Female Genital Mutilation During COVID-19
By: Caison Bates
In a world plagued by COVID-19, the fears involve social isolation, quarantining, or even hospitalization, but never was it thought that this pandemic would put an increasing number of young girls at risk for female genital mutilation (FGM). Due to COVID-19 related school closures, European experts estimated that an additional 2 million girls would be exposed to genital cutting before the end of the decade. This increase of 2 million girls would bring the total amount of women in this decade that are in danger of genital mutilation to 70 million. The rise in female genital mutilation has already been seen by almost 30 countries in Africa and the Middle East.
Female genital cutting is a violation of human rights primarily practiced in 31 countries in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In an estimation of 200 million girls and women who have undergone FGM, around half have been residents in Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia. Not only does FGM psychologically scare these women, but it causes the following physical complications; “severe pain, excessive bleeding, difficulty when passing urine, cysts, infections, and infertility, diminished sexual pleasure, complications in childbirth and higher risks of new-born deaths.” The escalation of this problem during the pandemic has served as a major factor in child-marriages being performed. As a precursor to marriage, FGM is performed to increase the woman’s “value,” but it strips away a part of her sexuality. Being that FGM is typically performed on girls around the age of 15, this practice robs girls who have not had a chance to explore their sexuality or bodies.
Young girls are subject to FGM due to various reasons such as religion, cleanliness, societal acceptance, marriage, and poverty. Impoverished families left destitute during the pandemic are having their young women cut in order to marry them off, and receive a dowry. This is not a problem that is central to the above-referenced countries, because even in European countries there is a sum of 200,000 girls at risk for cutting because of the pandemic. Cutting procedures are usually performed on school holidays or breaks, but since school schedules have been altered during the pandemic, more cutting practices are occurring because there is more time for the girls to heal after the procedure. Families have seen the pandemic as a hidden blessing because the increased healing time means that there is a lower chance of being caught for having the procedure performed.
Female genital mutilation is progressing during this time even though younger generations do not see the need for this practice. Instead of only women actively protesting against this practice, more men have stepped in to share their thoughts on FGM. Men who have been circumcised see no reason for women to have to undergo the same measures. In modern day society, FGM is an outdated and horrendous practice that strips away the sexual satisfaction that women have a right to experience. When these young women are cut they are subject to a life of being used for sexual pleasure while not receiving the same pleasure in return. This practice is evil and is rooted in misogynistic practices from decades and even centuries ago. Women should not have to endure the pain and complications that come with FGM and have every right to enjoy their bodies and sex similarly to males. COVID-19 has halted efforts to end FGM, but this is a crucial movement that needs to be publicized to gain a larger following. FGM is inhumane and needs to end.
Caison Bates is a senior majoring in sociology with a concentration in law and society with plans to graduate in May of 2022. She currently works as a legal assistant at a law firm in Greenville, North Carolina. When she graduates she will pursue her career as a legal assistant, in hopes to progress within the field of law.