I can't answer for those cultures in Africa that practice it on children and nor would I want to. But in the case of the Famna, the purpose would be to prevent orgasm, because orgasm would render us incapable of performing our duties. However, as I said, I think it's cheating. What's the point of a vow if it's not going to require strength of will?

Minerva

In the vast majority of cases, female genital mutilation is done on girls about 8-10 years old, before their first menstruation, so that they will be marriageable as soon as they reach puberty.

In Judaism, males are circumcised when they are 8 days old. In most indigenous tribes where male circumcision is practiced, the circumcision is part of the coming-of-age rite and performed at puberty. I am not sure what the usual Muslim practice is.

An informed choice by an adult is almost never an option. I would certainly hope that if any woman is seriously considering such a thing that she would become fully informed of the many health risks associated with it.

An informed choice by an adult is certainly not an option if that person has already been forcibly circumcised while still a child. This is what needs to be stamped out.

The health risks for female circumcision are certainly substantial in places like Africa where opperations are conducted under appalling unsanitary conditions with blunt instruments. However, this need not be the case. Modern surgical techniqes in a proper environment could perform the opperation cleanly and with minimum risk, removing all inner and outer genitalia, closing the gap and letting it heal shut properly leaving just a small hole for release of fluids. There is no reason why this should be dangerous. The important point, of course, is informed consent.

Minerva

You are only partially informed yourself then. The health risks are not associated only with the surgery. There are substantial health risks attendant on leaving just a small hole for release of fluids no matter how safe the actual surgery.

The pooling of menstrual fluid leads easily to distention of the abdomen, abdominal inflammation, frequent infections and in severe cases to fistulas as the fluid seeks other outlets.

Do more research. Lots more. This is a very dangerous health hazard for any woman in any circumstances.

I've seen medical articles in the last year that are not at all on the same page with each other, so I don't think the final verdict is in yet.

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"The further the spiritual evolution of mankind advances, the more certain it seems to me that the path to genuine religiosity does not lie through the fear of life, and the fear of death, and blind faith, but through striving after rational knowledge."-- Einstein

You are correct, Metis. The verdict is not yet in. I have followed the issue ever since I was part of a crew that did a documentary on male circumcision years ago. There has long been some evidence that circumcision may provide some protection against gynecological cancers and infections in the female partners of the men, but there are some risks associated with the procedure and it does affect sensitivity. Every year some men have a procedure done to restore the foreskin. More recently, there has been some evidence that circumcision may reduce the AIDS risk in some regions. Some of the research is hotly debated, and in addition, it was done in areas which do not have the same hygiene standards as for example the U.S. It may well turn out it would not have any statistically significant benefit here. Research is ongoing.

After working on the documentary, I thought about what I would do if I had a son. There are some psychological issues involved. Some men have the procedure done as adults in the US because many American women reject them sexually for being uncut. Personally, I would not at this point choose to have it done to a son of mine, however if I did have it done, I would prefer a qualified mohel do it. This might surprise people, because I am not Jewish. We filmed procedures in the course of making the documentary and the babies at the bris ceremonies did not cry much if at all. They were being supported and soothed by family. A sip of wine is sometimes given as anesthesia. Two babies slept right through it, which was never the case in the non Jewish procedures. It went against my expectations, but when they looked into the rates of complications, believe it or not...this is true. A baby is generally safer having this procedure done by a qualified mohel, even when metzitzah b'peh is performed. The way circumcision is commonly performed by doctors (constriction method) is an entirely different procedure, and there is some evidence that it is more damaging to tissues. Yes, I was surprised.

Still, it is not something to be taken lightly, especially by those who have no religious reason which requires the procedure be done. Every year some babies die of infection. Every year some babies require corrective surgery. Every year some babies will suffer complications that can cause urological problems or sexual problems later in life. It is NOWHERE near as dangerous as genital cutting procedures performed on Muslim girls. In some of those procedures the death rate exceeds 50%!
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Minerva, regarding female genital cutting, please read about the death rates in hospital procedures in countries which have allowed this. Depending on which type of procedure, those death rates are still very high from the surgeries themselves, and the risk of later death from complications is lifelong in the more radical procedures. Furthermore, they do not always prevent sexual enjoyment or even orgasm. Some procedures also require lengthy immobilization of the legs during healing. Please do not think the women would be likely to be able to do the knee bends required by your religion for some time.

I do not recommend this, but if the women in your burch are considering this as an option...there are some medications for anxiety and depression which I understand in many women reduce the libido greatly. Most doctors would probably be unwilling to prescribe them for such a purpose, as this is generally considered a negative side effect. However, it is possible a doctor might feel this is a medically preferable option to the possibility or probability such a woman might undergo genital cutting instead.

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"For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love."
- Carl Sagan

The medications you describe would not be an option because we do not use alcohol or any form of intoxicant, including any drugs for non-essential medical uses which this would certainly be. But even more importantly than this, it is not our aim to reduce the libido. Libido, or sexual energy, is an essential part of our ritual, and in fact we have exercises and visualisations designed to increase our sexual desire as much as possible. The thing we must never do is to act on that desire.

You're right about the complications with some of the procedures, but again modern techniques, especially those of plastic surgery, could in theory solve all of these by completely remodelling the whole area, removing all traces of vestigial nerve endings that could possibly trigger orgasm, leaving just a smooth surface. The tube for draining fluids would be designed to prevent pooling. The point about not being able to do the knee bends during recovery is correct of course, but we would treat this as we would treat any other temporary debilitation such as an injury. What happens is that the lost time must be made up for by doing double or even treble shifts afterwards, and until the debt is paid that individual is out of communion.

Minerva

Are you saying that the Daughters of Frya advocates ADULT female genital mutilation based on religious reasons? O.o

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To breathe each breath is a prayer of thanks to Gaia.

As I've already said, I'm totally against it. I was simply wondering what others' views were here.

Minerva

I know you said that you were against it. I wanted to know if DoF is advocating it, which I have not received an answer to.

As to my stance to this issue; any doctor, nurse, midwife, surgeon or anyone else who performs this quasi-surgical procedure should be executed. I don't frankly care if it was performed on an adult with consent. So I do support the fullest punishment by law and to make this a criminal act in all countries.

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To breathe each breath is a prayer of thanks to Gaia.