It is a topic that many people find difficult to discuss, but understanding what is an FGM—Female Genital Mutilation—is vital for global health and human rights. Honestly, it’s a heavy subject. It involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. This isn't surgery. It’s not "female circumcision," though you might hear that term used sometimes. That comparison is pretty misleading because, unlike male circumcision, FGM has no health benefits and is intentionally designed to be invasive.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF have spent decades documenting the impact of this practice. Roughly 230 million girls and women alive today have undergone some form of it. That’s a staggering number. It’s not just a "tradition" in a few small villages; it’s a global health crisis that spans across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and even within diaspora communities in the West.
The Different Forms of FGM
When people ask "what is an FGM," they often think it’s a single procedure. It’s not. The medical community generally breaks it down into four distinct types.
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Type 1 is often called a clitoridectomy. This is the partial or total removal of the clitoral glans. Type 2 goes further, removing the labia minora with or without the excision of the labia majora. Then there is Type 3, known as infibulation. This is arguably the most severe form. The vaginal opening is narrowed by creating a covering seal. This is done by cutting and repositioning the labia. A small hole is left for urine and menstrual blood. It’s incredibly painful and leads to lifelong complications. Finally, Type 4 covers everything else. This includes pricking, piercing, incising, scraping, or cauterizing the genital area.
None of these are "better" than the others. They all carry risks.
Why Does This Still Happen?
You might wonder why on earth a family would subject their daughter to this. It’s a valid question. The answer is deeply complicated and rooted in social pressure. In many communities, FGM is a prerequisite for marriage. It’s seen as a way to ensure "purity" or "modesty." There’s a belief that it controls a woman’s libido, keeping her faithful.
Cultural identity plays a huge role too. If everyone in your village has done it for generations, being the one person who says "no" can lead to total social ostracization. You’re not just breaking a rule; you’re perceived as a bad parent or a disgrace to your lineage. It’s a cycle of social convention that’s incredibly hard to break from the inside.
The Myth of Religious Requirement
A huge misconception is that FGM is a religious requirement. It isn't. No major religious text—not the Quran, not the Bible—mandates FGM. While it is practiced in some Muslim, Christian, and Jewish (Beta Israel) communities, religious leaders around the globe have increasingly spoken out against it. Sheikh Shawki Allam, the Grand Mufti of Egypt, has explicitly stated that FGM is forbidden. Despite this, the confusion persists because the practice is so deeply entwined with local interpretations of "godliness" or "propriety."
Real Medical Consequences
The "why" is social, but the "what" is physical. Because FGM is often performed without anesthesia and with non-sterile instruments—think razor blades, glass, or sharpened stones—the immediate risks are terrifying. Hemorrhaging is common. Infections, including tetanus and HIV, are a constant threat due to shared tools.
Long-term, the body struggles to heal correctly. Women who have undergone Type 3 often face chronic urinary tract infections. Why? Because urine stays trapped behind the seal. Menstruation becomes a period of intense pain every single month. During childbirth, the scar tissue doesn't stretch. This leads to obstructed labor, which can be fatal for both the mother and the baby. It’s a ripple effect of trauma that never really ends.
The Psychological Toll
We talk about the physical stuff a lot, but the mental health impact is just as heavy. Many women deal with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Imagine having a foundational memory of being restrained by your relatives while someone you trust performs a painful procedure on you. That breaks trust. It creates anxiety and depression that can last a lifetime. Many women don't even realize their chronic health issues or their emotional struggles are linked to what happened to them as children until they are much older.
Progress and Modern Challenges
Things are changing. Since 2008, nearly 10,000 communities in 15 countries have publicly declared they are abandoning FGM. Laws are being passed. In Sudan, for example, a landmark law was passed in 2020 criminalizing the practice. But laws are only as good as their enforcement.
A worrying trend is the "medicalization" of FGM. This is where the procedure is performed by healthcare providers—nurses or doctors—in a clinic. Some parents think this makes it "safe." It doesn’t. It’s still a violation of human rights and it still causes long-term harm. The WHO is very clear: health professionals who perform FGM are violating the fundamental ethic of "do no harm."
Actionable Steps for Change
Understanding what is an FGM is just the first step. If you want to contribute to ending the practice, here are the most effective ways to engage:
- Support Grassroots Organizations: Groups like Tostan in Senegal or The Orchid Project work directly with communities. They don't just lecture; they facilitate human rights education so the community chooses to change on its own.
- Support Survivors: Many women need reconstructive surgery or specialized counseling. Organizations like Desert Flower Foundation help provide these services.
- Educate Without Shaming: If you’re talking to someone from a practicing community, remember that many parents believe they are doing what is best for their daughter's future. Shaming them often shuts down the conversation. Focus on the health risks and the fact that it isn't a religious requirement.
- Policy Advocacy: If you live in a country where FGM occurs within diaspora communities, support legislation that funds "protection orders" to prevent girls from being taken abroad for the procedure (often called "vacation cutting").
The path to ending FGM isn't just through laws. It's through changing hearts and minds, one conversation at a time. It's about ensuring that every girl has the right to grow up with her bodily integrity intact.