Information

[Queen Mum]

is the issue of female circumcision.   This is still practiced in many countries. 

But how can it be stopped?

[Flasher]

I don't think it can be.  That is clearly a cultural issue. There was a case here in the US very recently, where a dad (of that particular culture, I can't remember his country of decent) had it done to his 4 year old daughter and the mother tried to file child abuse charges.  I don't know how that case turned out in the end, but initially he wasn't going to face any charges because it was a routine, cultural thing for his family -- just as male circumcision is for others.That being said, I wish there was a way to stop it. 

[LKappy]

Makes me sick...and the reason behind it is even worse.

[ScrapEgypt]

Oh geez.......this one gets me.  It still happend in the Middle East.  That - and other atrocities directed toward women - just make me sick.

[dianagirly]

I think they should change the name from female circumcision to sexual brutality and mutilation.

[FurBaby_Mom]

Ugh....that makes me sick.I wonder why he didn't face child abuse charges.  For every other situation, the answer is always - but you're in this country now and we don't do that over here.....

[SBcrazee]

Male circumcision is still practiced here for both religious & non-religious purposes.

[anthacat]

Male circumcision is still practiced here for both religious & non-religious purposes.True - but they can't really be compared in terms of intent or practice.

[MNBonnie]

Oh,  I agree it should be stopped.   I remember watching an Oprah when I was like 15 or 16 and Toni Morrison was on discussing her book "Posessing the Secret of Joy", which was about this topic.  I bought the book and cried through most of it.   And yes, I agree intent of the practice and physical result is a lot different on a woman's body than on a man's body. 

[Punch]

So male and female circumcision are the same. Yeah, only if males got an inch chopped off the end of the peter part.

[dinasaad]

Umm...coming from a culture familiar with female circumcision..I would point out the following :Here in Egypt there is a strong movement to stop that habbit. The move is aiming towards raising awarness of how brutal and harming this habbit is. It is in no way related to my religion ( i am muslim). Its just when people are poor and uneducated, culture , habbits and religion get mixed up. people no longer stop and think about what they are doing, they just do what others have been doing long ago. But i would say that this movement is successful here, many small villages have been named "circumcison free"p.s.: am only talking about female circumscion, not male.

[ScrapEgypt]

Dina - I remember talking to various USAid and health workers about the campaign to stop female circumcision.  They, too, agreed that the practice was diminishing in Egypt.