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The imposition of female genital mutilation in our present-day society has become a source of concern. Until recently, female circumcision was an integral part of the society. Although societies that practice circumcision vary in many ways, ownership of a child, in these circumstances, transcends both father and mother. In some communities, circumcision has no age barrier.
For instance, in some parts of Ijebu, Ijesha, Ogbomosh, Ibibio, Zulu, Fulani and Kalabari, women who got married to anybody from another tribe would be expected to be circumcised, if she had not done it before she got married. The woman must abide by her husband’s culture, which disallows her from protesting; otherwise the husband could be advised to find another wife.
This, according to some traditionalists, would go beyond the level of education and age of the woman. To many Africans, this is now being used as a form of retaliatory measure to punish perceived non-tribal women whom they considered strongly opposed to such imposition and marriage from another tribe.
Although a variety of justifications have been given in favour of continuation of the practice, including preservation of virginity before marriage, fidelity after marriage, enhancement of the husband's sexual pleasure, enhancement of fertility, prevention of infant and child mortality, cleanliness and religious requirements, tradition is by far the most commonly mentioned reason.
The excuse for the operation appears to be largely grounded in a desire to terminate or reduce feelings of sexual arousal in women so that they will be much less likely to engage in pre-marital intercourse or adultery. The clitoris holds a massive number of nerve endings, and generates feelings of sexual arousal when stimulated. But investigation has shown that what some of the girls experienced later in life go beyond the justification provided. For instance, it has been found that majority of the girls during the unsanitary operations are infected, experience bleeding, damage to the urinary tract, sepsis, even death. In fact, latest reports indicate that circumcised girls are now prone to AIDS infection. It may equally cause pain during coitus, and psychological damage.
Infibulations is particularly likely to cause long-term health problems. Because the urethral opening is covered, repeated urinary tract infections are common, and stones may form in the urethra and bladder because of obstruction and infection. If the opening is very small, menstrual flow may be blocked, leading to reproductive tract infections and lowered fertility or sterility. One early study estimated that 20-25% of cases of sterility in Nigeria could be linked to infibulations.
Without deinfibulation before childbirth, obstructed labour may occur, causing life-threatening complications for both mother and child. Because birth rates are high in many countries where infibulations is practiced, a woman's infibulation’s scar may be cut and resewn many times during her reproductive years. Given the medical complications and related consequences of female circumcision, why does the practice still continue?
It is evident that women themselves are involved in perpetuating this awkward and archaic practice.
Only a very limited number of options are open to women living in rural areas of Africa, thus, to put an end to this practice would invariably put an end to an otherwise profitable, centuries old business.
Similarly, older women themselves perpetrate the practice with much zeal having themselves previously undergone the same suffering. Senior women possess a deep conviction that in upholding and enforcing tradition, they hold together the fabric of a society that must, at whatever costs, be defended against external threats.
In many cultures, considerable social pressure is brought to bear on families who resist conforming to the tradition of female circumcision. In Man, a town in the interior of CÙte d'Ivoire, a Yacouba girl who has not been circumcised is not considered marriageable. Among the Samburu of Kenya also, uncircumcised girls are considered unclean, promiscuous and immature. Girls in this clime are generally circumcised at age 14 or 15, usually before they are married. A girl with a younger brother may undergo circumcision if she remains unmarried by her late teens, since custom dictates that a boy with an uncircumcised older sister may not be initiated into the warrior class.
In this case, a girl's wishes are often irrelevant; it is her family, often the father or elder female relatives who decides for her. According to one Kenyan, "my daughter has no choice. I decide. Her view is not important."
Indeed, girls have very little choice. They are dependent on their parents, and later on their husband, for the basic necessities of life. Those who resist may be cut by force. If they remain uncircumcised and their families are therefore unable to arrange a marriage, they may be cast out without any means of subsistence. Because of their lack of choice and the powerful influence of tradition, many girls accept circumcision as a necessary, and even natural, part of life, and adopt the rationale given for its existence.
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Adeshola
Adeshola Komolafe
Founder/Researcher
SAVE OUR FUTURE
Abuja
Nigeria
www.desholakomolafe.com
Email: adesholakomolafe@yahoo.com
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