Female Genital Mutilation is cultural practice that seeks to control women and girls. Because of the health risks that plague the practice of FGM, cultures should seek alternate cultural practices to celebrate womanhood.

1. FGM
Female Genital Mutilation
Grace Christian

2. A Short Introduction
Populations affected, Defining and Finding FGM

3. “Female genital mutilation
comprises all procedures involving
partial or total removal of the
external female genitalia or other
injury to the female genital organs
for non-medical reasons.”
(WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, 1997)

4. Classification
Type 1
“Partial or total removal of the
clitoris and/or the prepuce
(clitoridectomy). “
Type 2
“Partial or total removal of the
clitoris and the labia minora,
with or without excision of the
labia majora (excision).”
Type 3
“Narrowing of the vaginal orifice
with creation of a covering seal
by cutting and appositioning the
labia minora and/or the labia
majora, with or without excision
of the clitoris (infibulation).”
Type 4
All other harmful procedures to
the female genitalia for non-
medical purposes, for example:
pricking, piercing, incising,
scraping and cauterization

5. 4 Levels

6. Cultural Causes
FGM stems from the belief in protecting a
girl’s virginity until marriage, keeping her
purity intact for her husband.
● Hygiene. Some communities believe that
the external female genitals that are cut
(the clitoris or the labia or both) are
unclean.
● Rite of passage. In some countries, FGC
is a part of the ritual that a girl goes
through to be considered a woman.
● Condition of marriage. In some
countries, a girl or woman is cut in order
to be suitable for marriage.
● Belief that FGC increases sexual
pleasure for the man
● Religious duty. Although, no religious
holy texts require FGC.

7. Populations
Affected

8. Females!
Prevalence
● Girls are cut between birth and 15
years old. Most are cut before they
are 5.
● All countries have a population of girls
who have undergone a FGM
operation
● Countries with highest prevalence are
Somalia, Guinea, Egypt
● Highest rates in Africa and South
Asia, with variations in each
● Cameroon and Uganda have less
than 2%
● Over 120 Million girls alive today have
undergone FGM

9. Impact
Psychological and Biological, Short and Long Term

10. Immediate Impact
PTSD, PTSD symptoms
Pain, infection, severe bleeding,
painful urination and
menstrual bleeding
Shock, death
Long Term Impact
● PTSD
● Depression, anxiety
● Painful urination, menstruation,
sex, childbirth
● Everyday activities are at
increased risk of infection and
complications
● Type 3 of FGM requires future
operations, increasing
immediate and long term risks

11. Tackling FGM

12. International
Response
➔ UNFPA and UNICEF initiated the Joint
Programme on FGM in 2007
◆ In communities, educating,
providing health care
➔ World Health Assembly passed
resolution WHA61.16 on the elimination
of FGM
◆ Educating health care providers,
gathering evidence in
communities, and providing
education in local and global
levels

13. Organizations
The Orchid Project
Works within communities in Western
Africa, creating new rites of
passages, educating health care
providers
Education Centre for the
Advancement of Women (ECAW)
Feed the Minds

14. Myths
(debunked)
● FGM takes place in all
religions, and regions
● No health benefits
● Not a circumcision
● Women can still enjoy sex

15. Sources
https://orchidproject.org/category
/what-we-do/fgc-programmes/
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/
factsheets/fs241/en/
http://data.unicef.org/topic/child-
protection/female-genital-
mutilation-and-cutting/
https://feministelizabethan.com/2016
/02/19/female-genital-mutilation-
what-is-it-and-can-it-be-reversed/
http://www.terre-des-
femmes.ch/en/topics/female-genital-
mutilation-fgm
https://www.womenshealth.gov/publ
ications/our-publications/fact-
sheet/female-genital-cutting.html