Mika,+'Anela

Article URL: http://mdscoggins.hubpages.com/hub/Female-Circumcision-Is-this-humane-treatment

Abstract: This article talks about young women that are subjects to circumcision. Circumcision for men and women are completely different. Men receive this procedure to enhance their health and the surgery is performed by a skilled doctor. For women, the removal of the clitoris and stitching up of the vagina is often done by a midwife or barber. This can lead to infection and many other uncomfortable side effects. The article questions the morality of this practice and brings to light the pain and suffering a woman must go through just to be accepted into her culture.

Discussion Questions:
 * 1) Should someone's individual rights be taken advantage of to maintain a cultural tradition? Is it morally acceptable?
 * 2) Are the health risks worth maintaining this tradition?
 * 3) How do you think this tradition started and why?
 * 4) Why do mothers and their daughters allow this painful custom to continue?
 * 5) What can we do to help the victims of female circumcision?

Mika's Response: I was surprised that such a painful tradition still exists today. Girls, some who are not yet teenagers, are physically, mentally, and spiritually injured. Girls are physically mutilated by removing the clitoris and are stitched up at their opening. It's disgusting that the process is done by someone in the community, either a barber or a midwife and not by a licensed doctor. The tools they use aren't even sanitary or sterilized. I can't even imagine the pain they have to go through during and after the procedure. They have been stitched up so that intercourse is extremely sore. After being sewn up once from the initial circumcision, they are sewn up again after child birth. I think the traditions are still existing because it has been practiced for over 5,000 years. A mother should consider a better choice for their children, so that we can eradicate this life threatening custom.

Anela's Response: As I was reading this article I found myself cringing at the mere thought of going through the procedures of circumcision. Even after the fact, I could just imagine the pain these women go through every time they have to use the bathroom. I sympathized with the women who are re-opened after marriage and have to go through the pain all over again. I don't understand the function of women circumcision and why it is so important to these cultures. If it's only so that the men can have increased pleasure, that is extremely unfair. The whole article goes back to the discussion of how men are supposedly allowed to enjoy intercourse more than women. Male's dominate the society so much so that its almost at if through their customs they're telling women all they're good for is having children, cleaning, cooking and looking after them. To these men, women are just like robots doing their job and so they don't care or sympathize with their wife, sister or daughter that has to endure all of this pain.