Genital mutilation of women should be recognized as a senseless crime of violence that should qualify for serious jail time anyone found guilty of the practice.  Only the most horrifically demented interpretation of any religion could endorse such barbarity, and any man who feels otherwise ought to volunteer to have his "staff of office "  decapitated to please the same God.

most of the replies to this topic were just judgemental opinions.i have not read one informed or researched reply.at face value circumcision of women sounds grotesque and inhuman, but then from my little knowledge,its been done since biblical times and at a time endorsed by the catholic church.presently it is harmless coming of age ritual amongst alot of tribes in asia, africa and latin america. there are lots of our own rituals,like probably the use of tampons or whatever that others find grossly dehumanising,but then they do not impose their will on us.why should we impose ours on then. if u think its bad,its an opinion that u are entitled to,for the people who subscribe to it ,it is a passionate belief based on history and culture.they have never propagated its use to other people or even educate us on its efficacy,u know why? because its none of our goddamn business,just like they cant figure out why we brush our teeth with plastic bristles and not twigs.,but hey did u ever hear them insult us on that?there is a national gographic documentary on female circumcision,i suggest u find it and watch it, before u speak.adios

PRIME EXAMPLE of a judgemental uninformed and unresearched reply.

obj:

most of the replies to this topic were just judgemental opinions.i have not read one informed or researched reply.at face value circumcision of women sounds grotesque and inhuman, but then from my little knowledge,its been done since biblical times and at a time endorsed by the catholic church.presently it is harmless coming of age ritual amongst alot of tribes in asia, africa and latin america. there are lots of our own rituals,like probably the use of tampons or whatever that others find grossly dehumanising,but then they do not impose their will on us.why should we impose ours on then. if u think its bad,its an opinion that u are entitled to,for the people who subscribe to it ,it is a passionate belief based on history and culture.they have never propagated its use to other people or even educate us on its efficacy,u know why? because its none of our goddamn business,just like they can't figure out why we brush our teeth with plastic bristles and not twigs.,but hey did u ever hear them insult us on that?there is a national gographic documentary on female circumcision,i suggest u find it and watch it, before u speak.adios

@ obj
Your post does not make sense at all. What's your point?

Human dignity is human dignity, regardless of culture. If you are so informed and researched on the topic, why don't you show it in your post. you have not brought one solid fact. I must agree with allonym: your post is indeed a prime example of a judgemental, uninformed and unresearched reply.
Please do your research and then come back

OBJ has described female genital mutilation as a "harmless coming of age ritual".   Presumably his copious research has somehow failed to uncover any of the widely available statistics on the large numbers of women who DIED as a direct result of horrendous infections resulting from genital mutilations that were performed by illiterates with unsterilized knives.

In his comparison of female genital mutilation with the wearing of a sanitary tampon, OBJ might as well reccommend euthanasia rather than aspirin as a cure for migraine headaches.

joshjosh:

we all agree this is wrong and should stop. the word " female genital mutilation " should be kept in the america press where it belongs.

What else would you call the cutting off of the labia and/or the clitoris but female genital mutilation. The matter is plain and simple, twisting words to fit a preconceived condition of western oppression is not helping much. Luckily the majority of Nigerian men on this forum understand this.

The crucial point that needs to be kept in mind regarding female genital mutilation is that THERE IS NO MEDICAL BASIS FOR THIS SO CALLED "CIRCUMCISION", and quite to the contrary, a host of grave and potentially life-threatening risk factors are known to be associated with the practice.  On that basis alone, all nations that aspire to the status of "civilization" MUST declare the disgusting practice of female genital butchery ILLEGAL.

Next to her mind, the areas excised by female genital mutilation are arguably the most sensitive zones on the female anatomy, and are CRITICAL to a woman's ability to experience sexual pleasure.   From my own viewpoint, the insistence on hacking away at a woman's privates is borne out of a cruel and sadistic socio-religious desire to deprive women of sexual pleasure, since, in such backward-thinking cultures, pleasure of any sort is regarded as the exclusive preserve of MEN and MEN ALONE, while women are seen as little more than domestic pets.

what if the gurl demands that she wants to be circumcised? Is that still cruel?

goodguy:

what if the girl demands that she wants to be circumcised? Is that still cruel?

And under what conditions would that happen? I cannot see any women demanding circumcision unless under pressure from their environment - which makes it even worse.

Prolly she just wants to know how it feels being circumcised.

goodguy:

probably she just wants to know how it feels being circumcised.

Let me cut of your arm. I guess you want to feel how it is without arm as well?

This is not about me. What if she doesnt know the consequences? what if she's illetrate? what if she feels.. "I want to know how this thing feels, since it's done to other gurls" (being a young girl, she's bound to be curious about such things).

goodguy:

This is not about me. What if she doesnt know the consequences? what if she's illetrate? what if she feels.. "I want to know how this thing feels, since it's done to other girls" (being a young girl, she's bound to be curious about such things).

Then you're mutilating a child that's too young to know what this is about anyway. There are no excuses. If an adult woman free from societal pressures, decides such a thing, then it's her decision. In any and every other case, it's just plain wrong.

maybe people didn't read my posts.  There are medical reasons for circumcision (most of which you'd only find in teen or adult females), NONE for genital mutilation.

You mean, there are medical reasons for female circumcision, which is the topic opf this thread?

This is a very interesting and enlightening topic for some of the ills committed against women all in the name of culture. Not only the clitoris but also the labia minora of the girl is cut off. Those who accept this are to my opinion are not far from babarians and go to quiz the work of the Creator. If God didn't want women to enjoy sex especially within the confines of matrimony He shouldn't have given them the clitoris et al that is cut of during FGM right?
Also there is no guarantee that circumcised girls don't have affairs is there? What abt men who are ever so ready to boss abt their sexul expliots don't they need to be 'circumcised' to so that they don't feel that urge? What also abt men who go out to gain satisfaction cos their circumcised wives don't give them satisfaction?
Think again there is no telling what pains these innocent girls go through and in an age of infectious diseases the risk they face.
Aids, difficulty in child birth and possibility of death, bleeding to death or even dying in the process if wounds become infected.
No to FGM! Its a debasement of humanity especially the woman. Girls fight if U can. To me this is just one of the many crimes committed towards the female gender just becos of their femaleness. Like Rape and prostitution, FGM is a gender related violence and ought to be stopped!!!
Have a nice day

I don't think there are any medical reasons for FGM allonym! Drs can testify to that! Pls get ur facts straight!

Go Nferyn go bro! Give them a piece of their medicine! Some here are just talking foolish. While U are cutting the hand maybe U cut the legs and even the p**** too!!

I am heartened by the fact that here we are  having an open discussion about Female Genital Mutilation because this is one of those difficult topics which often causes us to bury our heads in the sand almost as though if we don't talk about it we don't have to deal with it. 

I'm particularly pleased to see that the overwhelming majority of contributors to this discussion unreservedly condemn the practice as in my opinion there is absolutely no justification, moral, medical or otherwise for performing such a barbaric act on a fellow human being especially as the unfortunate individual has absolutely no say in the matter.

spicequeen:

I don't think there are any medical reasons for FGM allonym! Drs can testify to that! Please get your facts straight!

Maybe you didn't read my post. This is what I said:

allonym:

maybe people didn't read my posts. There are medical reasons for circumcision (most of which you'd only find in teen or adult females), NONE for genital mutilation.

Still confused, here are the links I was talking about:

http://www.circlist.com/femalecirc/anatfemale.html
http://www.noharmm.org/femcirctech.htm

allonym i've just read the information about female circumcision and i must say i'm surprised! now i'm more relaxed. i thought i'd never enjoy sex bacause the tip has been removed but now i know that there are so many ways to reacht the top! thanks a lot for the information.

mmmmmmmmmmm salvation at last for some "multilated" sister.

there is more to life than sex dear people. my people may be naive but we are not cruel and perverts as some other cultures of the world.

i wish you all happiness

Wait a minute Joshjosh, why are you so critical of sexual perversion ? Are you speaking from personal experience ? Kindly elaborate.

joshjosh:

mmmmmmmmmmm salvation at last for some "multilated" sister.

there is more to life than sex dear people. my people may be naive but we are not cruel and perverts as some other cultures of the world.

i wish you all happiness

Could you also kindly ellaborate on which cultures [/i]you consider cruel and pervert? Could you also explain why cultures are cruel and perverts and not individuals? Is it possible to explain what exactly are [i]your people and why you need to separate them from other cruel and pervert cultures of the world?

Josh, oya answer fast!

am not suprised that its happening in Nigeria. its the same here in kenya. the government and some women organisation here called FIDA have been trying to fight against it though invain coz there still communities still practising it. but the sad thing is that there have just been a few arrests.
Its so sad.

Don't worry, with time, you'll see many more arrests!

FIDA is an international federation. It helps to enlighten women about their rights especially where the law is concerned. In Cameroon FGM is practiced in some tribes esp among some moslem tribes. What women truly need or rather what is need ed is 2 enlighten and sensitize the population about the negative consequencies of FGM.
I believe with all the awareness hopefully this painful practice will be eliminated for good. Its good to know many are against this debasing practice even if it is done in the name of so called customs

What's wrong with it? Everything!! My heart aches each time I think of the cruelty behind this senseless act.

I refused to believe that any normal human being today will still be in favor of female mutilation. This is very a disguiting and sick idea. i believe that bone of the main reason for having sex is the pleasure we derive from it, so could anyone explain to me if a male counterpart could experience pleasure why should the female counterpart partner involved, who really want to give pleasure to the guy she likes/loves be derived of this same pleasure that proportioned to him. Please could anyone explain this to me?

@SEGUN2003
Well,my dear some people still believe it is good,not only believing they still do it.