Monday, September 12, 2005
FGM by Leah Ray
The World Heath Organisation defines female genital mutilation (FGM) as any procedure under which the female genitalia are wholly or partly removed or damaged, whether for cultural reasons or any reasons other than medical.
FGM includes a range of practices, depending on cultural and geographic background. Eighty percent of FGM victims suffer cutting or excision of the clitorial hood, the clitoris and/or the labia minora, in whole or in part. Other procedures may include incision, perforation, nicking, stretching, scarring of the genitalia with burns, scraping away the flesh from the vaginal opening, or introducing corrosive substances or herbs to the vagina to tighten it.
In Somalia, infibulation, the most severe and potentially fatal form of FGM is practiced. This involves cutting away part or most of the genitalia, including the inner labia. The outer labia are sewn together, leaving only a minute hole for urine and menstrual blood to pass out. The procedure is commonly done without anaesthesia or antiseptics, using a razor blade, knife or piece of glass.
If the girl survives the procedure and any subsequent infections, scar tissue will cover her genital area, leaving it smooth and unfeeling. The nerve damage involved means that she will never experience normal sexual pleasure. Instead, she will endure a lifetime of excruciating pain while urinating, during her periods, during sexual intercourse and when she gives birth. On her wedding night, her husband will either force his way through the barrier with his penis or cut her open again with a knife. Fifteen percent of all FGM victims suffer infibulation.
Investigation by UN Special Ambassador against FGM and author Waris Dirie and journalist Corinna Milborn found that an estimated 500,000 women and girls in the European Union have already undergone FGM or are at risk of it.
Ironically, while women from Africa and elsewhere are fighting to protect themselves from genital mutilation, Dirie found some western women paying cosmetic surgeons to alter their genitals in a bizarre quest for the 'designer' vagina, often disturbingly similar to what is achieved by the most extreme form of female genital mutilation: a smooth, tight, almost childlike genital area.
Surgical techniques are being used to alter the genitals of healthy by body image obsessed women despite the risk of long term pain, loss of sexual feeling, and other complications.
.................................................................this affects thousands of women in Africa and Asia especially, forced by parents or at the request of the husband. Hmm......
On another note, there are some extremely rude people working at the postal office. And Johnny Depp did an excellent performance as the eccentric Willy Wonka of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Mused by Sukunami Taka around 11:54 PM
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