Protect Girls From Mutilation

Thirty-three states within the United States have passed legislation that makes female genital mutilation illegal.

[NSFW] Female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C) is done partly for aesthetics and mostly as a ritual. Mutilation is such a strong description that some prefer to call it female circumcision. This seems to align it with, more acceptable, male circumcision.

The latter has biblical origins and is common within major hospitals around the world, often within 10 days of male birth. The former, with ancient Egyptian origins, applies to girls aged 0–15 as a rite of passage.

FGM/C, also known as sunna, gudniin, halalays, tahur, megrez, and khitan, is the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia. What some consider female castration is often performed with knives, scissors, scalpels, pieces of glass, or razor blades by traditional circumcisers or cutters who lack medical training. In some countries a medical professional does it.

There are variations of four different types or levels. This cannot be passed off as a legitimate way to circumcise a girl.

If you believe a girl is at risk of FGM/C in the United States, notify your state’s child protective services agency of the potential or practice of child abuse. You may also contact the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section of the Department of Justice at (800) 813‑5863 or hrsptips@usdoj.gov, or the Human Rights Violator and War Crimes Unit of the Department of Homeland Security at (866) DHS‑2‑ICE (866‑347‑2423) or HRV.ICE@ice.dhs.gov.

Type I (clitoridectomy) – Partial or total removal of the clitoris and/or prepuce.

Type II (excision) – Partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia majora or minora.

Type III (infibulation) – Narrowing of the vaginal orifice with a covering seal, leaving a small opening for draining urine and menses.

Type IV – Any other harmful procedure to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, such as pricking, piercing, incising, scraping, or cauterizing.

A woman Kenyan doctor named Tatu Kamau wants female genital mutilation to be decriminalized. She told judges on October 24, 2019, that the term mutilation is “offensive” and denigrates the cultural significance of the practice.

Communities at particular risk of FGM/C originate from:

Egypt
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Gambia
Guinea
Indonesia
Ivory Coast
Kenya
Liberia
Malaysia
Mali
Nigeria
Sierra Leone
Somalia
Sudan
Yemen

Historical Legal Landmarks

Internationally

The UN’s 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child both include statements against the practice of FGM/C. It is an internationally recognized human rights violation.

Some confusion results from a largely unregulated procedure known as labiaplasty, which involves shortening or trimming the labia. In contrast, the main types of FGM/C involve removing part or all of the clitoris, removing the inner labia, or narrowing the vagina opening by repositioning the labia. Patients seeking labiaplasty to conform to a norm often lack knowledge of how diverse women’s labia are.

Female Genitalia Variation Table

Variation	Millimeters	Inches
Clitoral length	5–35 mm	0.2–1.4
Clitoral glans width	3–10 mm	0.1–0.4
Clitoris to urethra	16–45 mm	0.6–1.8
Labia majora length	70–120 mm	2.8–4.7
Labia minora length	20–100 mm	0.8–4.0
Labia minora width	7–50 mm	0.3–2.0
Perineum length	15–55 mm	0.6–2.2
Vaginal length	65–125 mm	2.6–4.9

Both female genital mutilation and labioplasty strive to surgically normalize the appearance of genitalia. What you consider normal is open to interpretation.

United Kingdom

In the 1950s, clitoridectomy was practiced in Western Europe and the United States to treat perceived ailments, including mental and sexual disorders. Since 1985, it has been illegal to perform FGM/C in the UK, punishable by up to 14 years in prison. A person found guilty of failing to protect a girl from FGM/C can face up to 7 years in prison.

United States of America

Though reports suggest as many as half a million girls are at risk, the current prevalence of FGM/C in the United States is uncertain. From the 1880s, excision was performed to prevent and treat lesbianism, masturbation, depression, hysteria, and nymphomania. FGM/C was an allowable medical practice in the United States until the end of the 20th century, with some procedures covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance until 1977.