Is circumcision the same as female genital mutilation (FGM)?
Yes and no. Female genital mutilation (FGM) is an umbrella term for a wide range of procedures performed on young girls in various Muslim and African cultures. The most extreme form of FGM is infibulation, which consists of consists of clitoridectomy (where all, or part of, the clitoris is removed), excision (removal of all, or part of, the labia minora), and cutting of the labia majora to create raw surfaces, which are then stitched or held together in order to form a cover over the vagina when they heal. A small hole is left to allow urine and menstrual blood to escape. (Amnesty International, 2004) This procedure often causes lifelong chronic infections and destroys any possibility of sexual pleasure for its victims. Clearly, male circumcision is not nearly as drastic as this. Other forms of FGM, such as those practiced by Westernized Muslims in Egypt, are very similar to male circumcision. A doctor removes the clitoral hood and/or part of the labia under local anesthesia. A woman w
