Have you ever heard of the culture of female circumcision? Prevalent in the world's 30 countries, the age is mostly distributed in girls to adolescence, there are many purposes, but the most direct is to destroy women's sexual pleasure, and as a sign of marriage loyalty.
CNN reported on May 1, 2020 that Sudan has officially criminalized female genital mutilation as an important step forward for women's rights.
About 88 percent of women in Sudan are circumcised, one of the world's largest affected countries, according to The United Nations, according to the report. Now the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has declared that the culture of circumcision undoubtedly violates women's rights and interests, and has decided to formally amend the law, taking the position of protecting and respecting women.
However , according to the latest statistics from the World Health Organization ( WHO ) in February this year , circumcision rituals are still practised in 30 countries , including Africa , the Middle East and Asia , with more than 200 million girls or women being cut . Also take this opportunity to learn about circumcision rituals and the deprivation of women's bodies behind them:
Pictures: Dazhi Images
Unspeakable Harm: Female Circumcision
The World Health Organization defines circumcision as "partial or complete removal of female genitalia for non-medical reasons" and considers such practices to have no health benefits for women. In the present day, severe pain, excessive bleeding, infection and even shock death, long-term complications include urination, menstrual and vaginal problems, pain, and later pregnancy, may also lead to complications of childbirth and the risk of neonatal death.
Circumcision usually occurs between the first and 15-year-olds of a baby girl, and according to data, more than 3 million girls are at risk of genital mutilation each year. The way of execution is divided into removal or labia, stitching of the vaginal mouth, leaving only a small hole to discharge blood, or through puncture, burns or scratches to destroy the female genitalia.
Photo:END FGM
It is conceivable that these non-medical actions will cause the woman to continue to suffer from vaginal tissue tearing during future menstruation, or at the time of childbirth.
And in this process, usually performed by a midwife or hairdresser, the tool is a rusty knife or broken glass.
Pictures: Dazhi Images
What is the significance of the culture of circumcision that "not taking part in circumcision will shame the father"?
Kakenya Ntaiya, a Maasai girl from Kenya, performed a "circumcision ritual" in order to continue her education. She shared on a TED talk that she had been through her experiences:
"The day before the ceremony, we were all dancing and staying up all night. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 」
"I was bleeding all the time, and after a while, I fainted. A lot of girls are going to die about it, and I'm lucky I didn't die. The ceremony was held in this way, with out of anaesthetic, with only a rusty old knife. Now think of it, it's really hard to get through. 」
The girl mentioned that, according to their tradition, girls had to undergo circumcision to become women. And if she doesn't, her father will be humiliated.
As she says, there are many reasons for the culture of circumcision, one of which is to mark cultural identity; It may also be used as a "adult gift" for women, arguing that it "increases female attractiveness" and makes girls more compliant.
According to the WHO report, mutilation is thought to ensure that women are chastised before marriage, a way of showing their loyalty to their marriage, and effectively curbing future extramarital sex and maintaining chastity. In addition, some people think that female genitalia is unclean, so removal, meaning removal of unclean parts.
Pictures: Dazhi Images
As can be seen, the culture of circumcision is a denial of female lust and a means for society to take control of the female body; And the society's attempts to control the female body are not only reflected in circumcision. We can also see that, for example, african hot milk culture, Nepal's menstrual exile tradition, etc., all shape women's perception of sexual and physical stigma.
Anti-circumcision groups have often been criticized for disrespecting local culture in the past. However, from a sociological to medical point of view, we can reasonably see that this ritual is only harmful to the human body to the mind. Today, we see that Sudan, one of the largest countries in the past to perform circumcision, has abolished this cultural practice first, and we hope that more countries will follow suit, speak for women's rights and truly return physical rights to women.