Female Genital Mutilation/ Female Circumcision/FGM

In case you have never heard anything about female genital mutilation, this is your chance to get informed and help stop this cruel act. Female genital mutilation or simply FGM, is an act whereby, the clitoris is either cut completely or partially. Yes, I said CUT. It is illegal all over the world, but it still happens in great numbers. During the procedure after the clitoris has been cut, the lips of the female organ are sewn together, allowing only a very small hole, to allow urine or blood. The lips were again cut open on a girl's wedding day. Most parts of rural Africa, India, Asia and to my shock, Europe, still practice this brutality

In the olden days, a girl was supposed to be less aggressive sexually, and many communities believed that cutting the clitoris would suppress the sexual urge in a girl before marriage, some believed it would make her clean, and some did it as punishment for masturbation. This act leaves a girl traumatized both physically and psychologically. Bear in mind that, it is done without any anesthesia. Some die during the procedure from shock or excessive bleeding. Others die afterwards due to infections. Infections are so easily transmitted because, first of all, the "cutters", are old, uneducated women, who use the same blade for all the girls involved. Nowadays, they take cash for their services, but if they have to use a new blade, then their clients need to pay extra cash. Even in this time and era if HIV and other related diseases, they still remain in the dark. Apart from HIV, these girls can contract other killer diseases, like Human Papilloma Virus, which I wrote about in my previous hub.The cutters are so rooted into their culture, a culture that I say is a grave to bury women alive! A culture that robs a woman of her organs. They claim that their great great grandparents did it, their parents, them and so should their children.

It is painful to learn that, no country in the world accepts FGM refugees.. Many girls infact, are either flown from Europe, USA and the UK to be circumcised, or the cutter is flown in. Thank God for education that has enlightened people a bit and kept them busy. Years back, a girl was supposed to be married as soon as she healed from the circumcision. Am talking about an age as early as 8.

Now, the biggest problem comes when a girl begins her menstruation, because sometimes, the hole that was left is too small that blood cannot come out. This leads dangerous and complicated medical problems that only doctors can explain.

Please, create awareness and help stop this act!