Female genital mutilation in the West: traditional circumcision versus genital cosmetic surgery

@article{Essn2004FemaleGM,
  title={Female genital mutilation in the West: traditional circumcision versus genital cosmetic surgery},
  author={Birgitta Ess{\'e}n and Sara Johnsdotter},
  journal={Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica},
  year={2004},
  volume={83}
}
This article intends to present the Scandinavian legislation on female genital mutilation and explore the implications of the laws. Juxtaposing trends of plastic genital surgery in the West with claims that female circumcision may be a practice generally abandoned in Scandinavia, we highlight the double morality inherent in current public discussions. Finally, we pose the question: Is the legal principle of equality before the law regarded when it comes to alterations of the female genitals? 
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63 Citations
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Female genital mutilation/cutting type IV in Cambodia: a case report
TLDR
Caregivers should promote women's self knowledge on genitals' anatomy and physiology, and psychophysical and sexual health, and inform on possible negative consequences of vulvar nontherapeutic alterations requested and avoid the medicalization of female genital mutilation.
When an Adult Female Seeks Ritual Genital Alteration: Ethics, Law, and the Parameters of Participation
  • J. Cantor
  • Medicine
    Plastic and reconstructive surgery
  • 2006
TLDR
The ethical and legal issues relevant to ritual genital cutting for women in Africa and elsewhere around the world are explored and how the thoughtful surgeon should proceed is explained.
Racialised body modifications: framing genital mutilation, cosmetic surgery and gender assignment surgery
TLDR
It is suggested that a racialised understanding of genital mutilation, cosmetic surgery on the vulva and the vagina, as well as gender assignment surgery on intersexual minors, predetermines policy decisions regarding the practices.
Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: A Conceptual Discussion
TLDR
A focus of this paper is to propagate awareness and polarise debates, to bring to an end the practice of FGM/C globally.
Genitals and ethnicity: the politics of genital modifications
An analysis of the implementation of laws with regard to female genital mutilation in Europe
This paper presents results of a survey on legislation regarding female genital mutilation in 15 European member states, as well as the results of a comparative analysis of the implementation of…
Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Resulting in Genital Tract Obstruction and Sexual Dysfunction: A Case Report and Literature Review
TLDR
A 19-year-old female who was subjected to female genital cutting in her formative years who presented with apareunia for 2 years in her marriage is illustrated how FGM/C led to a genital tract obstruction with resultant sexual dysfunction.
Female Genital Mutilation/Circumcision: Culture and Sexual Health in Igbo Women in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
TLDR
Understanding the reasons behind the culture of FGM will assist public health professionals in designing appropriate culturally-specific intervention strategies that will help to eliminate inappropriate and unsafe practices associated with FGM.
From clitoridectomies to ‘designer vaginas’: The medical construction of heteronormative female bodies and sexuality through female genital cutting
TLDR
This discussion reveals how various cultures and people–including women themselves–use FGC to influence and enforce Western medically constructed female embodiment(s) of heteronormative femininity and sexuality.
Ritual Genital Cutting of Female Minors
The traditional custom of ritual cutting and alteration of the genitalia of female infants, children, and adolescents, referred to as female genital mutilation or female genital cutting (FGC),…
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