Title: Right for women to suffer?

POPLINE Document Number: 095871

Author(s):

Butty J

Source citation:

WEST AFRICA, 1994 May 9-15;:813-4.

Abstract:

Female genital mutilation, which is practiced in more than 30 African countries and in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, has recently been the object of media attention in the US. An illegal immigrant in Portland, Oregon, asked a judge to grant her asylum so that her 2 young American-born daughters could avoid a return to Nigeria where they would be forced to undergo removal of the clitoris in a ritual more than 3000 years old. The judge granted a suspension of deportation and opened the door for the woman to attain US citizenship. Meanwhile, 2 women members of the US Congress introduced a bill to ban the practice of female genital mutilation in the US, and US women's groups have rallied around efforts to ban the practice in its originating countries. These actions have led to a debate about whether this concern arises from humanitarian grounds or represents efforts to impose the values of one culture on the other. Those opposing female genital mutilation consider the practice torture, child abuse, and as wrong as customarily enslaving people. Those who defend it maintain that efforts to change it are just a form of cultural imperialism imposed by people (Americans) who have a great deal of violence in their own society. The defenders of this traditional practice believe that if Americans are so concerned about the quality of life for African women, they will increase their aid to Africa. Meanwhile, little girls will continue to be subjected to this procedure which is performed without anesthesia and is extremely painful and which results in chronic urinary tract infections, severe trauma at childbirth, pelvic infections, painful intercourse, and a higher risk of HIV infection.

Keywords:

United States
Nigeria
Female Genital Cutting
Refugees
Women's Status
Legislation
Women
Developed Countries
North America
Americas
Africa, Western
Africa, Sub Saharan
Africa
Developing Countries
Harmful Traditional Practices
Traditional Health Practices
Culture
Migrants
Migration
Population Dynamics
Demographic Factors
Population
Socioeconomic Factors
Economic Factors