Feminine genital excision (FGE) is an injurious traditional practice that involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. It is widely practiced in all geographical zones in Nigeria, especially in the south-south, south-east and south-west regions. FGE has a complex psychological impact on women who have undergone the exercise and those who did not succumbed to be circumcised.Ā Some of these cerebral impulses include but not limited to:
Accusation and disgrace: Uncircumcised women face intense social rejection and ridicule by their community members and peers who went through the ordeal. They are often called derogatory names and excluded from community social activities. This leads to low self-esteem, isolation, trauma and acute depression.
Distraught and torture: Circumcise women experience severe pain, fear and anxiety pre and post excision procedure. Some may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), flashbacks, nightmares and distress. They may also suffer from guilt, shame and regret for having undergone female genital mutilation or for subjecting their daughters and wards to the antics of traditional oracles.
Comfort and acceptance: Some cut women express a sense of relief from ending their psychological torture and gaining acceptance with their familyās social space and reunited into the community. They may also feel proud of adhering to their cultural norms and traditions that connects them to their ancestral heritage without retrospect to the imminent consequences. The same class of people might also engage in the escaped of harassing and stigmatizing those that has not succumbed to the torture of circumcision, thereby perpetuating the cycle of violence and discrimination among them.
Gender impotence: FGE can trigger sexual dysfunction that limit or totally dampened intimate pleasure and satisfaction for both women and their partners. It can trigger reduced libido, vaginal dryness, vaginismus (painful intercourse), anorgasmia (inability to achieve orgasm) and infertility. It can also affect the quality of marital and intimate relationships among married couples, therefore, create a reverse antidote to marital infidelity.
FGE is a violation of human rights and a biased form of gender-based violence that has no positive health implication. This is a result of deep-rooted inequality and discrimination against women and girls. However, this can be prevented by raising awareness, educating communities, empowering women and girls, enforcing legislations and providing support services for survivors and the vulnerable class.
Consequently, this is usually done as a rite of passage or attornment, sign of religious affiliation, mark of identity or pattern of preserving marriage and hygiene. Circumcision is widespread in Nigeria, with an estimated 85% of boys and 25% of women undergoing the dangerous ritualistic path. However, there are variations in the occurrence with timing, type and complications of circumcision among different ethnic groups, and religions. Circumcision has a long history in Nigeria, dates to ancient times. Historical evidence shows that circumcision was practiced by various cultures in Africa.
The traditional opinion leaders gave unsubstantiated reasons for FGE in their own context.Ā However, they regarded FGE as a tribal traditional practice, (our custom is good and must be secured). These are superstitious belief practiced for preservation of chastity and purification, family honour, hygiene, protection of virginity and prevention of promiscuity, alterations of sexual behaviours (preventing failure of a woman to attain orgasm), increasing sexual pleasure of couples, enhancing procreation and matrimonial unity.
Other reasons adjudicated according to them are to prevent mother and child mortality during childbirth and for legal family heritage reasons; āyou cannot inherit property without circumcisionā.
In some parts of Nigeria, the cut edges of the external genitalia are smeared with secretions from a snail footpad with the primitive assurance that, the snail being a slow creeping creature would influence the circumcised girl to āassume slow paceā with sexual activities in future.
However, FGE is often routinely performed as an integral part of social conformity in line with community cultural identity of their ancestral heritage.
Circumcision is a gender-based aggression (GBA) against women in Nigeria and this constitute a serious problem that affects millions of women and girls across the country. UNICEF advocated that Nigeria accounted for the third highest number of women and girls who have undergone female genital excision (FGE) worldwide, with an estimated figures of 19.9 million survivors.
FGE is one of the most common forms of GBA in Nigeria on the same category with various domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, forced and child abuse marriage, female smuggling and other heinous traditional practices. GBA has serious impact on health, dignity and well-being of women and girls, including their families and communities.
Some of the factors that contributed to GBA in Nigeria include African male dominated cultural norms and values, gender inequality, poverty, illiteracy and fear, insecurity, conflict and weak legal institutional framework. However, there are also efforts to prevent and respond to GBA in Nigeria. These includes laws and policies that prohibit GBA awareness campaigns and advocacy, community-based interventions and support services for survivors and the vulnerable class.
The Spotlight advocacy, a global partnership between European Union and United Nations, is one of the conscious efforts to end all forms of violence against women and girls in Nigeria.
GBA is a violation of human rights and a threat to peace and development. It is important to raise awareness about this opium and to support the actions of governments, civil society organizations, media agencies, religious leaders, traditional rulers and other stakeholders who are working tirelessly to prohibit GBA in Nigeria.
The above philosophies of traditional institutions about circumcision do not morally justify the inherent practice however, but a mere fallacies or pretence to decapitate and demonise the female folks in Nigeria.
Therefore, join the crusade while giving credence to your voice to be heard and āsay no to feminine genital excisionā in whatever form across Nigeria and African in general.
Sylvester E. Okoebor Ph.D., writes from Australia.
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