Female genital mutilation (FGM) remains a deeply entrenched practice in many parts of the world, despite efforts to eradicate it. In Egypt, where FGM has been illegal since 2008, the practice persists due to a complex web of cultural, social, and medical factors. One particularly troubling aspect of FGM in Egypt is the involvement of medical professionals who perpetuate and enable this harmful practice under the guise of legitimacy and safety.
The Reality of FGM in Egypt
FGM, also known as female genital cutting or circumcision, involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. It is typically performed on young girls as they near the age of puberty, often without their consent, and can lead to a host of physical, psychological, and sexual health complications.
In Egypt, FGM is deeply rooted in tradition and cultural beliefs surrounding femininity, purity, and marriageability. Despite being outlawed by the government, FGM continues to be practiced in both rural and urban areas, with prevalence rates remaining alarmingly high.
The Role of Medical Deception
One of the most insidious aspects of FGM in Egypt is the involvement of medical professionals who perform the procedure or provide legitimacy to its practice. This medicalization of FGM gives it an aura of safety and acceptability, leading families to believe that the procedure is medically necessary or even beneficial for their daughters.
Medical deception plays a significant role in perpetuating FGM in Egypt in several ways:
- False Medical Justifications: Some doctors and healthcare providers falsely claim that FGM is medically necessary to maintain cleanliness, prevent disease, or ensure fertility. These unfounded justifications contribute to the normalization of FGM and undermine efforts to combat the practice.
- Medicalization of the Procedure: By performing FGM in medical settings such as hospitals or clinics, healthcare professionals lend a veneer of legitimacy to the practice. This can give families a false sense of security and make it more difficult to detect and prevent instances of FGM.
- Complicity and Silence: In some cases, medical professionals may turn a blind eye to FGM or even actively participate in its practice due to cultural norms, social pressure, or financial incentives. This complicity perpetuates a culture of silence and enables FGM to continue unchecked.
The Impact on Women and Girls
The consequences of FGM extend far beyond the physical act itself, leaving lasting scars on the lives of women and girls. In addition to the immediate risks of infection, hemorrhage, and death, FGM can lead to long-term health complications such as chronic pain, sexual dysfunction, psychological trauma, and obstetric complications during childbirth.
Furthermore, the medicalization of FGM contributes to the normalization of violence against women and girls, perpetuating harmful gender norms and reinforcing patriarchal structures of power and control.
Combating Medical Deception and Ending FGM
Addressing the role of medical deception in enabling FGM requires a multifaceted approach that involves:
- Legal Enforcement: Strengthening laws and regulations to prohibit the practice of FGM and hold perpetrators, including medical professionals, accountable for their actions.
- Education and Awareness: Increasing public awareness about the harmful effects of FGM and debunking myths surrounding its supposed medical benefits through targeted education campaigns and community outreach.
- Training and Sensitization: Providing training and support for healthcare providers to recognize and respond to cases of FGM, including ethical guidelines and protocols for reporting suspected instances of the practice.
- Community Engagement: Engaging with communities affected by FGM to challenge cultural norms, promote gender equality, and empower women and girls to reject harmful practices and assert their rights to bodily autonomy and sexual health.
By addressing the root causes of FGM and confronting the role of medical deception in perpetuating this harmful practice, we can work towards a future where all women and girls are free from the threat of FGM and able to live healthy, empowered lives.
