FGM in India - article

[ArabellaScott]

I hadn't realised FGM was practised in India. There's a world map in this article that shows countries where it happens, with percentage of women affected.

Article (caution - content warning, could be upsetting) here:

undark.org/2021/03/10/india-battle-over-female-genital-mutilation/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR1ACjE-eEEYXdy2xi2TS7i6lT6Zta_p8JmVhLTXMQfwaHx9RIaG5LXN96s#Echobox=1617946678

“In our survey, we found that the most common reason that people give is that it controls a girl’s sexual urges and moderates the desire,” Johari says. “It keeps her chaste and prevents her from having affairs.”

Khafz is a sunnah,” or ancient Muslim practice, says Fatema Jetpurwala, a gynecologist who is a member of the Dawoodi Bohra Women’s Association for Religious Freedom, a Bohraorganizationthat defends FGM in court. “It is the equivalent of male circumcision, or khatna.”

It's beyond belief that a female doctor could say that.

It's beyond belief that a female doctor could say that.

Or fail to set aside her own cognitive biases to examine the ethics of the procedure, whether performed by non-medical or medically qualified violators of bodily integrity…

It is such a huge concern that a female doctor, a gynecologist, seems to support the cultural element of this practice.

Being minimised as just a nick!! Horrific.

FGM is frequently carried out by mothers and women.

The UN and WHO are paying lip service to taking action to eliminate FGM and recognize it as a violation of human rights, but as we know unfortunately there are problems with the people who work on behalf of the UN in third world countries.

I'm also not sure it's particularly welcome when westerners come along to tell people who practice this procedure to stop doing it.

School girls who were born here to families that practice it are taken away in secret to have it done.

It's so abhorrent but I'm not sure what anyone can do, other than "re-education".

Mostly, what we can do is give airtime to the women campaigning to end it, and throw money at them.

I don't think the UN is really prioritising it, either. Too worried about stepping on cultural male toes.

I listed some organisations in this thread, and www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/a4184062-Feminist-goals-and-organisations-which-are-working-towards-them?msgid=105287057#105287057

others, not listed, include Nimko Ali (a survivor) and her Five Foundation. I don't know of any specifically India-focused organisations and I'm going to look into that.

Stupid thing for me to say. There are loads of India-focused orgs in the article! I will have to add them to my thread, later.

Thanks, Pothole, for the links.

I'm no expert on the subject, it's good to hear from women who are actively involed like Nimko Ali and Hibo Wardere.