An article called “An Agonising Choice”, recently published in The Economist, has said that it is time to take a “new approach” to the issue of Female Genital Mutilation:
It argued, “Instead of trying to stamp FGM out entirely, governments should ban the worst forms, permit those that cause no long-lasting harm and try to persuade parents to choose the least nasty version, or none at all. However distasteful, it is better to have a symbolic nick from a trained health worker than to be butchered in a back room by a village elder.”
Female Genital Mutilation, or female circumcision, is the cutting or alteration of external female genitalia without medical reasons. The procedure is dangerous, and according to WHO, can cause severe bleeding, problems urinating, cysts, infections, childbirth complications, increased risk of newborn deaths and extreme mental distress. FGM is considered by many as a violation of human rights and an extreme form of sexism that seeks to control the bodies of girls and further oppress them. It is performed by many communities in Africa, mostly concentrated in the east, west and north-eastern regions, as well as in some Asian countries and the Middle-East. However, it also exists here. According to the NSPCC, 137,000 girls in England and Wales are affected by FGM. There are 4 main types of FGM, which you can find out more about here.
FGM is a tradition which aims to ensure pre-marital virginity and encourage modesty, as well as reduce a women’s libido and discourage sex outside of marriage. No religious writings prescribe it, however it is a deeply rooted cultural tradition for some; its supporters belief that the abolition of FGM would be an insult to their culture and beliefs.
In response to the article, a youth charity called Intergrate UK, which aims to support young people and their intergration into society through education, made a music video called “My Clitoris”. Their message, to quote the song, is simply: “They say its ok for a little bit to be taken away from my clit, no thank you”.
The video was largely filmed at a local school in Bristol and features young people, from different ethnic backgrounds. They make it clear that they believe no form of FGM is acceptable and there is no such thing as a “mild” form of FGM, despite what The Economist article says.
The sugary pink colour scheme brilliantly mocks femininity, criticising the expectations upon girls to behave a certain way as well as patriarchal entitlement to the female body. Whilst the video is tongue in cheek, its impact is powerful.
“Why do you think my vagina’s made for you?” #MyClitoris