Female genital cutting (FGC) involves removing part or all of female genitals and is practiced in at least 28 African nations, with over 140 million women having undergone it. Virginity tests examine a woman's hymen to check if it is intact and are used in some nations to control women's sexuality by ensuring they only have sex after marriage. Women's bodies are also used as whipping posts through practices like stoning, flogging, rape, and honor killings that punish women for actions unacceptable to their families. While international conferences have addressed protecting women's rights, many nations do not adhere to agreements and women still face abuse of their physical autonomy.

1. Women and Physical Autonomy
By Asri Asfera

2. Female Genital Cutting
● FGC also known as female circumcision., is the removal of all or part of the female genitalia.
● There are different types of FGC.
1. Excision of the clitoris accompanied by partial or total excision of the labia minora and
85% of genital cutting are of this type.
2. Infibulation:It is removing all or part of clitors and the most severe form of genital cutting
and the least widely practiced type. (15%)
3. Excision: removal of all or part of, the labia minora. And cutting of the labia majora to create
raw surface which are then stitched or held together in order to form cover over the vagian
when they heal.
● When, how, and at what age FGC is performed on women is determined by the country in which
the girl lives, the ethnic group to which she belongs, and the socioeconomic level of her
family.However, the producer can be done anytime after birth through woman’s first pregnancy.
● Over 140 million women had undergone the procedure worldwide in 2012.( WHO) and FGC is
most prevalent in Africa( it is done in at least 28 African nations)

3. Why is FGC practiced?
● It is part of the community’s culture and custom .
● Religion: Believe that it is unwanted part of women body,
and also FGC helps women to behave well.
However , the main reason is to control over women’s sexuality.

4. Virginity Tests
● Is the test where a woman's hymen is examined to see if it is intact.
● The practice is used in some African and Asian nations such as South Africa and India, has been
used in Turkey and was also proposed in Jamaica and Indonesia .

5. Why are virginity test conducted?
● Like FGC, virginity tests are the way to limit women’s physical autonomy and control their sexuality .
● Girls know that their virginity was their family treasure so they would only allowed to have sex when they
permited to do so by their family after marriage.
● Even if virginity test conducted is used for prevention to AIDS, Prostitution and unwanted preginacy, the
method is bad. For instance in South Africa, it is believed that sex with a virgin will cure AIDS.
● In Turkey also the tests were going to be used as part of the admission procedure for nursing school.
● Virginity for sale: source as income

6. Women’s Bodies as Whipping Posts
● Women’s bodies are also often used, as whipping posts for their partner’s anger or their family’s actions or
their own. Stoning and Flogging, rape, domestic abuse, and honor killings are inflicted women on daily
basis.
● Stoning is a method of execution where a group of people throw stones at individuals until she or he is
died.
● In 2008, in Kismayo, somalia, a 13 years old girl who had been raped and was stoned to death.
● In pakistan also, it has been estimated that every day three women including victims of rape are killed via
honor killings.
● Honor killing is occur when women behave in ways that are unacceptable to their family.
● Stoning, flogging and honor killing are generally used to punish women for having sex outside of marriage.

7. Addressing women’s Physical Autonomy
● Many international conference have been held for years regarding women’s human right and most
important works have been done to protect women from the types of abuse that have been
discussed however, many nations do not adhere to the terms and treaties.
● For example, Russia, a Judge recently threw out one of the first sexual harassment case to be
brought to court becasue he argued that sexual harssement was neccery to the survival of human
race.