It doesn't matter that it is wrong, it doesn't matter that it is not the girl's choice because she has been indoctrinated to believe it is necessary, that she is old enough to say no. It doesn't matter that it is a permanent procedure that alters her body with very real and possible risks to her childbearing and overall health long-term, not to mention the emotional scarring: distrust, sexual disfunction, and so much more...What would you think if the American Academy of Pediatrics condoned this?
Well, it's real.
Immigrant families that wish to preserve their local traditions sometimes approach Western doctors to perform FGC on their daughters. In its new report, the AAP advises doctors to inform families that the procedure is medically unnecessary and even dangerous. Should the families be resolute, the AAP raises the idea of legalizing a less-severe ritual cutting - akin, the policy statement says, to an "ear piercing" - to dissuade parents from sending their daughters to be circumcised in their home country, where medical conditions are likely to be far worse.Even the title of the article irks and sickens me... 'Nicks' that are likened to an 'ear piercing'??? C'mon, call it what it is: genital mutilation... or, to be a little more PC, we can call it female circumcision.. because, as we can tell from their reasons for FMG, the cultures and religions where this is routine practice will not be quelled by a 'ritualistic nick'..
Thankfully, the entire piece is not a rally to show support of this proposition.
"Encouraging pediatricians to perform FGM under the notion of 'cultural sensitivity' shows a shocking lack of understanding of a girl's fundamental right to bodily integrity and equality," says Taina Bien-Aime, executive director of the human rights organization Equality Now. "If foot-binding were still being carried out, would the AAP encourage pediatricians to execute a milder version of this practice?"It angers and sickens me. Sure, it's barbaric, but it's also unsafe... so let's just make it more safe and less barbaric, that makes it ok!!?!
I am left. just. speechless. Thoughts?
For further reading:
FGM Network
IRIN
7 comments:
This makes me sick... I feel that genital mutilation of a girl or a boy is wrong. I'm deeply saddened by this.
I honestly didn't believe it when I first starting reading about it. I had to track down the original AAP article and see it for myself.
One thing about the document that I find interesting is that it acknowledges the difficulty of telling parents that they cannot cut their girls while somehow explaining that it is ok (within our culture) to cut boys. The document also acknowledges that some forms of FGM are similar and occasionally even milder than male circumcision as it is performed in the U.S. I would have hoped that this realization would lead to further restrictions on male circumcision rather than opening the road to violate our daughters. But logically if you approve the violation of boys, how can you not approve the equal violation of girls?
Indie - and you have hit the nail on the head! It is wrong. Wrong if it is for a boy and wrong if it is for a girl!
They even acknowledge it! Ugh. Breaks my heart and infuriates me.
This is very inhumane. By the way, this self defense for women like us might interest you. Thanks and more power!
I know, when I first saw this, it was diappointed. I don't agree with lots of AAP policies, but this is nuts. People that are concerned can sign a petition to revoke AAP's statement here: http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5922/t/6483/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=2451
Thanks for sharing Nicole.
Wow. I'm speechless....wow.
Thankfully in my coutnry it is illegal to do female circumcision and it is also illegal to take a female child out of the country for the purpose of having it down.
Male circumcision however is still the parents choice, however, unless it is medically necessary it is not covered by medical insurance.
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