Nicole+G’s+2016+OpEd+Article

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) A common practice in Africa. 125 million women have already undergone the surgery and 3 million under the age of 15 are at risk annually. Procedures range from nicking of clitoris to removal of labia and narrowing of opening, a very unsafe procedure that causes healthy risks throughout life and can cause death. Why would this ever be considered for young girls?

It has been a tradition for many years and there are many justifications: To be “cleaner” and more “feminine”, many mothers promote the surgery because they believe that their daughter will not be able to find a husband and that they are unsuitable for marriage. The main reason for this atrocity is to keep women from having premarital sex and to ensure fidelity during marriage.

Why is having sex such a stigma? It is a natural part of human lives and girls should not be thought less of for having sex. The idea that women should refrain from having sex is seen around the world. Here is the US girls are being slut shamed for having sex. Boys on the other hand are praised for having sex with multiple women.

Women should not be taught to look and act a certain way. Women should not be ashamed of their bodies. Men and women should be treated equal.