Stopping the Practice of Female Genital Cutting Essays -- Ethics, Cult

Female genital mutilation is a practice deeply enmeshed in the cultural beliefs of many Africans and select groups around the world. Also, just like any other culture, they will cling even more strongly to their ancient traditions when their beliefs are challenged by people from an outside culture. When someone from another country comes to a tribe to essentially tell them that one of their most basic traditions is wrong, problems usually ensue. This is mainly because, in an African’s point of view, the outsider does not understand the tribe’s beliefs and so has no valid privilege to tell the tribe what they should or should not do. In this way, even if there are a select few men and women that support the foreigner’s view, they run the risk of ridicule or even banishment from their fellow peers and will not step forth to condemn their ages-old practice. To further explain the gravity of this situation, one must understand that in many villages if a woman is not cut, then she is, in the words of Rogaia Abusharaf, â€Å"generally assumed to be promiscuous, a man-chaser.† In other words, â€Å"genital cutting is considered an essential aspect of a woman’s identity.† Thus, decreasing the prevalence of cutting is a very intricate process that involves a deep change in a culture’s social beliefs. I agree with Abusharaf when she states â€Å"without a deep commitment from within these cultures to end the cutting, eradication efforts imposed from the outside are bound to fail† (Abusharaf). Now, the question is how to first initiate these changes within a culture that practice female cutting as easily as breathing. Cutting is not something they openly discuss amongst themselves, but is essentially regarded as a necessary tradition. It is the norm in t... ...understand that death or later sickness a woman can catch is most likely from the procedure. Together, we can help the movement to end FGM and soon no woman or child will have to undergo the unnecessary torture and humiliation from the procedure. Works Cited Abusharaf, Rogaia Mustafa. â€Å"Unmasking Tradition.† Sciences. 38. 2(1998):22. eLibrary. Web. 11 Oct. 2011. Ben-Ari, Nirit. "Changing Traditions to Safeguard Women."Africa Recovery. Africa Recovery, May 2003. Web. 4 Dec 2011. â€Å"Female Genital Mutilation-A Guide to Laws Policies Worldwide [Part 2 of 20].† Contemporary Women’s Issues Database. 01 Jan. 2000: 1+. eLibrary. Web. 11 Oct. 2011. Rosenberg, Tina. "Editorial Observer; Mutilating Africa's Daughters: Laws Unenforced, Practices Unchanged."  The New York Times. The New York Times, 05 Jul 2004. Web. 4 Dec 2011.