De-colonising FGM a paper in BMJ

[Imnobody4]

Harms of the current global anti-FGM campaign

Abstract

Traditional female genital practices, though long-standing in many cultures, have become the focus of an expansive global campaign against ‘female genital mutilation’ (FGM). In this article, we critically examine the harms produced by the anti-FGM discourse and policies, despite their grounding in human rights and health advocacy. We argue that a ubiquitous ‘standard tale’ obscures the diversity of practices, meanings and experiences among those affected. This discourse, driven by a heavily racialised and ethnocentric framework, has led to unintended but serious consequences: the erosion of trust in healthcare settings, the silencing of dissenting or nuanced community voices, racial profiling and disproportionate legal surveillance of migrant families. Moreover, we highlight a troubling double standard that legitimises comparable genital surgeries in Western contexts while condemning similar procedures in others. We call for more balanced and evidence-based journalism, policy and public discourse—ones that account for cultural complexity and avoid the reductive and stigmatising force of the term ‘mutilation’. A re-evaluation of advocacy strategies is needed to ensure that they do not reproduce the very injustices they aim to challenge.

https://jme.bmj.com/content/early/2025/09/25/jme-2025-110961

Yes this

We have become so accustomed to the words 'different and special' to mean a positve thing we dont recognise that different and special is also negative sometimes and is setting the group or person apart and above or below the other

It harms a group or person to ascribe power or influence or actions to it that dont actually exist.

What are they even complaining about anyway?
The fact is FGM is practised freely, widely and without legal consequence in the UK despite anything the law might say.

Yes you are comparing one set of victims to another set and saying that if they’re women it’s alright jack.

Teenagers (children) are today getting cosmetic genital surgery- it’s not always an adult woman.

I posted the link to the protocol for it.

I personally think it’s mutilation no matter how it is dressed up.

What?
I think you’ve misunderstood me. A child having genital surgery is still a mutilated child. Regardless of the reasons. This includes teenagers!
I agree. It’s still mutilation.

Type 1 of FGM = Clitoral hood reduction
Type 2 of FGM = clitoris removal OR labiaplasty

BMJ is correct that cosmetic genital surgery is technically the same as type 1 and 2 FGM. Piercings = type 4 FGM and that’s also allowed apparently as a ‘kink’.

FGM ages range from pre pubescent to young motherhood

FG “cosmetic surgery” ages range from adolescent to middle age.

I disagree with BMJ (not you) that this means we should suddenly be ok with FGM. To me this means that cosmetic female genital surgery should be banned as it is also FGM and only birth injury repairs should be legal,

Yes it’s still mutilation.

I know someone who had a labiaplasty in her early 20s. She spent her whole youth unable to play sports as her labia was that long it was chaffing. She would have to 'tuck' it for comfort.
She had not had sex since losing her virginity as her first partner teased her something rotten about her labia she was too terrified to let another man see her vulva.
The operation was a necessity for her going forward and living a normal, healthy and happy life.
The recovery was very very painful but she was incredibly happy with the result.

It is not the same as cutting out the clitoris in an 10 year old or sewing the entire vulva together leaving a hole the width of a pencil to pee through.

Well of course type 3 FGM on a 10yr old isn’t the same as Type 2 FGM on a 20+ yr old. 🙄

I’m sure they were both told similar things, necessary for happy healthy life, for a man to not mock you and reject you.

FGM children aren’t told anything. They are too young to understand it’s for a man.
They are just cut!

So are you trying to make the argument that it's not an issue in the UK? I'm just so confused on what precisely you're being combative about?

This thread was started to discuss a paper that got published in a major medical journal that makes the case that FGM should be reviewed by Western society through a cultural lense rather than be universally condemned as abusive and oppressive. But it seems the discussion has been derailed by squabbling over the accuracy of statistical data regarding its practice within the borders of the UK, but that's just semantics, don't you think?

You say you're a midwife in an area of the UK that has high rates of FGM. As someone with your level of experience, do you believe the paper makes a valid argument or is FGM - regardless of its background - something that should be discouraged as abusive and dangerous to a woman's physical health?

I feel like I’m saying groping is sexual assault and I’m getting back but it’s not the same as raping a child.

I get a lower type of FGM on an adult (dressed up as cosmetic surgery so men have a pretty vulva to look at) is not the same as a higher type of FGM on a child.

You’re going round in circles. You don’t seem to understand what I’m trying to say. Just leave it there.

Virginity testing is another practise that's now banned.
Basically I think all cosmetic surgery is suspect unless for a valid reason eg discomfort or pain. None should be conducted on under 18s.

The review concluded that there is no reason why a virginity test should be carried out. It is not a medical procedure, and is based on repressive and inaccurate views about female virginity and the hymen. It is a form of abuse and VAWG that has detrimental physical and psychological impacts on women and girls.

Hymenoplasty, or "virginity surgery," is illegal in the UK under the Health and Care Act 2022. It is a criminal offence to carry out, offer, or aid and abet the procedure, with a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.

Depends what’s being cut. Labioplasties don’t remove the clitoris and afaik they don’t result in the vulva being sewn up?

There were a couple of interesting points in the article. One being the real risk of family divisions when HCPs shine a light on FGM.

the other being the discussion that male circumcision is seen as acceptable. I didn’t get the impression that they were comparing the two as such but also saying should we not be looking at male circumcision as well. Which I’d agree with. Male circumcision doesn’t have such a physical impact as fgm and is generally done for different reasons but I do think it needs to stop. There is both a psychological impact and a physical impact, some men complain of loss of sensation. Yes sometimes it’s done for medical reasons but most of the time it isn’t. In America for instance it’s cultural.

My ex house mate had it done at the age of 8yo. Chased through the village screaming, pinned down by the travelling woman who did it and had his foreskin hacked off with a knife and no pain relief.

So it's ok to cut off little girls' clitorises with a rusty razor blade and colonialist to suggest this is a bad idea? I don't have words for these people.

I think so. Some TRAs in the US are attempting to stop criminalising FGM since it covers the things they want to do with people's genitals as well.
NB Male circumcision is no way comparable to FGM in girls.

And circumcision in males has various benefits e.g. is often used for problems with urination in boys.

Yup! Cure for 'nymphomania', 'hysteria' etc.

How exactly can you handwave away cutting off healthy body parts of children in the name of morality or decolonisation? It's still fucking mutilation!

Heaven help us. Their minds are so open that their brains have fallen out.

Your right. It’s totally different for males in terms of complications.
My sister and I, as well as our mothers and aunties were mutilated as children. My male family members haven’t had any issues. Whereas us? It’s lifelong.

They are critically examining what is happening, that whether the current approach is actually effective, they mention erosion of trust in healthcare settings and other unintended consequences. Without reading it I nor anyone here can say what the ultimate conclusions are.

I do know that changing cultural practices requires buy in from that culture rather than a “we know best” approach and in this case women are going to great lengths and risk prosecution to continue the practice so the current approach from a U.K. perspective isn’t working well enough. Looking at alternatives is prudent even if the conclusion is no change

From the way you were posting, I did suspect but didn’t want to ask.

Thank you for sharing your experience. I read the book Desert Flower as a teenager and remember being absolutely appalled. I have no words (and don’t want to sound patronising) but you really do have my upmost sympathy (for what little that is worth).

I like @Deafnotdumb ’their mind is so open their brains have fallen out’ and yet in their desperate desire not to be ‘condescending’ and ‘colonial’ they have done exactly that by failing to consider the experience of women such as @Whyarehere.

While I agree that cosmetic surgery to the vagina is terrible and circmsicion of males for none medical reasons should not be blindly accepted. Trying to lump all issues into one creates bollocks such as the BMJ article and ‘what about-ism’ which paralyses and prevents any change as the problem become so large and broad. I think the analogy of eating an elephant one bite at a time is appropriate here!

Thank you for your kind words.
I too read the Desert Flower and had the same reaction. It truly is a horrifying experience.

Going back to the BMJ piece, what worries me about this is that if I said to someone, read this piece, isn't it awful, they might reasonably respond, oh, do you think you know better than the experts in the field? Start to feel like a looney conspiracy theorist. All the more so when you could say similar about the WHO, the UN, Amnesty... the list is endless.