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Why Are U.S. Doctors Allowing Female Genital Mutilation?
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Original Message
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But eh. After abortions, female genital mutilation ain't much a big step.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued an outrageous new policy on female genital mutilation, endorsing 'nicking' female genitalia as a cultural compromise.
At the end of last month, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued a revised policy statement on female genital mutilation (FGM) called "ritual genital cutting of female minors," suggesting that the federal and state law in the U.S. should permit pediatricians to offer a ritual "nick" of girls' genitalia as a compromise to appease the cultural needs of their immigrant clients. International women's rights organizations from the U.S., Africa, and Europe were quick to respond to this outrageous proposition calling on the AAP to retract its 2010 statement and revert back to its much stronger 1998 statement on the subject. The AAP's response, however, has thus far been underwhelming and they continue to justify this latest position on three grounds:
• "Nicking" is a minor procedure equivalent to a pin prick or ear piercing and has no harmful health consequences.
• Offering the "nick" demonstrates cultural sensitivity in serving immigrant populations.
• The "nick" is a "compromise" that could prevent families from performing more severe forms of FGM on their daughters
FGM, which involves the partial or total removal of the female genitalia, is carried out across Africa, some countries in Asia and the Middle East, and by immigrants of practicing communities living around the world. It is estimated that up to 140 million women and girls around the world are affected by it. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimated in 1997 that over 168,000 girls and women living in the U.S. have either been, or are at risk of being, subjected to FGM.
[link to www.alternet.org]
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