Forensic Nursing Chronicles

Female Genital Mutilation is form of ritual that has been performed in many countries for centuries. Female genital mutilation is a form of female circumcision in which the female’s clitorus is completely removed. This procedure often leads to infection, scaring, and both physical and emotional trauma. Having such an invasive procedure done on a women’s genitalia leaves a greater possibility for infection and disease to set in. As the previous post states, it is looked down upon by most of the world and is seen as criminal in the global perspective. However, women around the world are still having this procedure performed on them despite the negative side effects. In my opinion this is a form of abuse towards women and a means of keeping women in submission to their society. I think that women who are seen in health care need to be very sensitive to this issue and work to understand where the patients are coming from both emotionally, mentally, and any physical issues they may be dealing with.

Original Post
May 26, 2009
Title: Female Genital Mutilation
Female Genital Mutilation is a religious ritual which dates back hundreds of years making it very obsolete and presently viewed as criminal on a global perspective. The practice has been addressed through many forums such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948; United Nations convention on the Right of the Child, 1959; African Charter on Rights and Welfare of the Child, 1990; Declaration on Violence Against Women in 1993; High Commission on Refugees Statement against Gender Based violence, 1996. All forums strongly disagree with the practice and encourage the enforcement of the law. There is no easy solution to female genital mutilation. Respect for lives at risk must take precedence over a cultural tradition. And the communities need to be educated to such. I can see the need in health care for education to the professionals who take care of these patients. Education on the ritual and the possible complications. And education regarding the sensitivity of the situation when approaching these patients for they are probably affected physically, psychology, and socially.

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Well, this is an appalling topic. It would be very easy to say, my God, what is the matter with these people? That they would do this to a child is horrible. This practice is meant to control a woman in many aspects. Most religious and cultural practices have the aim of keeping control over women and taking their rights and handing them to men. In modern, independent women, these ideas are preposterous. While many Muslim women remain under the thumb of their husbands and fathers, their Christian counterparts continue to seek their own freedoms. This is illustrated in manner of dress and public behavior. So pointing out that any cultural practices are "wrong" would not be met with anything but scorn. Women go to doctors to have their vaginal openings made smaller to be more "accommodating" to their husbands. How is this different from FGM? I surely makes catheterization a real challenge. While I certainly think mutilating girl children is a horrible practice, it would be very hard to explain to the people that do practice it, why they should stop it. While we don’t remove everything to limit sexual pleasure, don’t we cut circumcise our boys out of habit/culture/religious practice? These acts seem the same to me.

Tags: Forensic Nursing, Forensic Nursing Chronicles, Forensic Nursing Theories, Female Genital Mutilation

Female Genital Mutilation is a religious ritual which dates back hundreds of years making it very obsolete and presently viewed as criminal on a global perspective. The practice has been addressed through many forums such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948; United Nations convention on the Right of the Child, 1959; Africian Charter on Rights and Welfare of the Child, 1990; Declaration on Violence Against Women in 1993; High Commission on Refugees Statement against Gender Based violence, 1996. All forums strongly disagree with the practice and encourage the enforcement of the law. There is no easy solution to female genital mutilation. Respect for lives at risk must take precedence over a cultural tradition. And the communities need to be educated to such. I can see the need in health care for education to the professionals who take care of these patients. Education on the ritual and the possible complications. And education regarding the sensitivity of the situation when approaching these patients for they are probably affected physically, psychology, and socially.

Technorati Tags: Forensic Nursing, Forensic Nursing Chronicles, Forensic Nursing Theories, Female Genital Mutilation