Angela Merkel/FGM

Hello Everybody
From a social standpoint, FGM is a major requirement that young girls must meet in order to become a woman. The process of infibulation not only marks young girls transition to womanhood, but also allows them to marry within their social class. Aside from the position in social class infibulation also determines their sense of beauty, since in the culture males regard a circumcised vagina aesthetically pleasing. The sense of natural inferiority that many women feel prior to the procedure, which is only remedied by an extremely painful and traumatic procedure, it is no wonder why there are severe psychological side effects, on top of the negative effects to a woman’s physical health. It is difficult to read about this topic coming from an outside point, looking in on Somali culture. I find it intriguing as to how such a drastic procedure has survived since ancient Egypt, even predating Islam or Christianity. This just goes to show that FGM is so ingrained in Somali culture and tradition, that in order to bring about any reform you will literally have to change the hearts and the minds of the culture.

-Josh B.