February 6, 2019
1. Female genital mutilation/cutting is practiced in many countries across the world, including in some communities in the United States.
2. Female genital mutilation/cutting can take different forms, ranging from a small nick of the clitoris to removal of parts of the external genitalia.
3. Women and girls who have been cut can experience a range of lasting health and psychological harms, including pain, fear of sexual intimacy, and complications with childbirth.
4. Female genital mutilation/cutting is violence against women: usually performed without consent, or to girls too young to give informed consent, FGM/C denies women and girls the fundamental right over their own bodies.
5. Female genital mutilation/cutting is rooted in patriarchy: intended to curb women’s sexual desire or pleasure, FGM/C assumes women’s sexuality is something that requires controlling. In contrast, male circumcision – performed by many communities for medical reasons — is not performed to control men.
2. Female genital mutilation/cutting can take different forms, ranging from a small nick of the clitoris to removal of parts of the external genitalia.
3. Women and girls who have been cut can experience a range of lasting health and psychological harms, including pain, fear of sexual intimacy, and complications with childbirth.
4. Female genital mutilation/cutting is violence against women: usually performed without consent, or to girls too young to give informed consent, FGM/C denies women and girls the fundamental right over their own bodies.
5. Female genital mutilation/cutting is rooted in patriarchy: intended to curb women’s sexual desire or pleasure, FGM/C assumes women’s sexuality is something that requires controlling. In contrast, male circumcision – performed by many communities for medical reasons — is not performed to control men.
Want to learn more about FGM/C and what you can do to speak out? Check out:
- Sahiyo: United Against Female Genital Cutting, a community organization dedicated to empowering Asian communities to end FGC, Sahiyo provides brochures, research, reports, toolkits, and the latest news on FGC.
- Sahiyo Stories Series: women from different communities share digital stories to speak out about their experiences
- Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: A Global Concern, a brochure from UNICEF
- Info & fact sheets from WHO on health risks, global statistics, and more