Male and female circumcision: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:tubercle.jpg|right|thumb|The male (left) and female (right) clitoris/penis and prepuce are analogous and homologous organs throughout life. During the first trimester, they are also visually the same. Both are natural, normal, purposeful body organs that equally contribute to the health, functioning, and well-being of their owner. | [[Image:tubercle.jpg|right|thumb|The male (left) and female (right) [[clitoris]]/[[penis]] and [[prepuce]] are analogous and homologous organs throughout life. During the first trimester, they are also visually the same. Both are natural, normal, purposeful body organs that equally contribute to the health, functioning, and well-being of their owner. | ||
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* Female circumcision eliminates the ability to orgasm, a circumcised man can still function. | * Female circumcision eliminates the ability to orgasm, a circumcised man can still function. | ||
* Female circumcision is performed to subjugate a woman and purposefully diminish her sexuality. | * Female circumcision is performed to subjugate a woman and purposefully diminish her sexuality. | ||
* Female circumcision removes the clitoris, male circumcision doesn't remove anything important. | * Female circumcision removes the [[clitoris]], male circumcision doesn't remove anything important. | ||
* Female circumcision is performed in unsanitary environments. | * Female circumcision is performed in unsanitary environments. | ||
* Female circumcision is performed with unclean utensils. | * Female circumcision is performed with unclean utensils. | ||
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! Infant Male Circumcision in the United States | ! Infant Male Circumcision in the United States | ||
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| "She loses only a little piece of the clitoris, just the part that protrudes. The girl does not miss it. She can still feel, after all. There is hardly any pain. Women's pain thresholds are so much higher than men's." | | "She loses only a little piece of the [[clitoris]], just the part that protrudes. The girl does not miss it. She can still feel, after all. There is hardly any pain. Women's pain thresholds are so much higher than men's." | ||
| "It's only a little piece of skin. The baby does not feel any pain because his nervous system is not developed yet." | | "It's only a little piece of skin. The baby does not feel any pain because his nervous system is not developed yet." | ||
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|"An intact penis is dirty and only the lowest class of people with no concept of hygiene leave their boys intact." | |"An intact penis is dirty and only the lowest class of people with no concept of hygiene leave their boys intact." | ||
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|"Leaving a girl intact endangers both her husband and her baby. If the baby's head touches the uncut clitoris during birth, the baby will be born hydrocephalic [excess cranial fluid]. The milk of the mother will become poisonous. If a man's penis touches a woman's clitoris he will become impotent." | |"Leaving a girl intact endangers both her husband and her baby. If the baby's head touches the uncut [[clitoris]] during birth, the baby will be born hydrocephalic [excess cranial fluid]. The milk of the mother will become poisonous. If a man's penis touches a woman's [[clitoris]] he will become impotent." | ||
|"Men have an obligation to their wives to give up their foreskin. An intact penis will cause cervical cancer in women. It spreads disease." | |"Men have an obligation to their wives to give up their foreskin. An intact penis will cause cervical cancer in women. It spreads disease." | ||
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|"Doctors do it, so it must be a good thing." | |"Doctors do it, so it must be a good thing." | ||
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|Sudanese grandmother: "In some countries they only cut out the clitoris, but here we do it properly. We scrape our girls clean. If it is properly done, nothing is left, other than a scar. Everything has to be cut away." | |Sudanese grandmother: "In some countries they only cut out the [[clitoris]], but here we do it properly. We scrape our girls clean. If it is properly done, nothing is left, other than a scar. Everything has to be cut away." | ||
|My own father, a physician, speaking of ritual circumcision inflicted upon my son: "It is a good thing that I was here to preside. He had quite a long foreskin. I made sure that we gave him a good tight circumcision." | |My own father, a physician, speaking of ritual circumcision inflicted upon my son: "It is a good thing that I was here to preside. He had quite a long foreskin. I made sure that we gave him a good tight circumcision." | ||
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=== Type I === | === Type I === | ||
The WHO defines Type I FGM as the partial or total removal of the clitoris ([[clitoridectomy]]) and/or the prepuce ([[clitoral hood]]); see ''Diagram 1B''. When it is important to distinguish between the variations of Type I cutting, the following subdivisions are proposed: Type Ia, removal of the clitoral hood or prepuce only; Type Ib, removal of the clitoris with the prepuce.<ref name = "WHO - Terminology"/> | The WHO defines Type I FGM as the partial or total removal of the [[clitoris]] ([[clitoridectomy]]) and/or the prepuce ([[clitoral hood]]); see ''Diagram 1B''. When it is important to distinguish between the variations of Type I cutting, the following subdivisions are proposed: Type Ia, removal of the clitoral hood or prepuce only; Type Ib, removal of the [[clitoris]] with the prepuce.<ref name = "WHO - Terminology"/> | ||
=== Type II === | === Type II === | ||
The WHO's definition of Type II FGM is "partial or total removal of the clitoris and the [[labia minora]], with or without [[excision]] of the labia majora. When it is important to distinguish between the major variations that have been documented, the following subdivisions are proposed: Type IIa, removal of the labia minora only; Type IIb, partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora; Type IIc, partial or total removal of the clitoris, the labia minora and the labia majora.<ref name="WHO - Terminology">{{REFweb | The WHO's definition of Type II FGM is "partial or total removal of the [[clitoris]] and the [[labia minora]], with or without [[excision]] of the labia majora. When it is important to distinguish between the major variations that have been documented, the following subdivisions are proposed: Type IIa, removal of the labia minora only; Type IIb, partial or total removal of the [[clitoris]] and the labia minora; Type IIc, partial or total removal of the [[clitoris]], the labia minora and the labia majora.<ref name="WHO - Terminology">{{REFweb | ||
|quote= | |quote= | ||
|url=http://www.who.int/reproductive-health/publications/fgm/fgm_statement_2008.pdf | |url=http://www.who.int/reproductive-health/publications/fgm/fgm_statement_2008.pdf | ||
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=== Type III: [[Infibulation]] with [[excision]] === | === Type III: [[Infibulation]] with [[excision]] === | ||
The WHO defines Type III FGM as narrowing of the vaginal orifice with creation of a covering seal by cutting and repositioning the labia minora and/or the labia majora, with or without [[excision]] of the clitoris ([[infibulation]])."<!-- <ref name="WHO-2006-10-02"/> --> It is the most extensive form of FGM, and accounts for about 10% of all FGM procedures described from Africa.<ref>{{REFweb | The WHO defines Type III FGM as narrowing of the vaginal orifice with creation of a covering seal by cutting and repositioning the labia minora and/or the labia majora, with or without [[excision]] of the [[clitoris]] ([[infibulation]])."<!-- <ref name="WHO-2006-10-02"/> --> It is the most extensive form of FGM, and accounts for about 10% of all FGM procedures described from Africa.<ref>{{REFweb | ||
|quote= | |quote= | ||
|url=http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/index.html | |url=http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/index.html | ||
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=== Type IV: other types === | === Type IV: other types === | ||
There are other forms of FGM, collectively referred to as Type IV, that may not involve tissue removal. The WHO defines Type IV FGM as "all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, for example, pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterization."<ref name="WHO - Terminology"/> This includes a diverse range of practices, such as pricking the clitoris with needles, burning or scarring the genitals as well as ripping or tearing of the vagina.<ref name="WHO - Terminology"/> | There are other forms of FGM, collectively referred to as Type IV, that may not involve tissue removal. The WHO defines Type IV FGM as "all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, for example, pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterization."<ref name="WHO - Terminology"/> This includes a diverse range of practices, such as pricking the [[clitoris]] with needles, burning or scarring the genitals as well as ripping or tearing of the vagina.<ref name="WHO - Terminology"/> | ||
== Mutilation vs. surgical procedure == | == Mutilation vs. surgical procedure == | ||