Female circumcision is any cutting, removal, or alteration of female genitalia.  There are four different types of female circumcision, and most cases fall within the first three.  Type I, otherwise known as “sunna circumcision”, is the partial or complete removal of the clitoral hood.  Type II is the removal of the clitoral hood, and partial or all removal of the labia minora.  Type III, otherwise known as infibulation, is the removal of the clitoral hood and sewing the labia minora and labia majora across the vaginal opening leaving a hole for menstruation and keeping the urethra uncovered.  Type IV are any other nonmedical harmful procedures to the female genitalia like piercing, cauterization, and scraping.  These different procedures are performed at clinics in north Africa, India, and some places in the United States secretly preform circumcision.

There are many origins of this practice; some religions believe that circumcising females keeps them “pure” for the men.  In Sierra Leone, little girls are required to get their clitoris’ removed.   It would be culturally unacceptable if any girl refuses to get this  procedure done!  After the circumcision the female patient or “victim” is considered to be a real woman (Turay- YouTube).  This procedure is considered an initiation in their culture, so if you are not initiated then you are rejected and considered promiscuous.  Even though female circumcision is accepted in many African cultures, most of the world believes that it is inhumane and has no medical benefit towards the individuals.  For example, female circumcision was banned in Egypt but midwifes still secretly perform this procedure.  People will do anything for money if they need it.

The only benefits to female circumcision is cultural or religious acceptance to that individual’s society.  These procedures “limits a [woman’s] sexuality and is physically and emotionally harmful” (National Geographic).  According to the World Health Organization, female circumcision has no health benefits and only provokes harm to women around the world (World Health Organization).  Circumcision has many negative effects on women’s health including postpartum hemorrhage, obstructed labor, and dysmenorrhea (Alexandria Journal of Medicine 2016).  Women and young girls also have a high chance of infection due to lack of medical expertise that are performing these procedures.  According to the United Nations Population Fund, around 200 million girls and women “have been subjected” to female circumcision (UNPFA 2018).  UNPFA have attempted to accelerate and enhance the complete elimination of female circumcision across the globe.

Since 1996 some countries in Africa have banned circumcision due to UNPFA’s efforts to educate the entire continent.  These countries include Nigeria, Egypt, Chad, Ethiopia, and Uganda.  Factors that prevent complete elimination of these practices include cultural rituals, traditions, lack of knowledge, and refusal to change their cultural traditions.  These practices persist because circumcision is a big part of some cultures, especially in Africa.  Circumcision can even provide economic benefits to that individual.  If a female is not circumcised then they are shunned from their society and lose all of their trading and “citizen” rights (NCBI 2016).  Organizations have traveled to these countries to try and educate the midwives that are performing these procedures, along with education the rest of the population.