Critical Discussion on Female Genital Cutting/Mutilation and Other Genital Alterations
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SOCIOCULTURAL ISSUES AND EPIDEMIOLOGY (J ABDULCADIR & D BADER, SECTION EDITORS)
Critical Discussion on Female Genital Cutting/Mutilation and Other Genital Alterations Perspectives From a Women’s Rights NGO Stéphanie Florquin 1 & Fabienne Richard 1,2 Accepted: 29 June 2020 # Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Purpose of Review The goal of this paper is to discuss the juxtapositions between FGM/C and other medically unjustified genital alterations performed on adult women (aesthetical genital surgeries) and on children (male circumcision and intersex genital surgeries). The authors join the debate from their position as professionals working in Belgium’s main “anti-FGM organization” as well as researchers. Recent Findings Recent research and contributions from scholars have raised critique of policies around FGM/C, particularly in the global North. Some of the concerns include critiques of laws that infantilize adult women, problematic use of genital examination, discourses that stigmatize migrant persons from FGM/C practicing communities, and professionals who are insufficiently trained to support women with FGM/C in a respectful and empowering way. Scholars have also argued that there is a lack of medical distinction between different types of genital cutting such as FGM/C type I and type IV, male circumcision, and aesthetical genital cutting. Authors have stressed the discrepancy in terms of both discourse on genital cutting, and called for equal protection of girl, boy, and intersex children from medically unnecessary genital cutting, without discrimination in regard to ethnicity, religion, or immigration status of their parents. Summary The paper argues that the discussion on FGM/C and other genital alterations must consider existing socially constructed inequalities, particularly gender and “race”, and how they affect those submitted to genital alterations. The authors highlight practical challenges raised in their daily work in a women’s rights NGO and conclude with recommendations. Keywords Female genital cutting . Female genital mutilation . Intersex genital surgeries . Male circumcision . Aesthetical genital surgeries . Cosmetic genital surgeries . Genital alterations . Feminism . Continuum of violence . Gender-based violence . Migration
Introduction
This article is part of the Topical Collection on Sociocultural Issues and Epidemiology * Stéphanie Florquin [email protected] Fabienne Richard [email protected] 1
GAMS Belgium, Brussels, Belgium
2
School of Public Health, CR5 Unit, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
Female genital cutting (FGC), or female genital mutilation (FGM), is a much-debated issue. A first conflict arises with the choice of terminology. The authors of this article have chosen to use FGM/C to reflect the plurality of terms used depending on the context. The term FGM is preferred by some international organizations (UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO) and by “anti-FGM” organizations in their communication to general public and in their advocac
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