What is Female Genital Mutilation?
Female Genital Mutilation or FGM is a practice, which is often a cultural norm where a part or all of a girl’s external genitalia is cut or removed for non-medical reasons. It is mostly done to girls from infancy up to the age of 15.
It is not linked to any religion and it doesn’t benefit women’s health in any way. It can cause dire consequences short term such as haemorrhage, infections, injury, tetanus, transmission of HIV and more. The physical and psychological trauma, not to mention painful sex, painful periods, infertility, sexual dysfunction, childbirth complications and more are several of its long term consequences.
According to World Health Organisation’s fact sheet, more than 200 million girls and women have undergone FGM and more than 3 million girls are estimated to be at risk for FGM annually.
Types of FGM
Female genital mutilation is classified into 4 major types.
Type 1: this is the partial or total removal of the clitoral glans (the external and visible part of the clitoris, which is a sensitive part of the female genitals), and/or the prepuce/ clitoral hood (the fold of skin surrounding the clitoral glans).
Type 2: this is the partial or total removal of the clitoral glans and the labia minora (the inner folds of the vulva), with or without removal of the labia majora (the outer folds of skin of the vulva ).
Type 3: Also known as infibulation, this is the narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal. The seal is formed by cutting and repositioning the labia minora, or labia majora, sometimes through stitching, with or without removal of the clitoral prepuce/clitoral hood and glans (Type I FGM).
Type 4: This includes all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, e.g. pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterizing the genital area.
Deinfibulation refers to the practice of cutting open the sealed vaginal opening of a woman who has been infibulated, which is often necessary for improving health and well-being as well as to allow intercourse or to facilitate childbirth.
Why is Female Genital Mutilation practiced?
According to Akidwa, a national network of migrant women living in Ireland. There are 5 possible reasons why FGM is practiced. They are:
- A rite of passage into womanhood
- Perceived Hygiene
- Marriageability
- Women’s Sexuality
- Religious Misconceptions
Whatever the reason is, FGM is a gross human rights violation and should be stopped. It violates children’s right to be protected from all forms of mental and physical violence.
According to World Health Organisation,
“Female genital mutilation has been documented in 30 countries, mainly in Africa, as well as in the Middle East and Asia. Some forms of female genital mutilation have also been reported in other countries, including among certain ethnic groups in South America. Moreover, growing migration has increased the number of girls and women living outside their country of origin who have undergone female genital mutilation or who may be at risk of being subjected to the practice in Europe, Australia and North America.”
As radical feminists in Ireland, we aim to fight for girls and women’s rights across the world. It is a form of violence against women and girls and is a manifestation of sex-based oppression. It is a form of controlling girls and women’s bodies. We aim to shed light on the fact that FGM happens in Ireland too. FGM was only made illegal in Ireland in 2012.
Siobhán McGee, CEO of ActionAid Ireland and Salome Mbugua, Head of Operations at AkiDwA wrote an opinion piece on The Irish Times in January of 2020 stating that 1,600 girls living in Ireland are at risk of Female Genital Mutilation.
FGM exists in Europe. It is estimated that 600,000 women are living with the consequences of FGM, according to End FGM European Network. It is important for us to acknowledge that FGM is a global issue and it happens in every continent except for Antarctica. All forms of FGM are a violation of human rights. While there may be some girls that get cut by doctors or in medical settings, it doesn’t make the practice any less harmful.
We’ve gathered a few inspiring FGM survivors below. Listen to their stories and be inspired to help end FGM worldwide.
For advice on how to talk about Female Genital Mutilation, see this guide.
