The Analysis of the Female Circumcision - Book Report/Review Example

Book Report/Review, Religion and Theology Topic: The Female Circumcision Controversy 1. Discuss female circumcision from three religious perspectives (Islam, Christianity, and Judaism). Seeking knowledge is pleasure. But the knowledge about some undeniable truths about unpleasant religious practices is painful. Ellen Gruenbaum writes “Female Circumcision is one term used for the cutting and removal of the tissues of genitalia of young girls to conform to social expectations. There is tremendous variation in the practices and their meaning”. (2000, p. 2) There is no appropriate answer for the question as to why people do it. The author argues “There is no simple answer to this question. People have different and multiple reasons for supporting this practice. Female circumcision is practiced by people of many ethnicities and various religious backgrounds including Muslims, Christians and Jews as well as followers of traditional African religions”.(2000,p.33)The unfortunate part of this procedure in all these three religions is that it is practiced in the name of God. Islamic scholars are a divided lot on the issue and are not willing to concede or reject whether genital cutting was sanctioned or condemned in Qur’an. The practice is not uniformly practiced in Muslim countries. It is in vogue in some parts of the Arabian Peninsula and in African countries. The author writes “This book offers my understanding of the relationship between female circumcision and the status of women, from both a global perspective and more specifically as I have come to understand it in Sudan”(2000,p.33).The practice is forbidden in Judaism, with exceptions. A section of Ethiopian Jews, formerly known as Falasha and now living in Israel, continue with this practice. In Ethiopia the operation was performed exclusively by a female Jewish doctor. Having settled in Israel, the practice is discontinued. According to Judaism the body of human beings belongs to God and as such it cannot be defiled by human beings. No such practice exists in Christianity as a rule but a part of African Christians still practice it and it was there before the missionaries arrived. 2. Why do people practice female circumcision/mutilation? People practice female circumcision/mutilation because of their tragic mental imbalances. No other justification can be given to this practice by the right-thinking people. The author writes “Most Christians I know are shocked to think about female circumcision and cannot imagine believing God would want it. Most Jews consider only male circumcision to be commanded by God. Most theologians in the Islamic faith consider female circumcision to be completely unnecessary and argue that it is contrary to true Islam” (2000, p. 60). Though the Westerners shudder at this practice, Gruenbaum shares the same feelings and is interested in finding the solution than articulating poisonous words of condemnation. Those who practice this evil needs to be sympathized first for their ignorant upbringing before they are condemned. The author has done extensive fieldwork in Sudan where the most severe forms of genital mutilation surgery is practiced and has come to the conclusion that this practice is deeply entrenched in Sudanese cultural traditions and in tandem with their moral, aesthetic and religious values and every societal divisive (sometimes uniting) force like class, gender and ethnicity goes to lend support for the total effect. The author informs “[…] but the exercise of thinking about the ways that culture frames our interpretations of what is acceptable helps people to see that a woman who lets her daughter circumcised may be just as loving and devoted as the one who takes her daughter to soccer practice”(2000,p.219) With this type of mindset how reformation is possible? But the agents of change like economic and social growth, the activities of enlightened Islamic volunteers, the Sudanese health educators, and educated African women activists are working to stall this practice. Changes are taking place. This highly debated practiced is beating the retreat, slowly though. Gruenbaum notes that "womens insecure position in society needs to change before fundamental rejection of circumcision can be achieved" (2000, p. 177). This is a meaningful observation that is a pointer to the hapless economic and social conditions of women for which the society, particularly the religious pundits and the male fraternity are responsible. She further supports this argument with another intelligent observation taking into account the ground realities that challenge women all over the world, wherever this practiced and she writes, "…offers a major test of whether it is possible to reconcile cultural relativist respect for cultural diversity with the desire to improve the lives of girls and women across cultural boundaries."(2000, p. 26) Female genital mutilation encourages patriarchal society model. It is a procedure to exercise total authority over women employing their sexuality against them and forcing them to become submissive individuals. The procedure in vogue for carrying out circumcision is not scientific, with distinct possibilities of infection, it may lead to HIV and even it may turn fatal. Life-long emotion duress is also a sort of mental ailment. Fundamentalist Muslims are strong votaries of circumcision. They stick to the belief that the procedure helps women to remain chaste and pure and their sexual desires and activity get diminished. A big chunk of the Muslim men are misogynistic and contend that women have rapacious and unappeasable sexual cravings, and view this procedure as a way to control these propensities, rendering the women meek and docile. Since purity is the important part of the religious practices of Islam, those who get operated should thank their stars and it helps to keep them away from sins! 3. How ought providers to respond if asked to perform this procedure? The providers must engage expert counselors so that the individual who has volunteered for circumcision get proper account of its harmful effects. No religious revelation should be quoted out of context to support circumcision and wise people have come to the unanimous conclusion in true spirituality( not dogmatic religion) such atrocious procedures that demean the personality of a woman have no place. Circumcision cases of both females and males alike should be refused irrespective of religious considerations. Ethical considerations on the issue are important as this practice is in direct violation of basic rights of women. This procedure is akin to the religious cruelties of the Medieval Age and as such it needs to be rescinded by the responsible and enlightened medical fraternity and religious authorities. What justification can be given to the ghastly sight of a six-year-old being forcibly held down by the so-called affectionate relatives so that her genitals can be cut? The number of girls who undergo such tortuous procedure is in millions and the providers need not go into the question as to why this terrible practice was practiced in the past. Just abolish it hold it illegal and take punitive action against the violators. The author writes “To what extent the actions are based on other factors such as religion, rites of passage, suppression of women, and enforcement of morality. And deprivation of sexuality requires further exploration” (2000, p. 60).But at times, the counter arguments may appear stronger than the original argument. Women may contend that women have the right to free will and it is her wilful decision to remain pure. Thus the clash of views on purity and forced purity arises. No provider should succumb to such deviant arguments, and they should render all possible assistance in curbing the evil practice. If the right type of knowledge is given to one woman, it may spread in the entire community and enlightenment achieved through that procedure, may be passed onto the next generation. The prevalent societal attitudes have adversely impacted the status of women as she has no means of achieving economic strength independence. Besides the medical angle, the providers should understand about their importance as agents of social change. There is no point in remaining dogmatic. The social conditions of about 1500 years ago are not the same today and while articulating any point concerning women the ground realities obtaining at present are more important. Just because the religious scholars are unable to arrive at the correct interpretations of the religious injunctions that does not mean that the women should continue to suffer. All such procedures must be booked under the Criminal Procedure Code of the respective countries, and those who are responsible for conducting the act must be punished individually and collectively. The rights under the Constitution have no meaning for women if in their private life they have to suffer. The most unfortunate part of the issue is that the fate of women is linked to extremist and fundamentalist beliefs. The secular and fundamentalists are interested in protecting their respective ideologies, at the cost of the freedom of women. Whereas on the economic front the political leaders are talking about globalization and global economy, as for the plight of women, she has still to tread through the narrow, suffocating lanes of prejudice against her individual dignity. A comprehensive program that educates men and women as well as the providers must be compulsory at the medical education institutions and some NGOs must take the lead. Reference Gruenbaum, Ellen (2000). The Female Circumcision Controversy: An Anthropological Perspective. University of Pennsylvania Press; Print Read More