Female Genital Mutilation

The first female circumcision recorded was performed in the 15th century, B.C. (McCarthy, 1996). Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) also known as female circumcision is a traditional procedure that is usually performed on girls before they reach puberty. Usually it is performed from a few days after birth to puberty, but in some regions, the torture can be put off until just before marriage or the seventh month of pregnancy. (Samad, 1996) Female genital mutilation originated in …

…or. Female genital mutilation is such a brutal and barbaric practice that it is amazing it is still occurs today. The health hazards associated with it should be enough to have it terminated. However, the reasons women have forgoing through with the operation is the custom of female genital mutilation is so engrained in their socio-cultural system. The importance of family honor, virginity, chastity, purity, marriage ability, and childbearing in these societies cannot be overstressed.