Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) means the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non medical reasons. It has been estimated by WHO that FGM has no health benefits for girls and women.
In fact FGM can further cause bleeding and problems related to urinating, cysts, infections etc. It can also cause problems during childbirth. According to UNICEF, worldwide around 4 million girls are risk each year of going through Female Genital Mutilation, most of the girls being under 15. At least 200 million girls and women around the globe especially in countries of Asia and Africa have been the victims of FGM in over 30 countries. (https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/female-genital-mutilation) February 6th is marked as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.
Why is FGM practiced?
The exact origin of the practice is yet not clear but some evidences by scholars suggest Ancient Egypt to be its site of origin. FGM is highly practiced in the Arab states and sub-Saharan Africa and also in some countries in Asia, America and Eastern Europe.( https://med.virginia.edu/family-medicine/wp-content/uploads/sites/285/2017/01/Llamas-Paper.pdf)
There are various reasons why FGM are practiced. It varies according to the customs and areas it is practiced in. In some areas of Africa FGM is a social norm. In order to be accepted in the society, a girl has to go through FGM. In some cultures, FGM is seen as a passageway into adulthood. Another reason is to control a women’s sexuality. It is practiced as way to ensure premarital virginity and marital fidelity.
Even though there are no scientific evidences of hygiene related to FGM but in many areas it is believed to that girls become clean after removing the body parts which are considered unfeminine. In some cultures it is also tend to believe that FGM increases a woman’s probability of conception with intercourse. There are no religious scripts which suggest or accept the practice but many have practiced and still practices FGM in the name of religion.
According to a study conducted by WHO the costs comprising of health complications due to FGM has escalated to 1.4 billion USD for 27 countries in a one year period. (https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/female-genital-mutilation)
According to survey conducted by UNICEF and WHO many women said it was taboo to even talk or discuss about FGM in their communities. According to a UNICEF report in around 29 countries in Africa and Middle East the practice is still prevalent even after various forms of restrictions or legislations against FGM. (https://www.who.int/teams/sexual-and-reproductive-health-and-research/areas-of-work/female-genital-mutilation/prevalence-of-female-genital-mutilation)
FGM in India
We don’t have to go far to witness the practice of female genital mutilation. In India too young girls added seven or eight are being the victims of this evil practice. It is practiced by the Bohra, a sect of Shia Islam.
Many women feared talking about their experience but today many courageous women have come up to tell their stories and stand up against FGM. A project was done by The Hindustan Times which gave platform to many women to talk about their experience. Aarefa Johari, a young journalist who was cut at a very young age without consent told that she was pressured by her mother who was also pressured by her mother in law.
Many activists in India have accused the Modi government of refusing to accept that Female Genital Mutilation is practiced in India. Masooma Ranalvi, founder of the anti-FGM advocacy group WeSpeakOut said that the issue has been raised twice in the Parliament but there has been no progress regarding it. In May 2017, a PIL was filed seeking a ban in FGM in the Supreme Court. It had then been referred to a nine-judge bench headed by former Chief Justice of India S.A. Bobde. (https://theprint.in/india/long-way-to-go-in-india-say-activists-on-zero-tolerance-to-female-genital-mutilation-day/600185/)
Between 75%-80% of Bohra women are being subjected to FGM. Even though, there is no law in India which criminalizes FGM. But today there are many women, especially the victims of FGM who are standing up against this evil practice. Making FGM a crime won’t be an easy task in India but if the issue is put into open and the government acknowledges the practice instead of ignoring it there might be changes in the future. Many girls will get saved if not all.
DOCUMENTARIES, FILMS AND MOVIES FEATURING FGM
If you want to support anti-FGM, the first thing we can do is understand the issue, its history and possible ways to help.
What better way to understand the issue than watching the documentaries or films which addresses FGM. Some of the documentaries featuring FGM are The Cut (2009), I will never be Cut: Kenyan Girls Fight Back Against Genital Mutilation (2011), A Pinch of Skin (2012), True Story – Female Genital Mutilation in Afar, Cutting the Cut (2018).
Some of the major films are Desert Flower (2009), A Girl from Mogadishu (2019), The Day I will Never Forget (2002), My Body My Rules (2015), Dishonour (2017), Crushed Wings (2018).
Books are one of the major source through which we can expand our knowledge about the issue. Some of the books include Among the Maasai; a memoir by Juliet Cutler, Saving Safa by Wairs Dirie, Cut Flowers by Aneeta Prem, Do they hear you when you cry by Fauziya Kassaindja, The war on women by Sue Lloyd Roberts, Cut; One Woman’s Fight Against FGM in Britain Today by Hibo Wardere.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP?
One cannot change the whole system especially a system which has such varied roots and is engraved in various societies. But we can try to make few changes in our society, in our country and try to save at least one girl from this inhuman practice. First and foremost is to support the groups which are fighting against FGM. In India there are two Mumbai based group Sahiyo (https://sahiyo.com/) and We Speak Out (https://wespeakout.org/). Another group is The Dawoodi Bohra Women for Religious Freedom (DBWRF) which was established in May 2017 by six Bohra women.
Another way to work against FGM is to educate girls and women about the rights they have on their body. We need to teach girls that nobody can decide for their body and how FGM affects our health. This should be taught at school and at home.
If we educate even one person about the risks and circumstances regarding FGM we can still make changes. . Spreading awareness that religion has nothing to do with FGM is another way we can help people understand the issue.
In our country where FGM is still not banned, we need to keep pressurizing the government. We can hold associations, encourage and support those who are already fighting against this practice. We need to keep pushing for FGM to be banned. We need to also change the traditional and social norms that allow FGM to continue. Spreading awareness opens doors to discussions about the issue. This can help in a long run.
