In some parts of the world, the clitoris is cut (most of the time, completely removed) at birth or later, simply because it will “prevent a girl from being horny.” In other words, it could bring her sexual pleasure if she were allowed to keep it.
-During the Victorian era (19th century), many females had partial or complete clitoridectomies to prevent masturbation.
-An estimated 2,000 female babies per year are "given" clitoridectomies in the US.
-Women who were deemed "promiscuous" often had the procedure forced upon them, unwillingly, and sometimes without even being aware of the procedure being performed. Until they awoke without a clitoris, of course. As hard as this is to believe, it has happened. Some women claimed to have been put to sleep only to awake and not have their clitoris anymore.
-Mothers in some parts of the world are told that if the clitoris is not removed, it will continue to grow until it drags on the ground, and that if they leave their daughters' clitorises intact, they'll become wild and will crave men. Some believe that one reason this tradition has been able to flourish is due to lack of education. In these parts of the world, they've been taught very little (or nothing at all) about their anatomies, so they only know what they're told.
This is one primary reason that they continue to remove clitoris after clitoris, and it's believed that part of the reason clitoridectomy is still alive in the United States is due to immigrants who come to the US and continue their practices of at-home clitoridectomies. Keep in mind, though, that masturbation is not the only reason for female genital mutilation. It’s done in many different parts of the world, and for many different reasons. It is done for cultural practices, for example. Or, for instance, in parts of Nigeria and Burkina Faso, during the first seven months of a woman’s first pregnancy, the clitoris is removed because they believe that if the baby comes in contact with the clitoris, it will die.
Female genital mutilation has made it to the surface and we’re being made more aware of it, but I didn’t know just how horrific and common this “procedure” was until doing some research of my own. I’d read about it, seen photos which were enough to momentarily make my heart stop, and even had seen on television years ago where infant girls had their clitorises removed in order to prevent them from desiring or getting any pleasure from it. Then, when I learned how common it was and found out that it even happens in my country (U.S.), I was absolutely horrified.
The fact that America still encourages male circumcision is why immigrants feel a right to do this at home - America might claim to oppose FGM, but it still endorses the unnecessary surgical alteration of a (male) child's genitals, so to somebody looking for justification, it's all a question of degrees.
I think it's beyond reprehensible that girls are subjected to this barbaric act - I hope all parents caught doing it are punished to the full extent of the law.