Monday, 4 May 2009

What is Female Genital Mutilation?

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), also known as Female genital cutting and female circumcision, is, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) “...all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.”. There are four different types of FGM. WHO classifies these as:
  • Clitoridectomy - 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 - 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 - 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, for example: pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterization.
In simple terms, parts of the vagina such as the clitoris and the libia minora, are cut off, and in some cases, their vagina is sewn up, leaving only a tiny hole for urine and menstrual fluid. This most commonly occurs in African countries, to girls between seven and ten years old. At any time, there are an estimated 100 - 140 million girls having to live with the consequences of FGM.
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11 comments:

  1. Oriana6 May 2009 at 20:23

    OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG my mouth is still touching the floor omg. The whole time i was reading that all i could do was picture the horrifying event that all of these young girl face and tighten my legs. That's disgusting! Why the hell would people do that to their own flesh and blood. There are so many things that are racing through my mind and I just can't get them all out at once. It is unhygenic and uncalled for. I do understand why males get it done. But the pain that women have to go through. Firstly, at the age of about 5 they have to undergo a procedure where their genital area is being cut off and cut open, then they could be at risk of getting an infection, then they suffer from problems because of the hole being too small then , when it comes to sex. THE MALE CUTS THEIR ****** OPEN AND FORCES THEM SELVES INSIDE HER ???? WHAT THE HELL ??? This is honestly the first time i have ever heard of something like this and i just can't get over the fact that this is happening to young people??
    Why do they do this????
    Can you please post some more stuff up about this? I am very interested and want to read more about it.

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  2. NiouJas7 May 2009 at 04:32

    First of all teh images are quite distrubing but interesting. I personally think it's wrong. I know Fatima from America's next top model undergone the same procedure try researching on her to see if it helps with your topic.

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  3. Cherushii7 May 2009 at 16:26

    thanks for your comments =]
    i posted some information about why people think they are justified in doing this. I think its horrifying.
    most people,like you, have never heard of this so i am trying to do my bit to raise awareness lol

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  4. Summer Reyne8 May 2009 at 03:59

    OMG! I hate these people who do this to females!! It's disgusting and so incredibly wrong! This shouldn't be part of culture, this is traumatic and the fact that they do it to girls at a young age because they don't understand or know what's going to happen to them is disturing! Look at the picture's of the girl's faces... How can this be normal? It looks like torture to me. Every female in this world should have the right to have babies, if only i was the person who made the rules, there would be peace and happiness everywhere! Wow your page has made me quite mad. I never knew this went on in other countries!

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  5. Jasmine8 May 2009 at 15:39

    Omg! I can't get over what i just read! FGM is horrible and disturbing! to think this sort of thing still happans in this day and age! It is not right.How did you find such a topic to blog about? I think it is a good topic to write about as it raises awarness of a very important issue! This needs to be stopped and should not be accepted in any culture anywhere! No girl should have to suffer this treatment! The pain they must endure just because they dont understand and the risks to their health!! omg!!

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  6. Oriana9 May 2009 at 03:40

    hey thanks for posting up some new info :)
    very interesting ..

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  7. Reality11 May 2009 at 01:10

    Shr it is a weird topic Cherushii haha
    but also interesting '.'
    I've read through all about your FGM info and it's... horrrrrible. Freaking me out!
    I'd run away or just kill myself rather than getting a piece cut off from my...flesh.
    could be a fair decision if it is 'their' choice to be FGMed!
    but no hell no.
    It needs to be stopped definitely.
    and hey I even voted for twice! haha

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  8. Cherushii11 May 2009 at 04:02

    firstly, thanks for your comments everyone =]
    i know this is a weird topic to be doing but i really think that people need to know what is going on in other parts of the world.
    we cant just turn a blind eye to this.
    aoi, i dont think the decision would be fair even if it was the girls choice, as most of them are not aware of all the problems this raises. they only know that everyone else has had it done. which is really sad =[
    you guys all seem to be worried about awareness of the issues as well and thankfully changes, however small, are beginning to happen.

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  9. Oriana12 May 2009 at 01:04

    I think it's so sad that these little girls are being treated like this:( the only reason why they are getting it done is because everyone else is. I honestly want this to stop. When I first read this article i was horrified and i still am. I havn't forgotten about this and everyone i come across i tell them hehe. IM SPREADING THE WORD hehe

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  10. Cherushii12 May 2009 at 19:02

    thanks for spreading the word oriana!
    that was kind of my intention lol IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS!

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  11. Unknown3 June 2010 at 20:35

    This honestly makes me want to cry...

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