Helen Ahmad

News center- Throughout history, some communities in the Middle East have adopted practices that reinforce male dominance, considering them part of their cultural identity. However, when these practices become harmful actions that inflict physical, psychological, and social damage, they pose a serious threat to the well-being of society—especially women.

Among these practices, female genital mutilation (FGM) stands out as a stark example. It was once justified as a way to control women’s sexual desire and preserve the “purity” of traditions, but contemporary perspectives expose its devastating consequences: long-term physical, psychological, social, and health-related harm. Today, this practice is recognized as a flagrant violation of women’s rights and a crime committed in the name of customs and traditions.

Female genital mutilation is a non-medical procedure involving the partial or total removal of female genitalia, carried out mainly for social or cultural reasons. The practice varies worldwide but is particularly common in parts of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. It is often performed using sharp tools such as blades or knives, and usually takes place at a young age—from infancy to adolescence.

Despite medical and human rights warnings, FGM continues in some communities where it is considered a deeply rooted tradition. According to UNICEF estimates for 2024, around 230 million women worldwide have undergone some form of FGM: about 144 million in Africa, 80 million in Asia, 6 million in the Middle East, and 1 to 2 million in other parts of the world.

These figures highlight the scale and danger of the practice, underscoring the urgent need for intensified global efforts to combat it and protect the rights of women and girls everywhere.

FGM is rooted in gender-based discrimination and is used as a tool to control women’s sexuality, promoted as a means of protecting a man’s “honor.” In such societies, women are reduced to symbols of honor, and the absence of FGM is viewed as a threat to the family’s reputation and the man’s status.

These social and religious beliefs reinforce a culture of fear, often forcing women to subject their daughters to the practice—not out of conviction but out of fear of violence or even death. Thus, FGM becomes a survival mechanism rather than a freely made choice.

Multiple consequences

Despite traditional arguments, FGM inflicts deep psychological, physical, and social harm, varying in severity depending on the type of procedure. Gender discrimination begins in childhood, where girls are treated differently from boys, a gap that widens over time, reinforcing feelings of injustice and entrenching inequality.

Since the 1970s, international efforts have sought to persuade medical professionals to stop performing FGM. Many countries where the practice is widespread have issued laws banning or restricting it, but enforcement often remains weak or ineffective.

In 2010, the United Nations called on healthcare workers to completely refrain from performing any form of FGM, deeming it a violation of human rights. However, UNICEF data indicates that global rates of FGM have significantly increased in recent years, rising from 200 million in 2016 to 230 million in 2024.

This contradiction reflects a complex reality: some countries have made significant progress in reducing the practice, while others have experienced setbacks or social resistance, highlighting the need for more comprehensive and sustained efforts to eliminate this harmful practice.

FGM not only causes immediate physical injury but also leads to long-term psychological and social consequences. The practice, often performed in childhood without consent, constitutes a form of violence that may result in psychological trauma such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.

It also contributes to feelings of shame and inferiority, undermining a woman’s ability to build healthy social relationships and negatively affecting her marital and reproductive life. Many women who have undergone FGM experience pain and complications during sexual intercourse, sometimes leading to marital conflict or polygamy, which deepens their suffering and perpetuates discrimination.

These harms extend beyond the individual, affecting women’s participation in society and widening gender gaps from childhood to adulthood. FGM is therefore a critical health, social, and human rights issue requiring decisive and comprehensive action.

FGM is among the most dangerous practices inflicted on girls and women, causing severe physical and psychological harm. Beyond the immediate pain, it can lead to serious health complications such as infections, difficulty urinating, menstrual problems, chronic pain, cysts, infertility, and pregnancy and childbirth complications—including severe bleeding or obstructed labor—which may sometimes result in death.

The harm is not only physical—it extends into psychological and social realms. Performed without consent, FGM is often a traumatic event that may result in PTSD, depression, anxiety, and diminished self-confidence. It also limits a woman’s ability to maintain healthy relationships.

These consequences point back to the cultural mindset behind FGM—one rooted in patriarchal control over women’s bodies and justified as a means of protecting male honor. Ending FGM is not only a health issue but a struggle against a social structure that marginalizes women and restricts their freedom and dignity.

A form of cultural violence

FGM represents a deeply entrenched form of cultural violence against women, reflecting a patriarchal mentality that exercises control over women’s bodies and lives. In some societies, it is promoted as part of heritage and identity, despite being a clear violation of human rights and a cause of severe physical and psychological harm.

Transforming this reality requires broad societal awareness and fundamental change in attitudes and behaviors, alongside strong enforcement of laws protecting women from this harmful practice. This can be achieved only through the combined efforts of human rights activists, researchers, and policymakers working together in education, advocacy, and legislation.

Protecting women from the consequences of FGM requires more than treating its effects—it demands dismantling the cultural framework that justifies it and building a more just and equal society that safeguards women and upholds their dignity.