Procedures involving the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or injury to the female genital organs are termed either Female Circumcision or Female Genital Mutilation. Many feel this term circumcision is a euphemism is deem the procedure to be called by the more appropriate name, Female Genital Mutilation. "Mutilation" is technically accurate because most variants of the practices entail damage to or removal of healthy tissues. Yet, for most people, the term "mutilation" connotes purposeful harm and is tantamount to an allegation of evil intent. Fe

"Imagine X, an adult female citizen of the United States, who strongly desires to assert her cultural affiliation and believes that by undergoing FC/FGM she signals her fidelity to a notion of female chastity and the ideal womanhood shared by her community. (For sake of argument, it is irrelevant whether X was born into, has inherited, or has converted to the tradition.) Along with other like-minded persons-most likely first or second-generation immigrants from countries where FC/FGM is widely practiced-she hopes to establish the tradition in her adopted country.

It is clear that there must be specific laws banning female genital mutilation in each African country. In 1994 Ghana passed a law, which explicitly prohibits FGM. Other countries must follow their initiative, some already have. Yet, enforcing these laws proves to be difficult. Doctors', nurses' and midwives' professional associations must take a clear stance against FGM and pass regulations forbidding their members to perform the procedure. The doctors must then refuse to practice FGM in their communities, as well as educate their people on the medical risks and harmful results of undergoing FGM.

Lastly, government action needs to be taken in order to officially bring an end to female genital mutilation. The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, adopted in 1990, promotes gender equality among children. Governments that sign the charter are required to engage in all measures necessary to eliminate all harmful social and cultural practices affecting children, including practices that are discriminatory on the basis of sex. Many African countries such as Sudan, Senegal, Yemen, Chad, Liberia and Mali have already signed. Though this is a great first step other policies must be implemented and enforced.

African women need to band together in order to resist or escape the pressure of this socially dominant practice. Laws imposed by outside groups have proven ineffective. The movement must come from the inside. Women participate in the procedure out of fear. It is the same fear that keeps them from revolting. However, movements have started in a few communities emphasizing "ritual without cutting." In instances where female genital mutilation is associated with the coming of age, this non-cutting ritual event can contribute to the elimination of the physical procedure. With proper anesthetics a woman may be pricked in order to symbolize the normal cutting procedure that occurs. This would continue the tradition and the ritual without causing permanent damage to the genital area. This would a better-suited form of the ritual for today's world.

Next, one must look at the ritual and meaning that is engrained within the practice of FC/FGM. Circumcision has occurred in some African countries for hundreds of years and is practiced on girls ranging in age from infancy to eighteen years of age. For many, it is a rite of passage, an integral step to becoming a woman. For a young girl, there is a tremendous amount of pressure to be circumcised. A woman's honor is contingent upon her participation in this traditional initiation. Girls report a feeling of being alone and ashamed if they are not circumcised. Thus, some girls ask to be circumcised while others are dragged by their family. Nevertheless, for many this procedure is seen as vital. Uncircumcised women are viewed as ineligible for marriage and are shamed. Thus, the practice continues out of tradition, or perhaps out of fear.

In order to initiate change, one must get to the root of the problems propelling FC/FGM (which I will from now on refer to as female genital mutilation). Deeply enrooted within African societies that practice female genital mutilation, are values promoting the oppression of women. This is similar to the problem the United States faces concerning prejudice against blacks. All and all, African civilizations have operated for centuries with quite patriarchal values. This is so

Some common words found in the essay are:
Rawls Walzer, Individuals African, Type III, Liberia Mali, Amendment VIII, United States-enjoys, Type IV, FC/FGM Circumcision, Human Rights, Eyes African, human rights, female genital, female genital mutilation, genital mutilation, practice fc/fgm, liberal feminists, genital mutilation african, african cultures, declaration human, according liberal, universal declaration human, universal declaration, according liberal feminists, declaration human rights, mutilation african,
Approximate Word count = 4173
Approximate Pages = 17 (250 words per page double spaced)