‘You bleed, you just cry, you can’t defend yourself’
by SENATOR MICHAELIA CASH
Female genital mutilation.
As Australian women, these three words make us recoil in horror.
However for millions of young girls around the world, these three words represent an abhorrent act which will change their lives forever. And no, not for the better.
Just three days ago, West Australian police charged a couple with subjecting their baby daughter to genital mutilation.
This from The West Australian:
Child abuse squad detectives charged the parents – a 44-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman – under Section 306 of the Criminal Code, which makes all procedures involving part or total removal of female genitalia or injuries to the female genital region for cultural or non-therapeutic reasons an offence.
It will be alleged the procedure took place during a holiday in Bali on August 25. It is understood the couple live in Perth’s northern suburbs and the girl is understood to be in good health. The penalty for the offence if committed in WA is 20 years.
The practice of female genital mutilation, or FGM, is internationally recognised as a violation of the human rights of girls and women.
The practice, which varies from country to country and between regions, involves partial or total removal of the clitoris, or excision of any other part of the genitals including the labia majora and labia minora, or any other kind of mutilation of the genitalia.
Perhaps one of the worst aspects of this practice is that it is mostly carried out on girls up to the age of 15. An estimated 100-140 million women have experienced genital mutilation worldwide and three million girls are estimated to be at risk of undergoing the procedure every year. Deformed and in pain, these girls are denied any kind of real childhood.
Senator Cash
There are no benefits that come from this violent procedure. None. What it can cause is infertility, severe bleeding, infection, trouble with urination, cysts, fistula, the need for further surgeries, complications in childbirth and increased risk of infant mortality.
As someone who values gender equality, it is impossible to imagine the pain and the horror that women and girls subjected to this brutal practice experience. But that immediate pain is replaced with a lifetime of both physical and often psychological suffering. It is impossible to comprehend the lifetime of suffering these girls and women experience and the trauma they go through.
Consider the case of Faduma, who was subjected to FGM at the age of 6. She told SBS in an interview:
‘You bleed, you just cry, you can’t defend yourself…imagine having an operation live without anything. Somebody is cutting your body and you are just lying there hopeless.’
World Health Organisation estimates that 140 million girls and women worldwide are living with the consequences of FGM, and a UN Women report confirms that:
‘a growing number of women and girls among immigrant communities have been subjected to or are at risk of female genital mutilation in Australia and New Zealand, as well as in countries in Europe and North America.’
In 2010, the Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne reported it was seeing between 600 and 700 cases of women each year who were victims of FGM – and keep in mind this is only the women who both needed and sought medical attention.
Female genital mutilation.
It is fair to say that Western society, and in particular Western women, have been too reluctant to point out and too slow to condemn the plight of women outside the West for fear that any censure of anti-female practices would be seen as culturally insensitive.
It is a regrettable fact that harmful traditional practices have been committed against women in certain communities and societies for so long now that they are considered part of accepted cultural practice. In other words, excuses are made under the guise of traditional cultural practices for allowing women to be subjected to crude and unrestrained primitive practices that should not be tolerated anywhere under any circumstances.
In Australia, all types of FGM are illegal, banned by specific legislation in every jurisdiction. The legislation takes precedence over common law, which means that even if a woman over the age of 18 consents to undergoing FGM, any doctor who administers it would be committing an offence. For legislative purposes, FGM is also illegal under child protection legislation, which means that mandatory reporting on the issue where suspected by a teacher or other professional must occur.
And the National Education Program on Female Genital Mutilation, introduced in 1995, aims to prevent FGM through community education and awareness, as well as assistance to women who have already been subjected to the practice.
Michelle Bachelet
As the Executive Director of UN Women, Ms Michelle Bachelet, pointed out at a Parliamentary Breakfast in Canberra this week, FGM is carried out for cultural reasons, not religious ones. Many parents believe without FGM their daughters will not be able to marry. Others believe that uncircumcised girls will have overactive sex drives, or that female genitalia are and dirty and FGM is it is a type of ‘cleaning’ or ‘cleansing’. It has also been reported that there is a belief in parts of Burkina Faso and Nigeria that if a baby touches the clitoris during childbirth, it will die.
When migrants come to Australia, they bring with them a system of beliefs, and for those who come with the belief that practicing what amounts to the torture and disabling of young women is okay, it is incumbent on us to help families to overcome the belief that it is necessary or acceptable. We cannot tiptoe around this issue on the pretence that cultural relativity must prevail. In this case, the health of young women is at risk for no good reason whatsoever.
And outside Australia, it is my belief that lifting women from poverty through education and empowerment is the only way to make progress in this area, and many others. There is plenty of data to show that aid investment in women, and especially in their education, reaps enormous benefits not just for those women but also for their families and children.
All girls deserve the right to be free from torture and mutilation, and it is only through speaking out, raising awareness and unveiling the shame and secrecy around this process that we may begin to change the minds of those who believe it is a necessary and normal part of girlhood.
Senator Michaelia Cash is a Liberal Senator for Western Australia and the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and the Status of Women.
Comments
148 Comments so far
Thank-you Senator Cash for raising an issue vital to the health, well-being and empowerment of new Australians.
Despite the illegality of female genital mutilation (fgm), many naively assume this abhorrent practice does not occur in Australia.
The high rates of fgm in countrries of origin for many of Australia’s migrant communities, including Sudan and Indonesia (95 and 70 percent respectively) point strongly to a desire among many in immigrant communities to engage in what is popularly perceived to be a religious practice.
That forms of female ‘circumcision’ were considered seriously by the Australian Gynaecological Assoc. in 2010 (later dropped) in response to the influx of fgm cases also points to such a demand.
Given that fgm and its corollary of child (forced) marriage has resurfaced as an issue due to recent cases reported in the media, and that these practices are seen to have a religious motivation, any awareness or condoning of these practices by religious leaders should form part of the scope for the government Royal Commission into child sexual abuse.
May I urge on behalf of young girls in Australia that these issues continue to be given strong representation. Once again, thank-you for your awareness and concern for these issues in representing West Australians.
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Thanks to GRUENBAUM for her brilliant article on female circumcision in Sudan. My last comment got deleted which is disappointing as I think there is definitely more to think about as this debate progresses
Efforts to change circumcision practices that have neglected to analyse its causes-and resort to “tradition” as the sole explanation are problematic. When reformers assume that people follow “tradition” for no conscious reason, they overlook the complexity of decision-making processes within a culture and the competing demands on individuals. As a result, reform programs can result that do nothing but preach against “ignorance.” Thus international efforts to “eradicate” female circumcision (as if it were a disease), though often couched in seemingly progressive feminist rhetoric, sound condescending to many African women.
Outsiders must recognize that our knowledge about the existence of this practice does not turn the tide: it is the women who practice circumcision who will be the ones to change it (Gruenbaum 1982). Toubia has commented: Over the last decade the … West has acted as though they have suddenly discovered a dangerous epidemic which they then sensationalized in international women’s forums creating a backlash of over-sensitivity in the concerned communities. Perhaps what we need to think about is how international efforts to eradicate female circumcision, while often couched in seemingly progressive feminist rhetoric; inadvertently serve to mask the negative health effects of the economic exploitation of poor countries such as Sudan. Drought killed a huge raft of children recently in Africa, whether they were circumcised or not is pretty irrelevant, no?
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I am also reminded of a saying – ‘First Do No Harm’. Regardless of religion, ethnicity or cultural values, this should be on the lips of every human being in the world as they start each day.
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Reading through the comments below, I’m am left feeling incredibly frustrated at the clear misunderstandings surrounding this issue. Whoever coined the phrase “female circumcision” to describe Female Genital Mutilation has an awful lot to answer for, given that it is causing so many people to continue comparing the removal of a foreskin to the process of cutting out the clitoris, labia minora, (and possibly also labia majora) then sewing the wound shut, leaving only a tiny hole for urine & menstrual blood to escape.
If you need to compare FGM to a procedure performed on men, then the word “castration” would be more accurate than “circumcision”. Chopping off the whole penis (and possibly also testicles), then sewing the wound closed leaving a tiny hole for urine to escape? Yes, that is far more similar to FGM than circumcision is.
Please, please, can we all make a pact to stop using the term “female circumcision”. It is beyond insulting to the victims of FGM to make such a comparison.
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I think you are spot on with that, however, men who were castrated (eg castrati who were castrated to retain their singing voices) were often drugged before the removal of the testicles. They were more likely to die from and OD.
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This is not new. I would not be the only Australian who is fully aware of this problem. I have been aware of it for several years. It has been an issue in the public domain, nationally and internationally, for many more years which prompted me to read about it and to join the AHA Foundation started by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. The website is extremely informative and covers other issues as well such as Sharia law, Honour Violence and Forced Marriages. Here is the link. http://theahafoundation.org/
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I don’t believe in cultural relativism for anything that does harm to a human being. It doesn’t matter what country a person is born in, what religious beliefs they hold or the colour of their skin. Harm is harm and it is equally wrong in all circumstances.
A father in Africa multilating the genitals of his small daughter for cultural purposes is just the same as a father mutilating the genitals of a child in Australia either for religious reasons or for no reason at all. The justifications and the reasoning don’t matter. The harm and the end results are the same.
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In fairness, lets use the word , parents, it’s the old women who generally do this mutilation! Read Aryan Hersi Ali’s story. Yes, I know there is tribal pressure, BUT it is done by women, to women!
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This might sound a bit out there to some, but I’d like to see a values system in place that migrants sign up to when they agree to come to Australia.
It would include basic things like:
I agree to follow the law of the land above my religious or cultural ideals.
I agree that both genders are equal in this country.
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I think that is brilliant.
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I’ve read some of the comments below and can’t understand how people can justify circumcising boys but not girls. Infant boys are strapped down and have a part of them sliced off without anything other than sugar water for the pain. I’m sorry but while what happens to the girls is infinitely worse, we cannot honestly stand by and say it’s ok for us to cut off part of our boys genitals but it’s “barbaric” for other cultures to do it to their girls.
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Jen – you are uninformed.
Both of my boys were circumcised. On my partner’s side of the family, there was a tendency to develop a range of problems later in life that resulted in them being circumcised. An infection in his grandfather, who had to be circumcised at 60, almost killed him. So yes, we decided to spare them the pain of having this done later in life and did it when they were infants.
Neither of my boys cried. In fact, my youngest came out asleep. Their penis’ were numbed beforehand. I don’t even know what sugar water is. If my boys were in pain (as my 6 month old has been for the last few weeks with teething pain and trust me this is much, much, much worse than anything to do with the circumcision – they aren’t even comparable), I’d use Panadol. Neither of them had any infection as a result of the circumcision. The piece of skin that was removed in the end was tiny when done at this age.
My decision will not hamper them from having an orgasm (and according to my circumcised husband, there’s nothing remotely wrong with his orgasms). My decision will not lead to them having incontinence. My decision will reduce the likelihood of them passing on (god forbid) an STD by 40-70% (same effectiveness as the flu vaccine).
There is *so* many things that make this different to FGM that it is insulting to the women this is happening to to compare the two procedures.
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I absolutely agree. The headline to this article should have the word ‘female’ removed so it simply reads ‘genital mutilation – it’s happening right here’.
Under pressure from male family members, my mother agreed to have my brother circumcised nearly 30 years ago. Thinking about that day is one of the few things that makes her cry. She said witnessing a newborn go through that pain was horrendous. He has also questioned the choice and said he’d prefer if the decision hadn’t been made for him. All so a small boy could look like daddy. That’s not a medical indication, it’s a cultural reason every bit as a ridiculous as the reasons girls are circumcised. I know many people vehemently disagree with my stance and even find it offensive, but I think our culture needs to start caring more about boys.
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Male circumcision has come alone way since your brother was done. We had our son done and it had nothing to do with looking like his daddy our reasons are pretty much identical to j comment above yours, she is spot on. These days 1out of 3 little boys not circumcised will get it done later in life due to infection and that later in life means its no longer just a tiny piece of skin. My son did not cry there was no blood and it will not effect him in the way female circumcision does. There is a huge difference and understanding that difference is in important.
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I still don’t understand the argument that there is a medical indication for it. Lots of kids will need their tonsils or appendix removed due to infection later in life, but we don’t hack those out at birth. It is primarily about culture.
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Ellen – our decision had nothing to do with ‘looking like daddy’. It was a purely medical decision. As stated above, there did not appear to be any pain for either of my boys (and babies as we know are the first to protest at being uncomfortable).
Things have come a long, long way since then.
And let me assure you, there is no one on this planet (except their Dad) who loves and cares for my boys more than me.
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Well done Senator Cash and well done Mamamia.
What do we do now? How do we make enough noise to ensure that each and every case of this barbaric abuse is prosecuted?
I understand that we can’t protect all women and children but we can and must stop the suffering of our own. And it doesn’t matter what religion or culture, they are all Austalian first and foremost.
The cases that are reported must go to court and the media need to be screaming about each and every one of them. Yes, we can educate people but jail time and more jail time will make people realise that we mean business.
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Criticising a culture for it’s barbaric practices against children is not racist……ANY practice which harms, mutilates and tortures a child should be considered a criminal act.
The revolting image above of a woman smiling while a child screams in pain is evil and the law WILL catch up with these people.
As in any case of suspected child abuse we all have a duty of care to report such abuse including the INTENTION of abuse.
Religious rhetoric used as an excuse is degrading to that belief and is no justification for these sadistic acts……there are men in this world who belong in the Dark Ages – their hideous loathing of women taints both their cultures and their religions.
Time for people to finally stand up in defence of the vulnerable – now that we know better we simply must do better.
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I did not see that image as the woman smiling! I saw it as a look of empathy, it looks like the adult woman is in pain from watching the child in pain.
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If she had enough empathy for an empathic look, maybe she could have done something. This photo is very distressing, I wonder what that child was feeling, I can’t imagine how awful that time was for her.
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I hope this isn’t spammed and whatnot, but I noticed how many people keep referring to Muslims as being the main perpetrators of FGM and that it’s a religious practice. I wasn’t sure myself, so I googled that exact question and found this article.
http://www.minaret.org/fgm-pamphlet.htm
I’m not an expert so I can’t verify the validity of the website, but it seems to me from reading this that it IS outlawed and is solely a CULTURAL thing, not a RELIGIOUS thing. Although people use religion as their shield, I understand that.
Also, I’d like to reiterate that several African countries who are not Islamic also practice FGM as a cultural tradition. Where did this come from?
I desperately hope this barbaric practice ends sooner rather than later. I have just looked in on my 3.5 yo daughter with tears in my eyes, so incredibly thankful that she has been born here, to secular parents, and will never have to endure such a horrific experience.
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It is too true that the line between what is cultural and religious is blurred, especially in the older religions. Religion is too often used as an excuse for bad behaviour, painting the whole religion in a bad light. And that is coming from an Atheist.
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I think that it’s a bad thing that the parents have been charged. All that will achieve is to further drive the practice underground and the next time Muslim parents will be reluctant to get medical help if they need it for their circumcised daughter.
Australia prides itself with being a multi-cultural society. That means accepting that other ethnic minorities may have belief systems, be it religious or cultural, that we don’t agree with.
Mods: I’ve just read all the comments to the post and I feel that a lot of them are breaking the new commenting rules for the forum with the language that they use and the general lack of respect shown towards the choices made by other women. I thought that we were trying to get beyond that
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“the general lack of respect shown towards the choices made by other women”…. Catgirl, it’s NOT their choice. Girls under consenting age are forciby being mutliated.
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We don’t accept so called honor killings, why would we accept this?????? Do certain Australian girls have less r ights than others?????
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I agree wholeheartedly that FGM is barbaric and horrifying. But I have seen comments below about bad mothers allowing FGM to happen. I think we need to be sensitive to the cultural pressures these women are under. Often they believe the best thing try can do for their daughter is to ensure they make a good marriage. It’s about fitting in and ( perceived) long term benefits. I am not saying its right but please, the mothers are not bad, but uneducated.
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Great point GEMS. It always comes down to (heterosexual) mate selection doesn’t it?
To quote FHB below, who perfectly articulates a great point –
“Brazillians and waxing are not necessary, but sexual selection is such that the most attractive females procure the most attractive males.Women wishing a more attractive/powerful/successful mate know that they must also bring something to the table. Men are objectified as utilitarian by women thus they must work hard, be successful and show success or usefulness.BUT they don’t have to if they are willing to dial sexual selection back. Blame human’s biological drive and sexual selection.”
Let’s just imagine for a moment that the perceived “uneducated” “bad” mothers were looking at us and our ingrained cultural practices. Wouldn’t they they be as equally shocked at what lengths we go to make ourselves more desirable to procure good marriages? Just put yourselves in their shoes for a moment.
And to answer my detractors below – yes, who are we to JUDGE mothers for their choice to follow ingrained cultural practice and do what they believe is best for their child?
This whole thing just reeks of priviledge and cultural insensitivity.
If we were really that concerned about it, like I have said below, we would actually do something about it (by supporting these women who feel they have no other choice but make their daughters more desirable) rather than post faux concern on this website.
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Thanks Just Saying. That’s my point. We are all compromised by our cultural practices. But I truly believe education is the best way to help women make informed choices.
Foot binding in China was only stopped a couple of generations ago. So you are right we do need to actively support change in this issue.
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I hear you Gems. But I think that when you are holding down a screaming child you might suspect you are doing something wrong.
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My pointing out our serious hypocrisy surrounding this issue has gotten a lot of noses out of joint below.
I just wanted to re-iterate what I have suggested to Alyssakt below –
For all of those that feel enraged, hopeless or just motivated to help about this issue, can I suggest that you do something about it? Help empower girls and women in these countries so that they can help stop these pratices occurring.
Here are some ideas –
- Join the Half the Sky movement online and/or buy the book – proceeds go towards helping women and girls in disadvantage. See http://www.halftheskymovement.org/
- Spread the word of The Girl Effect. The Girl Effect believes girls are the solution not the problem. http://www.girleffect.org/question
- Donate to an organisation such as http://www.kiva.org helping finance women with ambition in developing countries.
Please feel free to add more of your own.
And for those that still cannot see our hypocrisy that we as a society also inflict terrible things upon girls and women just in a less obvious way, maybe you will be able to see the obvious in the trailer to the film Miss Representation – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5pM1fW6hNs
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Female genital mutilation is a kind of physical torture. I don’t think it belongs in a comparison with sexism in western society.
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an horrific practise !!
but …. unfortunately as soon as people start to speak out about things that other cultures do it is considered that those speaking out are being racist and inconsiderate towards new Australians and what they bring from their country of origin…
here’s hoping girls all over the world can be spared this
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No genitals are dirty parts female or male. There is a big difference between boys being done and girls. With boys there are a lot of research showing benefits as well as 1 in every 3 boys not done will end up getting it done later in life due to infection, studies have also proven boys do not loose sensation, sexual drive or . There is no proof showing any positives to girls getting done. only negative and whilst yes there are people who believe boys circumcision is wrong too it is very different. You should research both comparing the research speaks for itself
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1 in 3? Can you post a link of some evidence to back that statistic up? Would very much like to know.
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I can’t link to evidence, but when my nephew had to have it done for medical reasons the doctor said one in four need it.
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I really, really want to see some evidence for this. If 30% of men are having to get it done later in life, then why in hell haven’t we heard about it? It would potentially change the way I feel about this.
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We had our son circumcised and put up with people saying we mutilated him…., at least there are some proven benefits to doing this. But for females to go through this without any benefit just superstition derived from their culture, now that is mutilation and abuse. My heart pleads for any child that goes through something like this. As human beings surely we have come further then this.
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I haven’t had my son circumcised because the medical evidence wasn’t compelling enough for us. But whatever my viewpoint or anyone elses male circumcision is NOT mutilation. It is done with parents best intentions, and as I said below you did what was right for your child as I did what was best or mine. Absolutely no one has any right to say any different.
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In fairness, mumoftwo.. I bet the parents of those mutilated girls, would also say they are doing whats best for the girls, in their society!BOTH male and female mutilation is wrong!! If male circumcision is needed, it can be done later, under anaesthetic, anecdotal experience of this in several males I know, it was fine! Also, from experience,an uncircumcised male IS more sensitive!!! How would a man, who has been cut from birth, know what it is like to be more sensitive?? I feel terrible for both genders, and the mutilation subjected upon them, when they are too young to give consent.
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I might get shot by saying or even suggesting this, but….
Is it possible a man from one of these cultures that degrade and disresepect women thought this up and promoted it as he may of thought it unfair that a man (although usually 5 days old) has had to endure this so why not women?
I see no other reason for such mutilation. yes, some baby boys accross the world have had to endure circumcision, but I do not see this as equal in any way.
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I understand your viewpoint. But seriously there’s no way you can compare what can be called ‘female circumcision’ to ‘male circumcision’. I mean seriously?! There’s a HUGE difference. Male circumcision doesn’t have any negative side effects. In fact it’s quite common that some men have a tighter foreskin and they need to be circumcised for medical reasons (a reason why I think it’s ridiculous some want to ban it).
Women on the other hand if they are ‘circumcised’ then as the article said they can suffer from:
-infections
-incontinence
-never orgasm
-find it painful to urinate
-may be infertile
So really there’s no point in comparing the two. For females this is mutilation and the act itself is damaging on many levels.
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I really didn’t think my comment was disrespectful, just that it highlighted some of the differences between the different types of FGM or female genital cutting as its referred to these days.
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I agree. I was not saying it in anyway compared. I agreed fgm is complete mutilation and was trying to find a reason why it was ever created as a practice in the first place.
My last line said they do not compare in any way.
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I agree they can’t be compared, however I feel I need to point out that there is in fact evidence to show that there are negative side effects from male circumcision like lessened sensitivity to the glans of the penis due to it being exposed constantly rather than protected under the foreskin. My friend had his son circumcised last year and regrets it after seeing the pain his week old baby went through and hearing the blood curdling screams of his child despite going to the very best in Victoria for the procedure. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. If the time comes where it does require medical attention, at least anaesthetic would be an option later in life.
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This is not meant to sound trite, I’m sorry if it sounds it.
These practices are appalling, horrific and inexcusable.
Perhaps one way we can show solidarity with these girls and women is to refuse to have our own genitals ‘tidied up’ by surgeons for the sake of men and our own vanity.
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Thank you the Original Camille for this comment. What a fantastic suggestion.
We are sitting here trying to justify our vanity with labiaplasty and all the other things that hurt our vaginas (it’s legal, its safe, its consensual, so therefore it’s somehow ok and better) whilst women and girls in other countries are being violated on a level that is incomprehensible.
I’m a bit disgusted and sickened at our self righteousness on this issue.
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I’m an uncircumcised male, and I’m against female AND male circumcision. I can’t understand how we can be so horrified by one yet think the other is fine
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Gee Ben. How about talking to some of your circumcised friends then? Or the whole generation of men above you who were circumcised? Do they feel mutilated?
They do not suffer from incontinence, infection, lack of orgasm (or any pleasure at all), clear and obvious scarring and evidence of mutilation etc.
To compare the two is ridiculous.
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This is beyond disgusting, and shame on anyone who thinks this is acceptable for ANY reason.
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for the love of me, I cannot understand how a mother could stand by and watch her baby girl scream in agony and not do anything about it. It is beyond me.
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Exactly!
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Words fail me.
Slightly off topic, but sometimes I think of studying something surrounding FGM and issues around it at a tertiary level – does anyone know if this would come under gender studies?
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I did a gender studies course that included a module on FGM. It was in South Africa though/
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600-700 cases a year? What’s the source of that statistic, as that seems like a lot to me, I mean that’s nearly 2 a day- every day…
100 or 200 I would believe, but 2 a day????
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It’s also quoted in this ABC article, according again to the Women’s Hospital in Melbourne. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-02-06/female-circumcision-happening-in-australia/2594496
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If ONE hospital in Melbourne has between 600-700 reported cases PER YEAR (I dread the thought of the actual national figure) why are we only hearing about this ONE arrest? All of the parents/guardians of these 600-700 per year should have been held accountable. This is nothing other than child abuse, how dare a blind eye be turned!
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I misread the article and thought it was a total of reported cases – I am now in even more shock that this the figures from one hospital!
I don’t understand why all of those parents aren’t being charged.
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I understood the figure to be referring to all sited FGM – not necessarily FGM’s performed in Australia. Most of them would have been performed before migration to Australia and observed in grown women during child birth or when receiving care for another health issue. The article says it is suspected FGM is occurring in Australia – opinion other words they haven’t seen anything that would conclusively suggest it had happened here. Thus no child abuse charges.
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It sickens me to think this abhorrent practice is happening here, in a civilised society!
Any mother who subjects her daughter to this barbaric and primitive ‘custom’ is a monster.
Even more disgusting is the male half of that Perth couple, a white Aussie who’s heard of FGM and the damage it causes! Taking their baby daughter to Bali to be mutilated. I hope they both get locked up for 20 years!
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Selamun Aleykum. I am a Muslim and as you could undertsnad I am not agreeing with this comments here. It is said in Sahih Al Bukhari, the most powerful prophet Muhammad (S.A.S – Peace be upon Him) has stated that those without their dirty parts removed by the will of Allah will be in great danger of going to hell. Yes, we do this and I condone it so we can save our daughters and sisters from hellfire and the wrath of Allah. It is illegal in Australia so we cant do it here (and Allah sees all) but in due time we hope to change this. Peace be with you all.
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I find it absolutely incredulous that you would justify this abhorrent practice through religion. It is an abhorrent act. Nothing excuses it. I’m sorry, I am practically speechless at your comments.
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Australia will never change is policy on child mutilation and that’s all it is , no matter how people try and use religion as an excuse fee this barbaric behaviour. How can a parent subject their child to torture? I am a Christian and I don’t condone any abuse children have had to suffer from Christian or Catholic religious leaders ie, molestation etc. A child won’t go to hell because they are not mutilated. I can’t believe a mother would allow their child to be subject to this inhumane act and call it religious AND actually want to change purpose laws to make it legal. Horrible and very very sad.
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I’m Muslim too and FGM is NOT an Islamic practice. The circumcision applies to males only NOT women. In some cultures it is common practice but it is not required in Islam. Nothing about the vagina is ‘dirty’.
In having said that there have been reports that in certain West (I think) African cultures the rate of consensual FGM increased once Western forces went in to ‘eradicate’ it. This increase was intended to be a form of resistance.
I personally find the notion horrific and would never subject myself or my daughter (if I were to have one) to it. However I do feel this article could have been approached in a more nuanced light.
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Do you mind if I ask you some questions? Please don’t take offence, but I am genuinely interested in your response.
May I ask why a female’s genitals are considered “dirty parts”? Is male circumcision conducted for the same reasons? How do you believe this process should be conducted in Australia, by a medical profession or otherwise?
If you choose to reply, thank you for your time and consideration.
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Hmm…”hellfire”…”wrath of Allah”…”it is illegal in Australia…but we hope to change this.” As much as I disagree with the ideas in this comment, I hope this is actually someone genuine and not someone pretending to be Muslim to stir up the situation.
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I’m going with the latter suggestion.
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I lived for many years in a Muslim country and still work with many Muslims in Australia. i was married to a Muslim for ten years. There are many many Muslim countries where this practice DOES NOT HAPPEN. I remember telling my husband about it and he refused to believe me. It simply does not happen in his community. I remember a girl from a different Muslim country finding out about this practice, and more particularly, that one of her friends was circumcised and her scream of shock reverberated around the school library. I am sorry Muhammet but your facts are wrong – it may happen in your community as a remnant of some tribal practice (as is the case with male circumcision) but it is not at all common in many Muslim countries.
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Who decided that the female genitals are the “dirty parts” in need of removal?
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I AM MUSLIM and I am against it. So are the majority of scholars. It is a weak Hadith and many say incorrect. FGM mainly happens in African nations and pre-dates Islam in some cases (Egypt). I Think these countries need educating because a basic woman’s right in Islam is sexual satisfaction and without a clitorous that won’t happen. Saudi and other Arabian Peninsula countries don’t promote this act on there women so why does Egypt and other African nations.
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You are clearly an ignorant person who does not belong here, here being a country where we generally say no to child abuse. You will never legalize this abuse.
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The Quran is very open to lots of different interpretations and while you may agree with this interpretation I’m willing to bet there are plenty of Muslims that have a completely different interpretation of this passage.
Please remember too, that the quran was written about 1400 years ago when times were very different. For example, slavery was an accepted part of life whereas, in many prts of the world it’s not. You have obviously moved enough with the times to make a comment on a story on the Internet (certainly not around 1400 years ago). I’m sure you drive a car and have the privilege of electricity and running water. Even Bedouins have tvs and fridges these days. Please move the rest of your ideas into the 21st century.
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Hi Fabian,
It’s not mentioned in the Quran at all. It’s a “saying” or what we call Hadith which can often be authentic or weak. In this case the saying is weak because it goes against a major right of women – sexual satisfaction. But thanks for trying to explain.
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Thank you for explaining Hadith. I read the Quran years ago and can’t remember large chunks of it. Can’t remember all of the bible either.
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Nice try, Muhammet, but FGM is not a religious practice. Shame on you for suggesting that it is.
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But the will of Allah is not removing the ‘dirty parts’ a human hand is!!
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Actually, Muhammet, in that case, I would like to see all Muslim men have their genitals removed, penis & testicles, as those dirty organs will cause them to suffer hellfire! If it’s done to women for that reason, why not the men?
What a good idea!! Bet that’s not going to happen any time soon!
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I don’t agree with male circumcision but I think you can’t really compare the two.
Circumcising males doesn’t have nearly as many risks and side effects compared to female circumcision. Circumcised males can still have a healthy unaffected sex life, circumcised females not so much.
Also there are absolutely no benefits to female circumsicion, however there are a few benefits to male circumcision, including the reduced risk of STIs and penile cancer.
Again I don’t agree with male circumsicion, I think circumcision of any kind is totally unnecessary.
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This is horrific, mutilated someone else’s body, a child no less, without their consent or their ability to make an informed adult choice.
But then why is circumcision on boys ok? Isn’t it just as bad as FGM? It is performed in hospitals, with some level of cleanliness, sterilization and “trained” people doing it, but it is still mutilating a child’s body without his consent, almost always on religious or cultural grounds.
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I couldn’t agree more. There is no difference, and yet it is still practiced in this country.
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I couldn’t agree more. There is absolutely no difference, and yet it is practiced in this country.
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I beg to differ – to say there is ‘absolutley no difference’ between female genital mutilation and male circumcision is wrong! I can’t agree that cutting and removal of parts of the genitals of a young girl in with kitchen implements and the resulting medical and psychological traumas is comparable with the way male circumcision is performed in hospitals in this country…
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Male circumcision – whether you support it or not – is the removal of a piece of skin. Female Genital mutilation is the removal of anything up to and including the entire labia minora, labia majora and clitoris. This is not removing skin, it’s removing an ENTIRE ORGAN. This isn’t even comparable. To make the comparison reasonable and valid, you’d have to compare it to removing the entire penis.
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Yes!! Thank you, Honey – you’ve explained it perfectly.
I’ve been sitting here stewing and trying to find the right words to *politely* express why I strongly disagree with people who say that “there is no difference” between male circumcision and female genital mutilation.
A circumcised male still has a perfectly functioning penis – he still experiences normal sexual function, can orgasm, and has no problems urinating. By contrast, a female who has suffered FGM is left with a dry scarred pit where her clitoris and labia minora used to be and can no longer orgasm. What is left is sewn closed with a tiny gap left to allow urine and menstrual blood to escape. If this goes wrong, she may have great difficulty urinating. Then (as alyssakt described so well below), on her wedding night her husband gets the “honour” of cutting or tearing her open in order to have intercourse. Then imagine how things will go when she has to give birth.
How on earth can anyone think that this barbaric horror is “the same” as male circumcision? I am left just shaking my head in disbelief.
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I think that is a matter of opinion.
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I don’t. The evidence is pretty clear that they are two very very different procedures with very different health outcomes.
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My son was curcumsized at 6 years old because his foreskin was too tight – it didnt move at all, and was causing painful infections. I didn’t have either of my boys circumsized as babies because of the belief it was not necessary, but for my oldest it was. I cringe to think of the pain he was in when he got the few infections leading up to drs deciding curcumcision was the best solution – i have never seen or heard that boy scream and cry so much in his life. He was put under general anesthetic, and he walked out if the hospital a few hours later, no tears or pain a moment since. No lasting effects from the surgery at all and definitely not the pain id been led to believe he’d feel. In fact, we had to stop him running and jumping around just hours after leaving the hospital. Now while you’re right, it’s not always necessary, little did i know cases like my sons are wuite common, and its for these medical reasons (whether as somution or just prevention) that most mothers these days fet their sons circumsized. how people can compare this relatively pain free, often medically necessary procedure to what we are talking about these girls going through is beyond me. There is no medical reason, prevention or otherwise, for these girls to have to go through this. Two completely different kettles of fish.
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The difference for me is not just in the act itself, (although those points are compelling too- risk of infection, reducing sexual function and fertility), but in the intent. Parents who circumcise boys do it for medical reasons that they perceive based on valid research- I personally don’t think the benefits outweigh the costs, but its really up to the parents in this case as the research leaves a lot of room for interpretation. Parents that circumcise girls do it because they are trying to control their daughters sexual function and potential sexual promiscuity. Controlling women in this way unacceptable.
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It’s interesting that male genital mutilation of baby boys (ie. circumcision) doesn’t provoke the same outrage.
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Male circumcision does not provoke the same outrage as FGM because they are not comparible.
FGM is mutilation of the female genitals, at varying levels, and can result in infection, infertility, problems during childbirth and death.
Male circumcision can reduce infection and reduce the risk of STD’s.
To compare FGM and male circumcision is both ignorant and abhorrent. Whilst both can occur for cultural reasons, one is to reduce the risk of infection and disease and the other is to demean, control and disfigure women.
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I have known two families whose newborn baby boys ended up back in hospital with infections after being circumcised. It seems like an awful risk to take for a procedure which the majority of medical practitioners describe as unnecessary.
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It appears our feminist beliefs have stopped at the culturally insensitive border. We live in a world where women have rights, why are we slow to act on this issue are we afraid of offending someone? You have to weight that up against standing up for a baby girl with no power.
Charge the parents what they did was not OK be any means and remind Germane Greer of what’s said here.
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I’m a feminist, and I condemn this utterly – nor do I know a single other feminist who doesn’t. I don’t know why Senator Cash made that particular comment – maybe she has a particular stereotype of a lefty feminist in her mind – but it’s not true.
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I did my Year 12 English majorwork on FGM after reading Desert Flower by Waris Dirie, a truly eye opening book.
Another one that broke my heart was ‘The day Kadi lost part of her life’ which is filled with stunning photographs of heartbreaking incongruity. If I recall correctly proceeds of this book went towards a campaign again FGM.
It’s so sad that seven years on what I was writing about – FGM happening in Australia or to Australian citizens overseas – still occurs.
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I also read Desert Flower in high school and boy how I cried.
I’ll never forget Waris explaining the ‘whoosh’ of being able to wee properly after her FGM was ‘reversed’ (not really the correct word, because obviously this kind of disturbing mutilation can’t be reversed, she saw a western doctor who managed to make things a bit better).
Previously it would take her 20 minutes to wee because of how she had been mutilated. Just horrendous. It needs to stop.
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Oh I remember that book. Incredible.
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The full article in the west said he was a 44 year old australian man who had converted to his wifes faith. the mother is an indonesian muslim
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I cant get that image of that poor girl screaming out of my head. FGM is an abhorrent practice. I just want to reach out and help all those poor girls. Just the thought of this practice makes me feel physically ill. I just dont understand a mother can allow that to happen to their child. If the mother has gone through it, how can she willingly subject her child to it?
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I was thinking the same thing. The poor girl in the picture – I can’t believe anyone would allow this to happen to their child. I feel sick, and so sad.
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I’ve read and seen a lot about FGM and when asked, the mothers usually explain that it happened to them and it will happen to their daughters. There is often a concern that their daughter will be rejected by their community otherwise.
And although referred to as a cultural / cleansing necessity, I believe it really just comes down to men not wanting a wife who enjoys sex, and who will therefore be (allegedly) more likely to want sex with other men. It’s a hugely repressive and controlling act of barbarity.
Sorry to horrify readers further (stop now if you can’t bear any more), but there isn’t *just* the act of cutting off labia and cutting out (not off; the clitorus reaches deep inside and all is all scraped out), often (not always) girls are sewn together afterwards, with only a tiny hole to pee out of, as a “gift” to their future husband who cuts and/or forces her open on their wedding night.
Obviously, all of this often leads to death / deformities / infections – and a lifetime of painful sex and miriad of pregnancy issues – and yet it’s still considered preferable to leaving her whole.
It all makes me feel so unbearably sad and helpless.
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Alyssakt, if you really do feel hopeless and want to do something can I suggest joining the Half the Sky movement http://www.halftheskymovement.org/ or spread the word of The Girl Effect http://www.girleffect.org/question or donate to an organisation such as http://www.kiva.org.
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I cannot help but think about labiaplasty, anal bleaching, brazilians, vajazzling, etc, etc when we start getting up on our high horses about FGM.
How are these above practices not a milder form of FGM? Oh yeah that is right, we have been suckered in to PAY for the privilege of getting them done with health professionals administering them, so that must make it all ok?
Plus it’s consensual so that makes all the difference. Lets forget about the IMMENSE social pressure women feel to conform and distort their bodies in to a more aesthetically pleasing western stereotype dreamed up by advertisers to sell us crap we don’t need.
I find it all a bit hypocritical to be honest.
These practices but were invented for the same reasons – to please (heterosexual) men and control (the look of) women.
And please, don’t give me this hoopla about brazilians are about ‘feeling’ clean, and doing it for yourselves. The fact of the matter remains, it originated in porn for the purposes of the cameramen getting a better camera shot. Porn is predominantly made for and consumed by men. It was invented by men so that they could profit off women’s bodies.
When are we going to have a good hard look at ourselves and see what we have voluntarily subjected ourselves to all under the bullshit guise of empowerment!
I don’t wish this type of empowerment on my sisters growing up in developing countries. Earn enough money and be financially independent so that instead of FGM being forced on to you, you can instead believe that you are not good enough just as you are so you must pay to mold your vagina in to a better version.
My wish for women in developing countries is that we help free them to be themselves, the way they were born and be accepted 100% no matter what their appearance. In fact this is the wish I have for every female out there.
The majority of men have had this freedom for centuries and I think it’s about time women and girls had it to.
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if you look into female circumcision you will find that it is the women who are behind it, it has gone on for hundreds of years and is a ‘tradition’ that some women still believe should be carried out.
I fail to see how ‘earning enough money and being financially independent’ makes any difference whatsoever! it is normally done to girls when they begin puberty.
I also find it quite ridiculous to compare women having brazilians or decorating their vagina to forced female circumcision!
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But just because we acknowledge that hyprocrisy it doesn’t make FGM go away or make it better. It’s still happening.
Yes we have all the above and you could make relative comparisons but that doesn’t mean we should shut up about FGM under the guise of ‘who are we to talk?’.
And by the way..this is FORCED…done to babies and small children. A little different to an adult popping into their local beauty salon.
I bet you don’t walk out of that salon with a high chance of infection, infertility or have trouble urinating.
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Agreed.And your not a defenseless child. Big difference between a sparkly woo and having you clitoris sliced off.
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Yep agreed, and its usually with a rusty blunt knife, crudely ‘sharpened’ on a rock to aid the hacking. Or even if the woman performing the ‘rite’ hasnt one of those, they will use a sharpened edge of a rock.
This is performed by an elder of the ‘tribe’ but with the understanding of women should not be allowed to feel pleasure, hence the clitoris is removed. It is at the mercy of the men who are the only ones who are allowed to feel pleasure from the woman.
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But do we actually acknowledge the hypocrisy? I don’t think as a society we do.
I think FGM is abhorrent practice and it makes me sick to the stomach. Just because I highlighted some parallels that I see it doesn’t mean for one second that I don’t get that FGM is way way worse than medically supervised, clean, safe procedures done to western women.
I’m just an advocate that people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
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But there is no glass houses here Just Saying. FGM is completely different. There are no choices. It is forced upon defenceless individuals.
It’s this relativism that allows these practices to continue.
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It states in the article that even if women consent to FGM, it’s considered illegal. FGM imposed on minors and adults without consent is unforgivable and must be eradicated. FGM undergone by a consenting woman is exactly the same as a ‘Western’ woman choosing to undergo female genital cosmetic surgery. It’s important to make the distinction. Just because it’s difficult to believe someone could consent to FGM does not invalidate that persons’ choice. We cannot also infer the reasons people undergo either procedure and whether they are legitimate or not. A women choosing to undergo FGM is not less rational, or more culturally bound than a women choosing female genital cosmetic surgery.
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I respectfully disagree.
My relativism is not what is allowing these practices to continue.
From my research in to the subject, change has to happen from within these communities not from external pressures.
We can be all up in arms saying it’s barbaric (and it is barbaric, I agree wholeheartedly, however it’s not the point that I am trying to make) but it’s really not going to make any difference.
Studies have shown time and time again that its women and men that come from these communities that can help educate girls and women. This is what helps break the cycle not white middle class women stamping their feet in another country saying how horrible it is.
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But who realistically in these communities are going to say ‘enough is enough’?? to say that it has to happen within is a little trite. It’s not going to happen unless someone from outside says that it’s wrong. I’m sorry it that offends sensibilities but this practice puts lives at risk.
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Before I read this article I thought that that was what it was going to be about: the trend for women to mutilate their genitals themselves.
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My belief is that labiaplasty is a form of mutilation, albeit an safe, consentual and expensive form. It often involves the cutting/resizing of the labia.
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People get on their “high horses” about this because it is the inhumane enforcement of irreversibly altering a childs vagina because of the incorrect notion that somehow a
clitoris is bad/evil. Without pain relief. Against her will, without her consent. To even compare it to waxing and vajazzling is completely inappropriate and offensive. An adult woman choosing to wax her vagina (whether as a result of social pressure or not) is not permanent mutilation – its rediculous to even suggest this!
What we need is the hospitals to report more of these cases to the authorities – I read somewhere that sometimes they will turn a blind eye to these cases in the fear that the women will stop seeking treatment if they start reporting them. I understand the logic but its wrong that we are enabling these communities to continue this vile practice with no ramifications whatsoever.
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I’m not suggested we turn a blind eye to it at all. It enrages me also. What are we going to do about it? Sit back and be armchair advocates?
Oh and by the way, many women get laser to remove all the hair on their vaginas and it never grows back. It is irreversible. Laser is the next evolution of brazilians. Besides investing in a Merkin there is no way to get the hair back.
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Yes…but it’s a CHOICE made by ADULTS. A little different.
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I am starting to get offended by FGM being compared with cosmetic procedures. The rights or wrongs of brazilians, vajazzling etc etc – Totally different topic. Ps your pubic hair falls out when you are old anyway.
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FGM is definately many I times worse than some so called beauty procedures. No argument. But the mind set that leads us to do either may not be so different. Recently an article appeared here about an Irish woman not shaving. In the clip another woman discussed a child being waxed. It recieved 100s of comments , but NO ONE commented about a child being waxed by her mother. The arguments/ excuses given for such things are similar to those given for FGM and , once in China, for foot binding.
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Waxing a child is also wrong. But comparing FGM that destroys women as ‘beings’ with vajazzling and brazilians is offensive to all those girls being subjected to te barbaric practice.
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Ive seen plenty of oldies with pubes. Not the same “bush” it once may have been, but still there.
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Did we juyst read the same article?
I am a grown woman who is educated enough to make choices for myself. The victims of FGM are children, who are held down against their will. The procedures forced upon them are done by untrained people with unsterilised equipment and no anisthetic. And in some countries around the world girls are not only suffering the amputation of their clitoris, but then also have their vaginal opening sewn up to further ‘protect’ against promiscuity.
I think I understand the point you are trying to make. But I find it a little offensive that you’ve compared adult choices to FGM.
For anybody who is interested in stopping this, and other oppressive practices against women, please read “Half the Sky” by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. It’s pretty heavy reading, but its’ content is important and life-changing.
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Yes, Half the Sky is an excellent read and a real eye opener.
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Yes, we read the same article. I just happen to have a different perspective on things.
I have read “Half the Sky” and many other works related to this cause. If you have read the book you might agree that empowering girls and women in these communities is advantageous on a heap of levels. It is really the only thing that helps break cycles of poverty, abuse and disadvantage. White, middle class women waiving our finger and getting all in a huff on a website like Mamamia isn’t going to change the world or stop the issue.
I love how we are getting all sanctimonious about this article whilst still continuing to indulge our own vanity surrounding our vaginas.
Is we really cared that much we would do something rather than just get all pissed off about it.
So what do I do to help you ask? I donate regularly to http://www.kiva.org – a micro-financing organisation that helps communities empower themselves. And I found the money for this by not indulging in things like plastic surgery, labiaplasty, brazilians, botox, etc.
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I disagree respectfully with a lot of what you are saying.
1. Do not blame men for the procedure women CHOOSE to have of their own volition and conflate it with some power structure that you purport to be a force.
Brazillians and waxing are not necessary, but sexual selection is such that the most attractive females procure the most attractive males.
Women wishing a more attractive/powerful/successful mate know that they must also bring something to the table. Men are objectified as utilitarian by women thus they must work hard, be successful and show success or usefulness.
BUT they don’t have to if they are willing to dial sexual selection back. Blame human’s biological drive and sexual selection.
2. Porn is multifaceted and there is dominatrix on men porn, women on women, man on man.
The idea that men profit off women’s bodies is right. As do women from men’s and women from women’s and men from men’s. You can apply this to every single dynamic in the work force.
Some how sex seems to be so taboo that the use of sex as an emotional commodity, resources the need to some how vilify the act, whilst simultaneously refusing to accept that it has choice tied to it just like every other physical action and the self appointed moral supremacy see it as their right to cast aspersions on those who judge those who have too much (slut shaming )as well as those who wish to participate in the filming of it. A bob each way in an argument that is culturally framed by those wishing to be the authority.
Genital mutilation is abhorrent, but conflation of it with wider voluntary actions of adults won’t help anyone.
The majority of men have not had the freedom of their genitalia for centuries, I am unsure as to where you have this idea from?
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Hmmm thats a bit like comparing foot breaking/binding and high heels…hopefully FGM can also be stamped out.
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Excellent analogy, Kirra!
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That is an excellent analogy, I agree MamaCat.
High heels are a milder form of foot binding.
Women who wear high heels for excessive amounts of time/many years end up in excruciating pain ranging from hammer toes, bunions to irreversible damage to leg tendons. Some women require major foot surgery and frequent trips to their podiatrist.
Its like we cannot even see the connections here. Just because it isn’t as bad and because it’s socially accepted we all pat ourselves on the back for being better than THOSE cultures. Not as barbaric because what we do involves some level of choice.
Maybe, just maybe, the cultures we are condemning had the same insidious creep that we have experienced whereby something starts off as a small trend and then creeps along until it is so ingrained in to our culture that we can’t even recognize how horrible it is.
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Do not understand how you can compare Brazilians and labiaplasties and the like with FGM. Firstly, they are entirely voluntary and the recipients are informed and mature people. Secondly in the case of a surgical procedure like a labiaplasty is followed it is undertaken by trained surgeons in a clean environment and usually some element of counselling has been undertaken. Dont lessen the seriousness of FGM by comparing with our voluntary cosmetic practices!!!!!!
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the difference is if an adult woman chooses labiaplasty etc she is informed and has a choice, A baby or child does not get a choice. If you choose labiaplasty you have full anaesthetic and days of pain relief, these girls have no anaesthesia or pain relief, imagine your clitoris being scraped away with a dirty knife and feeling every second of it while your mother holds you down!! Not comparable, not even close
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Part of what you are saying makes sense, but the two issues don’t seem to be related to me. Yes, there is too much pressure on young girls to be hairless, or change the way their genitals look. It is terribly sad, and I read a few really poignant posts on the subject written by young girls when a relevant story was posted a week or so ago.
But genital mutilation is different, not just because of the way it’s done, the age of the victims or the lack of consent, which are all salient points in their own right. The distinguishing factor for me is actually the intent behind it. The only purpose of FGM, by all accounts, is to control the sexual pleasure and perceived heightened sex drive of women. In short it’s about controlling women- their desires, their passions and potential sexuality. This in particular frightens me as a mother of a baby girl. I truly believe that if the women of the world were granted access to education and more importantly self reliance, then we would be living in a vastly improved world. Empowering women means empowering mothers, and children of the world can only benefit from that.
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Mum of two cheeky monkeys, thank you for your considered, well written response.
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These parents are animals. Children look to and rely on their parents as their main source of safety, security and protection. How dare they abuse their positions in their children’s lives? I don’t care what their culture believes or teaches them, it is just not acceptable and I will in no way shape or form support or accept a culture that mutilates children. And another thing that gets to me is that these ‘mothers’ (like in the photo) sit there beside their screaming daughter rubbing her forehead, trying to confort her they should be taking their daughter and protecting her. Sorry no excuse for this crime.
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FGM is truely an horrific practice and has no place here or anywhere else. I read a biography by a member of the Saudi Royal family who was born in the late 1950s. She was lucky not to undergo FGM in her middle teens because of the many western doctors then working in Saudi hospitals who refused to do this “surgery” .
Her older sisters were not so fortunate. Yes apparently the upper echelons had the procedure in hospitals.
BTW It was also great to “meet” Senator Cash
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What got me most about this case which isn’t mentioned in this article is that the childs father is an australian who has comverted to islam he is not a new migrent and it was his parents who took the child to hospital. To me thats not ignorance that is knowingly torturing a child and no amount of education would help in this. I hope he and his wife get the maximum punishment.
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If what you say is correct, this is beyond horrific!
While I can accept, that through cultural ubringing and lack of education that this horrific practice does occur, to have someone who is aware of the ramifications practice it on his baby daughter is truly criminal and makes me beyond sick and mad.
So much education needs to be had in developming nations though. My mum worked in a remote African group and they truly believed that by burning the flesh (of adults, children, babies – everyone) they were ridding their people of whatever pagued them. She saw babies with horrific burn scars because they were unfortunate to have been sick. They knew no better! Just ameks me want to cry.
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This is absolutely terrible. The poor child. Makes me sick.
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I’m a nurse. I’ve seen it and it horrified me. It angers me and it makes me that because of our devotion to political correctness and our constant genuflecting to multiculturalism that Australian girls are being violated. This is the tip of an iceberg.
I don’t expect this comment to be published but I’ll say it anyway. Because of our defacto laws, multiple wives are being taken, cousins are marrying cousins and babies are being born with lifelong, shocking disabilities.
We can continue to keep our mouths shut or we can demand that our laws are obeyed by ALL Australians.
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“The risk of first cousins having a child with a birth defect or genetic disorder is about twice as high as the risk for children of unrelated parents.”
Source http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Genes_and_genetics_related_parents
It goes from 2-3% to 4-6%. That might be an unacceptable risk to you personally, which is your call, but please do keep it in perspective. It is legal in Australia for cousins to marry and have children. As someone who has been in the 2-3% without any prior known risk factors I am now considered higher risk for that specific birth defect (spina bifida – and yes I was taking folate) – should I stop procreating too?
I am horrified by FGM so my comment is unrelated to that but felt it was important to cite the real level of risk for others.
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I’m trying to think of a sensitive way to word my comment and I don’t want to offend Muslim Australians.
But here it is – one generation of first cousin marriage has the risks you quote. Generations of first cousin marriage has much graver repercussions. When you see a woman who has given birth to ten children and four of them are *severely* handicapped but her husband refuses genetic counseling it tends to make you angry. When you see it repeated again and again then it makes you want to throw in the towel or scream from the windows.
These are Australian children and they are suffering. The authorities MUST take off their PC handcuffs and demand justice for them.
I’m not singling out Muslims, though I abhor some of their cultural practices and do not think they have any place in Australia in 2012.
And before I’m jumped on, my sister in law has married into a truly wonderful Muslim family. They are the loveliest of people.
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Point taken – I was going to discuss genetic counseling to mitigate these factors (which is what I have done) but didn’t want to derail things too far. I don’t have any sources on whether the situation you described is because of generations of consanguinity or that the couple involved is just very unlucky with their particular genetic combination but I understand why it would be upsetting regardless.
I disagree that authorities should forcefully be involved, anymore than they should be for a couple who have had a child with cystic fibrosis (for example). Provision of information and services, on the other hand, I’m very much behind. I do understand how frustrating it is when people choose not to take these services though.
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Could not agree with you more.
I get so angry at double standards, cultural relativism or ‘it’s part of our culture…so don’t dare question it or your a racist’ rhetoric.
Alot of things went down in Anglo/Western culture as well. Until we had movements such as the Enlightenment and Feminism. It took one person to recognise that certain practices were not right…so I call bullshit on tradition or cutlure when lives are put in danger. I’m sorry…it doesn’t wash anymore.
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Hear Hear.
In our attempts to not appear racist, we are being even more racist by not coming to the aid of little girls from Muslim families.
If an anglo couple cut their anglo daugters clitoris off – it would be a very different story.
Child abuse is child abuse not matter what it’s wrapped in.
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I find this so hard to read. I believe in my heart of hearts that most parents do what they think is best for their child, male or female. I try really hard not to judge other cultures for their beliefs, and particularly not to judge other parents, (there is enough of that as it is). I would like to think that an increase in education would help, that these parents, if granted access to accurate medical information, would cease this painful and dangerous practice. Specifically in Australia, we have the ability to educate parents that may have grown up believing that FGM was appropriate and even necessary. I’m really trying to understand it…but the thought of anyone touching my child in that way is unbearable. It would absolutely destroy me. It would cause me to become violently protective, and I have trouble understanding how these parents don’t feel the same way in that moment, even if they mistakenly believe it is best in the long run.
Thanks MM for running the story, I think awareness of this issue is particularly poor, and I wish there was some way to protect those defenseless little girls who deserve so much love and safety.
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I feel the same way as you do. Unfortunately, and I’m assuming here, that the parents who do this feel that it is normal. I would assume that the mothers of these children have also been mutilated and because they don’t have the ability to enjoy pleasure they may not think it’s a big deal. Also, I wonder if these people know anyone who would oppose this and openly discuss it with them. It may be fanatical religious followers who practice this instead of mainstream Muslims. I’m really not sure, but in any case if the parents are going down this road I genuinely fell that the woman in the relationship wouldn’t have a voice to say ‘not my daughter’ to her husband.
There is also another much more brutal practice in some African tribes where the girl is not only mutilated but sewn up to preserve virginity until her wedding night. A small gap is left open for menstruation but aside from that she is sewn together and then torn apart upon marriage.
I’m SO glad I was born in Australia, how lucky that the vast majority of us never have to face this.
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Thank you, thank you, thank you for picking up this story! I was incensed when I heard about this particular incident in WA.
I understand that the individuals doing this are mostly new to Australia and I would like to see that the government properly educates families from countries where this practice is sadly normal so that it isn’t continued in Australia. There should be some type of ‘class’ that migrants are required to undertake that not only talks about FGM but also other cultural traditions that may be taboo or illegal in Australia.
I first heard about this type of female brutality a very long time ago. I was 14 years old (in the 80′s) and at music lessons when my teacher was telling my mother and I how a young girl had come to her door crying and begging for help. He mother had just cut off her sister’s clitoris on the kitchen table and there was blood everywhere, the girl was in serious danger and the sister at the door was supposed to be mutilated next. Now, I was 14 and I had no idea what a clitoris was or how important it is to a woman but I couldn’t understand why anyone would do this to a person but I did understand that it was about ‘control’. This story never left me and it really makes me sad that this still happens in the world, let alone in our own backyard.
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That must have made quite an impression! What a powerful anecdote, it makes me feel sick. I agree entirely with your first paragraph – education is key. Not to indoctrinate new immigrants into our culture but to give them reliable medical information. And so they know its illegal! There are probably many laws and traditions that new arrivals may not understand.
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It did, I couldn’t get my head around it and mentioned to the girls at school the next day and they were all like ‘what, why, how come?’. I’m not sure if they actually believed me, it was so far fetched at the time.
And yes, I think education is the key to bridging the gap between new and not so new Australians.
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Simply….this should not be happening.
The practice belongs in the dark recesses of the past, never to see the light of day in any country. If your cultural or religious beliefs demand that this type of barbarity take place….it is time to adopt a new culture and religion.
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Horrifying, disgusting and disgraceful. Kids bodies do not need to be mutilated.
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