Female Circumcision A Violation of Human Rights - 993 Words

Even before the declaration of human rights came into existence, societies across Africa, Asia and Latin America felt pressured by the Western world to revise certain of their traditional customs and beliefs (Hayter, 1984). Human rights activists especially have deemed certain aspects of their traditional cultures harmful to their people, a violation of their human rights, and female circumcision is one of them. Even though human rights activists perceive this practice as a clear violation of women and children’s rights, in African and Arabic societies where the custom is prevalent, it is considered an essential part of a woman’s life and cultural identity. They argue that those who are not part of the culture shouldn’t take part in the debate over the issue. The debate over female genital mutilation reflects the incompatibility of human rights with cultural relativism and what a challenge it is for everyone involved. Even though men and patriarchal values have been accused of being the root cause of the problem, the reality is women are the ones putting other women and girls through these operations. Apparently it’s because some of them don’t know any better due to lack of education or alternatives (Boneware-Miller 1985, 246). Human rights activists should be included in the debate over female circumcision but the people who should be central to it are the women who belong to these societies. Traditional communities tend to be suspicious of Westerners who try to persuadeShow MoreRelatedFemale Circumcision Essay1294 Words   |  6 Pagespainful one? Female Circumcision is a procedure that is a tradition to many cultures. The purpose of this procedure is to make women stay faithful to their husbands and not become promiscuous, as they get older. This procedure is not safe and has many side effects. Female Circumcision is a shocking procedure that cause women pain and suffering f or the rest of their lives. The first thing I did was, I conducted a survey with general questions relating to female circumcision. The point ofRead MoreClitoridectomy in Sudan1698 Words   |  7 Pagesrule the violation of human rights? In recent colonial history, Sudan was jointly ruled by England and Egypt. In 1946 a British law forbade all forms of female sexual mutilation. This law proved not only ineffectual, but actually caused a political backlash under the leadership of Mahmud Mohammad Taha against colonial control Societies and Circumcision Why do societies permit and promote actions that interfere with the wholeness of the body? The mutilating female genitals â€Å"circumcisions† in whateverRead MoreFemale Genital Mutilation Or Circumcision?1711 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction What is female genital mutilation or circumcision? According to the World Health Organization, it comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. (WHO, 2014). It is recognized as violation of human rights for young girls and women. The procedure creates inequality between sexes and to the extreme it is discriminatory against women. There are four types of FMG. TypeRead MoreFemale Circumcision Or Female Genital Mutilation1551 Words   |  7 PagesFemale circumcision or Female Genital mutilation is a term utilized to describe a wide range of traditional practices in relation to female circumcision. This study addresses the practice within the Maasai communities of Tanzania and Kenya, Africa. This study will address this practice by looking at the historical and cultural context of the people, procedure, the various beliefs in the world, and within the community. Chapter One: Introduction 1.1 Background: Female Genital Mutilation refersRead MoreFemale Genital Mutilation And Women1250 Words   |  5 PagesBackground: Female Genital Mutilation refers to several manners of conducting operations of women and girls, involving the partial or total removal of external genitalia. This practice is considered a traditional practice amongst many people and communities throughout the world. While the practice has been ongoing for centuries it has been deemed a human rights violation on the grounds that it inflicts harm on females, including damaging them in a physChapter one: Introduction 1.1 Background: Female GenitalRead MoreFemale Circumsion1179 Words   |  5 Pageswhere lives of people are put at risk. An eminent practice which is taken into attention is female genital mutilation. This writing shall discuss clashes between human rights and cultural relativism with my personal stance about these two ethical dilemmas. Female genital mutilation is considered as unlawful act by many people while in several cultures it is a common cultural practice. â€Å"Female circumcision is mainly carried out in western and southern Asia, the Middle East and large areas of Africa†Read MoreThe Practice Of Genital Mutilation1741 Words   |  7 PagesAustralia, Cana-da, New Zealand, the United States, and in European nations. Circumcision is a religious or cultural ritual for many Jewish and Islamic families, as well as certain aboriginal tribes in Africa and Australia for men. Circumcisions for men are preformed all over the world. Female genital mutilation is the term in reference to non-medical circumcision. â€Å"FGM is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women. It reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexesRead More Female Genital Mutilation Essay1698 Words   |  7 PagesFemale Genital Mutilation Female Genital Mutilation is believed to have started in Egypt 2,000 years ago and spread from there. Only a few years ago, FGM was considered a cultural tradition, but now the United Nations has labeled it as a violation of human rights. Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United States has declared Female Genital Mutilation grounds for seeking asylum and is a punishable offense (1).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many of us never heard of Female Genital Mutilation until the storyRead MoreEthics : Discovering Right And Wrong1331 Words   |  6 PagesPrice Objectivism Over Relativism In Ethics: Discovering Right and Wrong, Pojman states that morality refers to the actions we take either right or wrong. This paper should analyze the favor of moral objectivism and the rejection of ethical relativism. According to Pojman, â€Å"Ethical relativism holds that moral rightness and wrongness of actions varies from society to society or individual to individual.† (p.19) That is, what is considered right in one society, might be considered wrong in another societyRead MoreCircumcision, Abortion, And The Procedure Of Genital Cutting1229 Words   |  5 PagesCircumcision, possible for both males and females, implies the procedure of genital cutting. This process is one of the oldest surgical procedures done in a variety of countries. However, circumcision can not only be accepted for medical reasons but also tend to appear defining for one s religious, cultural, as well as social lives. Thus, traditional circumcision is usually undertaken in worse conditions than th e traditional medical one. With recent research, numerous advantages for a circumcised