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Cultural :
(Specifically cultures from parts of Africa, Asia and the Middle East)

- in some cultures, FGM is considered to be the 'norm', so families will ensure their daughters undergo FGM so that they are not judged by or isolated from their communities.

- Sometimes FGM is considered culturally as a 'right of passage' into puberty and womanhood.

- Sometimes, culturally, people will believe that FGM is necessary to preserve a girl for marriage and marital sex. FGM is used in such cases to preserve a girl's virginity, to make sex more pleasurable for her husband, or to restrict the girl's sexualilty until she is married, this is particularly true in the case of stitching.

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Visible effects: partial or total removal of clitoris
Invisible effects: emotional trauma, physical/mental suffering
Short-term effects: Susceptible to infection, physical pain
Long-term effects: Medical complications, mental health issues due to trauma experienced
Cultural factors: It is seen as the ‘right’ thing to do in some cultures which puts a lot of pressure on young girls and their family circle. Although some cultures reasoning behind why they believe the procedure is necessary is vocalised, the majority of young girls do not want to participate but also do not want to feel the shame (and face other troubles) by not going through with the procedure. It is important that they are protected by being made feel safe and supported, and told that they are not ‘wrong’ for not conforming.

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removal of the genitalia
bleeding

infertility
infection
mental issues

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the culture it has occurred within. if religion has had influence. previous history of FGM in family. children may be abandoned if they do not comply. it is a global issue therefore very difficult to police if not all countries have equal understanding and realise that it is an illegal act with dire consequences. difficult to change peoples perceptions if they are so culturally driven and emphasise the importance of the tradition within cultures.

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short term: pain. confusion. infection. bleeding. genitals missing.
medium term: genitals missing. painful periods. painful sex. cannot understand the element of pleasure.
long term: poor mental health. infertility. lack of self confidence. exclusion from society.

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visible: modification to the female genital region eg removal of clitoris, vagina stitched up.
signs of infection as a result.
scarring
invisible:
trauma- physical, emotional, psychological
infertility, hormonal issues surrounding periods.
exclusion from society causing poor mental health

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religion
children, might be pushed out of family if not complied
global, hard to police
acceptable in certain countries, hard to police and educate

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mental health
depression
anxiety
struggling to understand your body
struggling to find a sexual partner/ experience pleasure
having a baby
feeling embarrassed
feeling un women like
feeling ugly and undesirable

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no clit
painful periods
cant give birth
cant get pregnant
cant experience pleasure

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no clit
pain
painful periods
bleeding

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no clit
pain/ excessive bleeding
long term pain
long term heavy extreme periods
mutilated vagina and other bits around that area
not being able to have children
no being able to naturally give birth
feeling not like a women
embarrassment
stress to find a sexual partner
struggles to feel pleasure
depression
anxiety
mental health issues
infections

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FGM is often considered a necessary part of raising a girl, and a way to prepare her for adulthood and marriage. This can include controlling her sexuality to promote premarital virginity and marital fidelity.

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Bleeding, urinary problems & infections

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it is abuse
can cause infection
can cause death
is not a legal practice in the UK

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it is a normal practice in some cultures so they dont see it as an issue or face the consequences in their own culture but when their culture is not spread through society it is seen as abnormal and abuse and leads to emtional abuse and exclusion

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anger
exclusion in society
embarrassed

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infection and pain

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feeling different to everybody else
Exclusion
emotional abuse

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Removal of clitoris, stitching up of vagina
Infections

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Developing sti like HIV and others and getting emotional and physical abuse on a day to day basis

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Many cultures believe that it reduces a woman's libido which stops her from having sexual acts.

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FGM is seen as a way to raise a girl and prepare her for adulthood and marriage.

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There are 4 types of FGM
1. Total removal of the clitoral glands
2. Partial removal of the clitoral glands
3. narrowing of the vaginal opening (infibulation)
4. all other harmful procedures - pricking, scraping and cauterizing the genital area.

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UK home office has found these backgrounds of women are more likely to be at risk; Somali, Kenyan, Ethiopian, Sudanese, Egyptian, Nigerian, Yemeni, Kurdish and Indonesian

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developing infections such as tetanus, HIV and hepatitis B/C.

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Must consider the path that has led someone to believe in this practice e.g. religion and work on re education.

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medical complications in the future such as infertility

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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Anger bursts.
Feels misplaced in society

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Removal of clitoris.
Emotional and physical abuse