Argumentative Essay 6j2z53

Maj. Ahmad Hegazy, EGYPT

The tradition of FGC dates back more than 1000 years and is practiced in different parts of the world. Female circumcision or female genital circumcision (FGC) comes in three forms, namely: female circumcision, female genital circumcision, and female genital mutilation. Throughout centuries, female circumcision has been proved to be an inhumane practice justified by ignorant beliefs and false benefits. Still, there are millions of instances that occur each year. FGC is still in practice for a multitude of reasons. A motivational factor behind this practice is purification. Purity is one of the traditional beliefs of why FGC is necessary. The word for circumcision in traditional Arabic is “tahara” meaning to purification. While FGC occurs in varying religions, it is predominant in Islam and culture as a requirement by many Muslims. However, nowhere in the Quran, the holly book of Islam, is female circumcision mentioned. Prophet Mohammed declared rights for women and displayed humanity toward females when he banned the pre-Islam practice of burying female babies alive. The Quran cites in the following verse, “Sura 2:228, “…Women shall have rights similar to those exercised against them.” Therefore, the justification based on religious grounds is unfounded. Another commonly held belief behind FGC is that there is a medical benefit for females. For example, some believe that female genitalia are poisonous to sperm and must be removed to maintain fertility. None of these beliefs are true. In fact, FGC has quite the opposite effect on fertility and the health of girls. Infertility can in truth be a medical complication caused by cutting this part of the female anatomy. The World Health Organization studies show, “Infants of women who had undergone severe types of mutilation were more likely to have required resuscitation at birth and more likely to die while their

mother was an inpatient than infants born to women who had not undergone genital mutilation.” There is a range of immediate to long term complications, including but not limited to, the inability to urinate, chronic urinary tract infections, pelvic inflammation, scars, tumors, and bladder and kidney stones. These complications manifest the horrific medical ramifications of FGC and obviously do not present any benefit. Also, FGC results in painful intercourse and decreased sexual pleasure. The latter is given as a justification of the procedure because some believe that if a woman does not undergo the procedure, she is believed to be a loose woman. For this reason, FGC is considered as a precautionary measure against casual and premarital sexual relationships, a very unreasonable belief that places all the responsibility on the female and leaves the male unable for his role in sexual relations. This again displays the fear and ignorance surrounding FGC. Although the tradition of FGC has long roots in history and culture, still, the harm inflected on innocent women can never be justified. The rationalization or justification by attributing it to tradition does not vindicate this practice. Other irrational practices, such as slavery, hangings, or human sacrifice, all were also accepted behavior in various cultures at some point in time. Given the above stated facts presented in this essay, FGC is proven unjustifiable and to bring more harm than good to females. It is only through education of the women and cultural awareness that we can bring about change because the higher the education level of a woman, the less likely she is to have her child undergo the FGC.