Performed with crude, unsanitary instruments, without anesthesia or professional medical expertise, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) stands as a blatant violation of human rights and human dignity. Rooted in an age-old tradition that claims to uphold moral purity—yet offers no logical or justifiable basis for its existence—this brutal practice inflicts irreversible physical and psychological harm on its victims. It is a cultural menace that has shattered countless lives, perpetuating suffering in the name of tradition.
In many parts of Africa, an insidious tradition continues to thrive in the shadows, robbing millions of girls of their autonomy before they can even form a conscious understanding of their bodies. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), a practice often disguised as a rite of passage, is inflicted upon many girls without their consent, sometimes even at birth. These girls, stripped of agency before they can utter a word of dissent, bear scars that linger far beyond the physical wound. The expression “shaving her head behind her back” encapsulates this violation—an act performed without knowledge, consent, or choice, forever altering the course of a girl’s life.
The origin of Female Genital Mutilation in Africa trace back over 2,000 years, with evidence suggesting that the practice existed in ancient Egypt, where female mummies have been found bearing signs of genital cutting. Over time, the practice spread across the continent, evolving within different cultural, religious, and social frameworks. Today, it remains entrenched in numerous countries, with some like Somalia reporting a prevalence rate as high as 98%. Despite legal prohibitions and global outcry, Female Genital Mutilation persists due to deep-seated beliefs that tether a girl’s worth to her bodily conformity.
In communities where Female Genital Mutilation is normalized, it is often imposed upon girls at infancy or early childhood—long before they can grasp the magnitude of the act. Many never learn they have been subjected to it until puberty or marriage, when the devastating effects manifest. The logic behind this forced mutilation is disturbingly simple: the younger the girl, the less resistance she can offer. The violation is justified under the pretext of purity, morality, and family honor. Parents, bound by generations of custom, believe they are safeguarding their daughters’ futures, ensuring they are “worthy” of marriage, untouched by the perceived dangers of unregulated female sexuality. Yet, in reality, they are sentencing them to a lifetime of pain, trauma, and medical complications.
In Egypt, despite the legal ban, over 87% of women aged 15 to 49 have undergone Genital Mutilation, often without their consent. The act is frequently cloaked in religious misinterpretation, even though no major religious texts prescribe it. In Nigeria, where the prevalence varies by region, some communities perform the cutting as soon as a girl is born, severing her from a right she does not yet know she possesses. In Kenya, among ethnic groups that treat Female Genital Mutilation as a rite of passage, it is not uncommon for young girls to wake up one morning only to find themselves led into a makeshift surgical ritual, performed with crude instruments and no anesthesia.
The violation does not end with the initial cut. The lifelong consequences of FGM include chronic pain, infections, complications in childbirth, and deep psychological trauma. Women subjected to it often suffer from fistula, excessive bleeding during childbirth, and sexual dysfunction. The pain is not just physical—it is an erasure of choice, an enforced silencing of agency. Many survivors report feelings of betrayal, as their own families—mothers, aunts, and grandmothers—were complicit in the act. This ingrained intergenerational cycle of mutilation thrives on the assumption that it is a necessary social currency for acceptance.
Defending FGM on cultural grounds disregards the fundamental rights of women and girls. Culture is dynamic and should evolve to reject practices that undermine human dignity. While advocacy and legal frameworks have made significant strides, enforcement remains weak, and secret procedures continue in rural and urban enclaves alike. Fear of ostracization prevents many families from abandoning the practice, even when they recognize its harm. The fight against FGM, therefore, must be waged not only in courtrooms but within communities, replacing coercion with informed choice.
Survivors of FGM are speaking out, reclaiming their narratives and demanding change. From grassroots movements to international campaigns, the voices of those who were once silenced are now echoing through the corridors of policy and activism. Education remains the most powerful weapon—when communities understand the medical and psychological dangers of FGM, they are more likely to reject it. Empowering young girls with knowledge about their bodies and their rights ensures that future generations will not wake up to find their autonomy stolen from them.
The tradition of FGM, often performed in secrecy and without consent, is an affront to the fundamental principle of bodily autonomy. No girl should have her future dictated by outdated customs that disregard her right to self-determination. “Shaving her head behind her back” should remain a metaphor, not a reality. The time has come to confront this silent horror, to unmask its hidden reality, and to fight relentlessly for the freedom and dignity of every girl subjected to this act without her consent.
No one should be condemned to a life of pain and trauma under the guise of culture and tradition. Humanity must recognize that every societal framework—culture, tradition, and norms—was created by man for man. Therefore, these constructs should evolve to serve human dignity, well-being, and progress, not to inflict suffering. It is time to reject harmful practices and embrace traditions that uplift, protect, and honor the fundamental rights of every individual.
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