Thirty-three states within the United States have passed legislation that makes female genital mutilation illegal.
By Kevin RR Williams
⚠️ Use Discretion: Graphic human anatomy.
Female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C) is done partly for aesthetics and mostly as a ritual. Mutilation is such a strong description that some prefer to call it female circumcision. This seems to align it with, more acceptable, male circumcision.
The latter has biblical origins and is common within major hospitals around the world, often within 10 days of male birth. The former, with ancient Egyptian origins, applies to girls aged 0–15 as a rite of passage.
FGM/C, also known as sunna, gudniin, halalays, tahur, megrez, and khitan, is the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia. What some consider female castration is often performed with knives, scissors, scalpels, pieces of glass or razor blades by traditional circumcisers or cutters who lack medical training. In some countries a medical professional does it.
There are variations of four different types or levels. This cannot be passed off as a legitimate way to circumcise a girl.
If you believe a girl is at risk of FGM/C in the United States, notify your state’s child protective services agency of the potential or practice of child abuse. You may also contact the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section of the Department of Justice at (800) 813‑5863 or hrsptips@usdoj.gov, or the Human Rights Violator and War Crimes Unit of the Department of Homeland Security at (866) DHS‑2‑ICE (866‑347‑2423) or HRV.ICE@ice.dhs.gov.
Type I (clitoridectomy) – Partial or total removal of the clitoris and/or prepuce.
Type II (excision) – Partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia majora or minora.
Type III (infibulation) – Narrowing of the vaginal orifice with a covering seal, leaving a small opening for draining urine and menses.
Type IV – Any other harmful procedure to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, such as pricking, piercing, incising, scraping, or cauterizing.
Types I and II can suppress sexual pleasure. Types II and above may also cause long-term problems with sexual intercourse, childbirth, and mental health (anxiety, depression, flashbacks, nightmares). In some cases, a surgical procedure called deinfibulation, opens up the (Type III) vagina to improve some symptoms. It is incorrect to call this a reversal procedure. Original physical and emotional scars cannot be undone.
A woman Kenyan doctor named Tatu Kamau wants female genital mutilation to be decriminalized. She told judges on October 24, 2019 that the term mutilation is “offensive” and denigrates the cultural significance of the practice.
Communities at particular risk of FGM/C originate from:
- Egypt
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Gambia
- Guinea
- Indonesia
- Ivory Coast
- Kenya
- Liberia
- Malaysia
- Mali
- Nigeria
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
Historical Legal Landmarks
Internationally
The UN’s 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child both include statements against the practice of FGM/C. It is an internationally recognized human rights violation.
Some confusion results from a largely unregulated procedure known as labiaplasty, which involves shortening or trimming the labia. In contrast, the main types of FGM/C involve removing part or all of the clitoris, removing the inner labia, or narrowing the vagina opening by repositioning the labia. Patients seeking labiaplasty to conform to a norm often lack knowledge of how diverse women’s labia are.
Female Genitalia Variation Table
| Variation | Millimeters | Inches |
|---|---|---|
| Clitoral length | 5–35 mm | 0.2–1.4 |
| Clitoral glans width | 3–10 mm | 0.1–0.4 |
| Clitoris to urethra | 16–45 mm | 0.6–1.8 |
| Labia majora length | 70–120 mm | 2.8–4.7 |
| Labia minora length | 20–100 mm | 0.8–4.0 |
| Labia minora width | 7–50 mm | 0.3–2.0 |
| Perineum length | 15–55 mm | 0.6–2.2 |
| Vaginal length | 65–125 mm | 2.6–4.9 |
Both female genital mutilation and labioplasty strive to surgically normalize the appearance of genitalia. What you consider normal is open to interpretation.
United Kingdom
In the 1950s, clitoridectomy was practiced in Western Europe and the United States to treat perceived ailments, including mental and sexual disorders. Since 1985, it is illegal to perform FGM/C in the UK, punishable by up to 14 years in prison. A person found guilty of failing to protect a girl from FGM/C can face up to 7 years in prison.
United States of America
Though reports suggest as many as half a million girls are at risk, current prevalence of FGM/C in the United States is uncertain. From the 1880s, excision was performed to prevent and treat lesbianism, masturbation, depression, hysteria, and nymphomania. FGM/C was an allowable medical practice in the United States until the end of the 20th century, with some procedures covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance until 1977.
On November 20, 2018, Federal Judge Barnard A. Friedman ruled the Female Genital Mutilation Act of 1996 unconstitutional because it exceeds the enumerated powers of Congress and cannot be justified by the commerce clause. In his 28-page ruling, he wrote, “As laudable as the prohibition of a particular type of abuse of girls may be,” prosecutors failed to show that the federal government had the authority to bring the charges.
The judge noted, “FGM is a ‘local criminal activity’ which, in keeping with longstanding tradition and our federal system of government, is for the states to regulate, not Congress.” As of June 2019, 33 states within the U.S. have passed legislation making FGM/C illegal.
⚠️ Report Child Abuse
If you believe a girl is at risk of FGM/C in the United States, notify your state’s child protective services agency of the potential or practice of child abuse. You may also contact the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section of the Department of Justice at (800) 813‑5863 or hrsptips@usdoj.gov, or the Human Rights Violator and War Crimes Unit of the Department of Homeland Security at (866) DHS‑2‑ICE (866‑347‑2423) or HRV.ICE@ice.dhs.gov.
