The
documentary is moving in terms of the issue covered. The documentary focuses on
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and the purpose of it, is to raise awareness
and put n end to it in the UK. The target audience is those who have suffered
from FGM and those who have not. They have been targeted through Leyla and the
other FGM victims. What I mean is they used their experiences to make the
audience understand the issue. I did some research into to why this is a social
issue and found out that in many civilizations, certain surgical
procedures have profound cultural and social meanings. Male circumcision, for
example, has deep importance as a symbol of religious and ethnic identity and
has played a major part in the political and social history of many peoples.
Female circumcision has particularly strong cultural meaning because it is
closely linked to women's sexuality and their reproductive role in society.
Female
circumcision is practiced today in 26 African countries, with prevalence rates
ranging from 5 percent to 99 percent. It is rarely practiced in Asia. It is
estimated that at least 100 million women are circumcised. The practice is
known across socioeconomic classes and among different ethnic and cultural
groups, including Christians, Muslims, Jews, and followers of indigenous
African religions. From the perspective of public health, female circumcision
is much more damaging than male circumcision.
The
mildest form, clitoridectomy, is anatomically equivalent to amputation of the
penis. Under the conditions in which most procedures take place, female
circumcision constitutes a health hazard with short- and long-term physical
complications and psychological effects. The influx of refugees and immigrants
from different parts of Africa to North America, Europe, and Australia in the
past decade requires that physicians and other health professionals familiarize
themselves with the practice and its ramifications for their patients.
In
my opinion Female circumcision, or female genital mutilation, can no longer be
seen as a traditional custom. It has become a problem of modern society in
Africa as well as in Western countries. In recent years, concern has grown over
how to stop the practice, rather than whether it is appropriate to intervene.
There
are two main areas of concern for health practitioners. The first is the danger
that a trained and licensed practitioner could be expected to assist in
circumcising a girl, particularly a young child. Legislation against the
practice will resolve this question. The second area of concern is how to
deliver the most appropriate clinical care and psychological support to girls
and women who have already suffered from this practice. More research is needed
to examine the full range of physical, sexual, and psychological consequences
of the various procedures. Guidelines and training materials must be developed
to inform providers about how to manage the health needs of circumcised women and
about appropriate ways to counsel patients when they request circumcision or re
infibulation. Professional associations should publish guidelines that outline
their members' obligations and responsibilities to their patients.
