Female Genital Mutiliation

The Ancestors Stone novel was a very powerful book that showed us how over time things in this family changed and adapted to the white mans way. There were many things in this novel that disturbed me both nothing more than the subject of FGM, female genital mulitation. FGM is known by numerous names: female circumcision, female genital cutting and anything that refers to partial or total removal of the external female genitalia. It can be done for either cultural, religious, or non-therapeutic reasons.

This social custon started occuring about 2000 years ago in what Muslims call "al-gahiliyyah" the era of ignorance, amongst different African tribes as a custon not a religious act. The procedure can occur anywhere after birth to some time before a girls first pregnancy, most of the cases occur between the ages of four and ten. There are numerous side effects to FGM: death, infection, HIV, tumors, hermorrhages, shock, kidney stones, sterility, depression, and sexual dysfunction.

There are four different versions of this procedure according to the WHO, World Health Orginization.
1. Type I: "Is the total or partial removal of the clitoris or the prepuce. It results in the scarring and nerve damage." Also known as Sunna Circumcision.

2. Type II: "Is the total or partial removal of the clitoris and the labia minora with or without excision of the labia majora." Also known as Clitoridectomy.

3. Type III: "Is the narrowing of the vaginal orifice with creation of a covering seal by cutting and appositioning the labia minora and the labia majora. This is the most extensive form of FGM and about 10% of all FGM are done this way. This procedure removes lots of tissue and leaves the labia majora held together by thorns and stitches. In the bush the procedure is normally done by a midwife and no anesthesia is issued. " Also known as Infibulation.
4. Type IV: "Is all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes: pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterization. These methods are primarily found in isolated ethnic groups. "

This procedure is practiced in many different countries but is the most populous in Africa. There are 14 counties that are known to practice these forms of mutilation:

1. Burkina Faso uses type II but there is now a law im place that says no to FGM,.

2. Central African Republic uses types I and II but since 1996 there has been a law in place jailing and fining those caught.

3. Cote d'Ivoire uses type II and fines and jails those caught and also has a penalty if a death is caused.

4. Djibouti uses type II but if you are caught you are jailed for five years and fined.

5. Egypt uses types I, II, and III but it has a ban on it, however, many tribes and villages still practice this belief.

6. Eritrea uses types I, II, and III and only in the last year has put a ban on it.

7. Ghana uses types I, II, and III but doesn't strongly enforce its laws against FGM.

8. Guinea uses I, II, and III but they have harsh punishments if you are found guilty you are punished with hard labor for life and if the female dies then they are sentenced to death.

9. Nigeria uses types I, II, and III but has no ban on it so the people are free to still practice FGM.

10. Senegal uses types II and III and it is seen as a criminal act that is punishable by prison time.

11. Sudan uses types I, II, and III and there is no law prohibiting it but there have been a few arrests made over type III.

12. Tanzania uses types II and III, they also have a law against it which places people in jail and fines them but there has yet to be anyone procecuted.

13. Togo uses type II if you are caught preforming FGM there is prison time and fines, if you know that someone is preforming this and don't turn them in you can also be jailed and fined.

14. Uganda uses types I and II and there is no law against it.