You have a long section about female genital mutilation, but what are your views on male genital mutilation? Why make a distinction?

While some people may consider any kind of circumcision to be a form of mutilation, it is important to identify the distinction between male and female circumcision. One of the most compelling reasons for the distinction is that female circumcision, also known as female genital mutilation, FGM, is equivalent to the removal of the shaft, not just the foreskin, of the penis.

Male circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin that covers the glans or head of the penis. Generally this procedure is performed in the hospital, with hygienic or sterilized instruments, shortly after birth. It can also take place as part of a religious or cultural ceremony after an infant boy leaves the hospital. In addition, some adult men are circumcised for medical, hygienic, or aesthetic reasons. While circumcision of men has been uncommon in Asia, South America, Central America, the Middle East, and most of Europe, it has been and still is fairly common in Canada and is routinely practiced in the United States. In the U.S., about 1.2 million infant boys are circumcised annually.

Female circumcision is a ritual cutting or alteration of the clitoris and/or the inner lips. It is most often performed for cultural or religious reasons on girls between the ages of four and ten years. The procedure is commonly carried out by untrained individuals in unsanitary conditions with rudimentary instruments (e.g., razor blades, broken glass, and/or knives) and without anesthesia, which is why it is referred to as female genital mutilation. Although FGM continues primarily in Africa and in small communities in the Middle East and Asia, it is prohibited by law in many countries around the world. Generally, when girls or women are circumcised, a portion of or the entire visible glans of the clitoris is removed. In addition, sometimes the inner lips (a.k.a. labia minora) are also removed and the outer lips are sewn together, covering the urethra and most of the vaginal opening, in a procedure called infibulation. FGM and infibulation can lead to frequent infections and cause many kinds of physical complications with urination, menstruation, and intercourse/penetration. The possible psychological impact of the procedure has been less well-understood. It is estimated that between 115 and 130 million women around the world have undergone these procedures.

To learn more about circumcision, you can refer to the American Academy of Pediatrics Circumcision and Female Genital Mutilation Policy Statements. You can also check out the National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Centers web site.

Alice

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