The Cruel Cut

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.