Female Circumcision and "Designer Vaginas"
Clinics Offer "Vaginal Tightening"
A leading doctor has accused Western plastic surgeons
who perform cosmetic surgery on the vagina
of undermining the battle against female circumcision
in other parts of the world
Writing in the British Medical Journal, Ronan Conroy, senior lecturer at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, says the growing acceptance in Britain and elsewhere of so-called "designer vaginas" was exposing Western double standards."The practice of female genital mutilation is on the increase nowhere in the world except in our so-called developed societies," he writes.
"Designer laser vaginoplasty" and "laser vaginal rejuvenation" are growth areas in plastic surgery, representing the latest chapter in the surgical victimisation of women in our culture."
At least three London clinics offer "vaginal tightening" after childbirth, "cosmetic vaginal surgery" and "labioplasty" - reduction of the size of the labia, advertised on the internet.
Some British women travel to the US for treatment, which is carried out by gynaecologists specialising in reconstructive surgery, using a scalpel or laser.
One woman, Rose, who was worried about changes to her vagina after the birth of her baby, flew to Los Angeles for treatment.
"I didn't feel confident with my body," she said. "I understand that women come in different shapes and sizes but that's not how my body was made and I wasn't comfortable with it."
She said the first 24 hours after the surgery were a "living nightmare as she endured a painful and sleepless night thousands if miles from home. She returned to Britain a week later and is happy with the result.
The World Health Organisation defines female genital mutilation as: "All procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs whether for cultural, religious or other non-therapeutic reasons."
Mr Conroy writes: "It is Western medicine which, by a process of disease mongering, is driving the advance of female genital mutilation by promoting the fear in women that what is natural biological variation is a defect."
There was an assumption by Western critics that in the developing world the practice was forced on young girls. In fact, it was often welcomed as the mark of entry into adulthood and they were proud of it, he said.
"The high moral tone with which those in richer countries criticise female genital mutilation would be more credible if we in the North had not practised and did not continue to practise it," he added.
Researchers from Stockholm say, in a separate study in the BMJ, that girls and women subjected to female genital mutilation in the developing world were frequently inaccurate in reporting what had been done, and often minimised it.
Although many families abandon the practice when they emigrate, in the UK studies suggest there are 3,000-4,000 new cases each year.
So it's terrible to mutilate female genitals but it's perfectly OK to slice
the foreskin off baby boy's penises. I think ALL circumcision, male or
female, should be made illegal - including those done for religious
reasons.
Funny, isn't it? Everyone is up in arms about female genital mutilation
but whenever and wherever I post a comment against male genital mutilation
there is never any reaction.
You'll find that there are many benefits linked with 'male' circumcision:
A man in the San Francisco Bay Area faces the possibility of up to a year
in jail after trimming off part of the ears of his Pitt Bull dog with a
razor blade "to make it look more aggressive on the street".
There is a difference between trimming a dogs ears for 'adornment or
cosmetic reasons' causing him unnecessary pain, and minor surgery on male
infants causng temporary pain, but with greater benefits and a preventative
measure from possible future infections, some fatal.
Look no one is saying that male circumcision is not barbaric. But, in
female circumcision the labia and the clitoris is removed - she has to be
cut open to have sex and give birth. she feels no pleasure. A male circ
only removes the foresknin NOT the penis he can still have an orgasm - the
woman can not. Her genatils are mutalated. Please get your facts straight
and stop WHAT ABOUT THE MEN all of the time. the world does not revolve
around you -now get over it and wake up to the fact that female MULATATION
is not the same as male circ
I think a trim here and there on some sloppy vulva lips is a good idea if
it makes the patient feel good about their twang again, as long as it is
not forced or involving a major clit removal, that's just wrong.
I'm with you Martin, these people are shooting their mouths off about
themselves and the concerns of others are going unheard. Leave the
skindick alone... it's the best.
Actually, some FGMs (female genital mutilations) only involve removing the
clitoral hood and therefore identical to MGMs (male genital mutilations).
Incredible how rational people try to seem while advocating male
circumcision. All "medical" justifications for circumcision are a lie.
They were formulated AFTER circumcision became a regular procedure. Always
be wary of a conclusion reached after the fact.
I beleive the mutilation of any persons physical being no matter what for
is bad..... but i do believe that if their is a SEVERE!!! and i mean
SEVER!!!! medical and only bodily medical reason for the need of such
surgeries to be done then they must be done at the discretion of the
affected person and by no one elses choice. i also believe that there are
many things that happen around the world do the the ignorance of people
that need to be heeded to by the willing ears of others in order to
discontinue such beliefs that give people the idea that they can forcefully
do what they wish to others because its what they believe is
right......such as in a village in indonesia a large amount of non-muslims
were attacked and told either to convert or be put to death, the catch was
upon conversion men, women, and children were forcefully circumcised which
is an act that should be dealt with by a death sentance to the ones who
carried out these acts. "just picture yourself a young woman or man; having
your name called out and being led to a room with a kitchen table with a
white cloth on it, getting told to sit having your clothes removed then a
person with nothing but a half coconut bowl full of water and a kitchen
knife reaching over after dipping there fingers in the water then grabbing
your clitoris or penis digging around inside your vagina pulling out you
sexual organs and hacking them off while you sit in agonizing pain...they
stuff you with some dirty cotton and your dressed and thanked for your
cooperation..... maybe its just me but it sounds just as bad as a
concentration camp where your choice is experimentation and mutilation or
death.......maybe its just me.
Hey Martin, I've been posting on male genital mutilation.