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Young Girls Such as These May Be Victims of FGM
- Female genital mutilation (FGM) is still a monumental problem in several countries including the U.S., although many in the U.S. may be unaware of the issue. Legislation has been passed in some countries (including the U.S.) to end this abusive practice, but immigrant families in the U.S. are still sending their daughters overseas to have the procedure done. Women’s rights advocate, U.S. Representative Joseph Crowley, is working to change current FGM legislation with a new bill that will punish individuals living in the U.S. who attempt to dodge the anti-FGM law by getting FGM procedures done in other countries.
In 1996, female genital mutilation was outlawed in the U.S., yet the practice is still more common than you may think. One hundred to one hundred and forty million females worldwide have been victims of FGM and 228,000 females in the U.S. have been victims or are at risk of becoming victims. The World Heath Organization (WHO), who issued a statement with UNICEF and UNFPA in 1997 against FGM, defines female genital mutilation as any type of cutting or removal of the genitalia for non-medical reasons. There are four different types of FGM that range from “pricking” to infibulation, which is undoubtedly the most serious type and involves sewing a female’s labia majora together. The procedure is usually done between infancy and the age of 15.
FGM is considered a violation of human rights and can have long-term health consequences for its victims, such as bladder or urinary infections, infertility or complications during childbirth, not to mention how painful the procedure is for young girls. So many may wonder with such devastating consequences, why would families still inflict such a tortuous act upon their daughters?
The practice of female genital mutilation dates back thousands of years and is considered an important rite of passage in many countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Traditional mothers want to properly raise their daughters and this procedure is considered part of this upbringing. Girls who do not have the procedure done may be considered unclean, spiritually impure and could be viewed as outcasts by society, which would make it difficult for them to find a husband because they will no longer be “virginal”.
Fatima Mohamed, a Somali immigrant living in Massachusetts who started East African Community Outreach, refuses to perform FGM on her daughter even though it is a traditional practice in her country’s culture. She says that many immigrant families feel tremendous pressure when deciding whether or not to implement the tradition and feel that they are disrespecting their culture if they speak out against FGM.
Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) wanted to pass a measure that would allow doctors to “prick” female patients (which they compared to an ear piercing) in an effort to appease immigrant families who requested FGM procedures. This procedure has been “medicalized”. Eighteen percent of girls have had their procedure done by a medical provider. But after protests, AAP retracted their statement. The President of the organization, Judith Palfrey, said that the association is opposed to all forms of female genital mutilation, including pricking.
Crowley, who was one of the first people to speak out against AAP’s proposal, said he was glad to hear about AAP’s final decision. With his proposed bill, the Girl’s Protection Act of 2010, families who sent their daughters oversees to have an FGM procedure performed would be fined and could face imprisonment up to five years. In 2006, the first FGM case in the U.S. made headlines when an Ethiopian man was convicted of aggravated battery and child cruelty for mutilating his 2-year-old daughter’s genitals. He is now in prison awaiting his possible parole in 2010. Of the more than 28 countries with documented FGM cases, less than half have introduced legislation to try to make the procedure illegal. Of the seven countries that actually have anti-FGM legislation, prosecutions have only been carried out in four states, showing that there is still a long way to go.
Soraya Mire is a film director and activist from Somalia committed to ending FGM once and for all. As a past victim of FGM, Mire commits her time to counseling victims and fighting the traditional practice, especially through creative means. In 1994, she made a documentary called “Fire Eyes” that discussed her own experience with FGM at the age of 13. Because of her outspokenness, she receives death threats, but she does not let that deter her from her mission of saving young girls from what many consider to be a painful and unnecessary practice.
Activists are taking steps to end female genital mutilation, but the most important way to raise awareness is to spread the word. If you would like to contact U.S. Representative Joseph Crowley and read his newly proposed bill, you can do that here. You can also visit the sites of the organizations mentioned above to learn how you can get more involved.
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Victoria has a passion for all things creative, including writing, graphic design, music and photography. She studied journalism at the University of Missouri because she wanted to use her writing to expose the world's injustices and improve society by placing certain issues under the microscope in order to raise awareness. Since graduating, her goal has been to continue shedding light on important issues through her blogging and other avenues. In addition to her hobbies, she also enjoys spending time with family and friends. Victoria wants to make the most of every day she has on this earth, because each moment we are given is truly precious.
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