What are your views on female circumcision?

It's disgusting and often very dangerous, as it isn't done with proper surgical tools or hygiene.

Getting an infection and dying from a completely unnecessary, inhumane "surgery" isn't even last century, or the one before.

Tradition and culture DO NOT SANCTION TORTURE! People used to be fine with child labor, child abuse, spousal abuse, slavery, all kinds of horrible things. Now, despite the fact that it was a "tradition" in many cultures, most people around the world agree that those things are wrong.

So they need to change their minds and culture on this procedure, too.

Totally disgusting. Cruel, inhuman, degrading...absolutely.

Actually, male circumcision done badly does ruin a mans ability to enjoy sex. As far as females go, my friend from Egypt was about to be circumcised by her father and uncle. She fought and fought them until she was able to escape. She hid for three days. When she was found, they decided she was too difficult to bother with and left her intact. This was 40 some years ago, however. She knew very well at age 8 that this was not a fair deal. Especially being held down, no antiseptic, with a dirty kitchen knife being the "surgical instrument".

What I think is most interesting about female circumcision is that these women do not think they are victims. In fact they are most likely going to have the same thing done to their daughters. They worry that their daughter will be rejected by the community and possibly a future husband if this is not done.

I also think it is interesting that we are trying to end female circumcision in Africa while pushing male circumcision for AIDS prevention.

The theory behind male circumcision lowering the AIDS risk is the high concentration of Langerhans cells in the prepuce. But these cells have high concentration in the labia and clitoral hood, so female circumcision could also have an AIDS prevention with it too. They need to leave people genitals alone and go back to the ABC's of AIDS prevention.

I don't think anyone in the western world thinks that such things are right. Some western women do choose to be circumcised through a process call "cosmetic gynecology" where they may have thier clitoral hood or labia removed and the clitoris or labia reduced. However, that is thier choice to make. You should also look up information on how intersex children are treated in western society as it is relevant here- often doctors force them or thier parents to have them undergo castrations, clitorectomy, and other invasive genital procedures.

Article 5 is ok, but I think that article 1 is a better choice. Although not as obvious as "right to freedom from torture or cruel, unusual punishment" I think that Article 1 "right to life, liberty and security of person" is more in tune with the meaning of the document. In general torture and cruel, unusual punishment are used in punishment, ussually legal type punishment or detractors or military detainees. FGM is NOT punishment. Rather it is a cultural practice, a type of rite of womanhood. "security of person" is a much broader term. It means that everyone is entitled to bodily integrity and safety. When a person undergoes FGM, thier right to bodily inegrity is removed. This also adresses the issue of countries where girls are circumcised under anesthesia in medical clinics. It is harder to explain, but its a mature, better thought out argument.

Here is a link to my answer in another similar post as welll.. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=An4Cm...

I think that in order to adress this issue properly you need to adress it with compassion and understanding. People do NOT practice FGM because they are evil, demonic people. You need to understand the reasons within the cultural context. For this reason, it is important to put it into a context that people can understand- like the forced circumcision of baby boys in our culture (which also violates human rights). Perhaps you don't think it is "as bad" but when you research the reasons and the process of both procedures you can draw parallels that will allow people to understand the issue of female circumcision better.

This issue is large and complex and the intiative to bring an end to the practice is harmed more than it is helped by people who try to place the matter into black and white, and by those who demonize the practitioners. In these cultures the operation is generally carried out not by the men, but by the women and it is there that we must concentrate on the effort to change.

I've also included a link to a program I saw recently on LINK TV, its by a circumcised african woman who travels back through her country asking questions- it is really enlightening to see the responses- many men, for instance, are staunchly AGAINST the practice, while the women insist on continuing. Excellent documentary, I urge you to see it. -Neb

It's a disgusting and horrible thing to do. It borderlines on barbaric in my opinion. I think you choosing Article 5 for this is very appropriate.

Also, I think it's quite sad how many people know nothing about this practice. Just because it's not common in America does not mean it's not a practice used widely around the world. It needs to STOP.

I believe that this is a way to keep men in an authoritative position. These 3rd world countries have no idea what disgrace they are bringing to their societies. Isn't it bad enough that the women aren't able to be educated and are not allowed to have jobs?? They want robots and slaves instead of wives. They aren't even allowed to think for themselves. When a Queen isn't in the Kingdom to help the king out, something is clearly wrong. It's atrocious. God forbid they transported me to one of those countries to stay. I'll be on a mission to save these women and anyone who tried to stop me gets a hot bullet through their nut sack. Off with the head.!!!!!!!Bastards!!!!

I think that it's completely barbaric. If women were not meant to have a clitoris, they would not have been born with one. It's probably THE greatest symbol of female oppression in the conservative Islamic world. Yes, it's bad enough that they cannot work or be educated like men, and that they have to cover themselves from head to toe in public with birkas, but to have something like that taken away from you, never being able to experience its pleasure, is a terrible thing in my mind, and I'm not even a woman.

I have never viewed a female circumcision. It sounds gross.

Male circumcision is gross too. Why would you want to whittle on someones private parts anyway? Seems like they're probably there for a reason.

I think it's cruel and unjust it is depriving a woman of one of life's greatest pleasures. And to those who said "lol" it's not funny, and you're showing the world your ignorance. Article 5 is an excellent choice.

This article will be useful for you, it's a gruesome account of a girl who was forced to be circumcised http://www.cirp.org/news/acis12-03-01/

I personally think it's a dreadful thing as it removes the clitoris which as you all know is essential for women to experience sexual pleasure.