Female circumcision is an epidemic that is extremely prominent but many people are unaware of. The reason for this, it makes people uncomfortable to discuss and doesn’t typicaly take place in the United States. This practice takes place primarily  in cultures outside of what we consider to be “civilized culture.” There are three types of circumcision.

• Type I: Also known as clitoridectomy, this type consists of partial or total removal of the clitoris and/or its prepuce.
• Type II: Also known as excision, the clitoris and labia minora are partially or totally removed, with or without excision of the labia majora.
• Type III: The most severe form, it is also known as infibulation or pharaonic type. The procedure consists of narrowing the vaginal orifice with creation of a covering seal by cutting and appositioning the labia minora and/or labia majora, with or without removal of the clitoris. The appositioning of the wound edges consists of stitching or holding the cut areas together for a certain period of time (for example, girls’ legs are bound together), to create the covering seal. A small opening is left for urine and menstrual blood to escape. An infibulation must be opened either through penetrative sexual intercourse or surgery.

(The bullet points above are from the endfgm.eu website)

Many rural tribes believe that this practice is necessary in order to prevent young girls from pursuing sexual relations as anything more than its natural intention, to create children.  This is considered to be both religious and cultural depending on the area of the world it is taking part in. In Kenya, tribes believe that it is a necessary step to becoming a woman. They hold ceremonies composed of strictly woman where they mentally prepare a young girl for entering womanhood. No amount of preparation can prepare the women (and girls) for the amount of pain they will experience. Because this is practiced primarily in rural villages they do not have access to things like anesthesia. Unfortunately this practice has negative effects that those who practice is are unwilling to acknowledge.

Most of the time the tools used are not properly cleaned . This practice involves blood and other bodily bacteria. Not only does this spread diseases amongst the patients but coupled with terrible post operation care leads to infections.  Fevers spike, bacteria sets in, and the woman are left to accept whatever outcome takes place. One tribe views death following circumcision as a sign that the woman was a witch, therefore exonerating them of causing her death.