Female Genital Mutilation

A research survey has found the majority of Somali women back female “circumcision” as a positive, valuable experience for them.

Now frankly the practice sounds barbaric to me, and even reading about what is involved makes me feel somewhat nauseated. Taking 20 minutes to urinate – my God!

But it does pose an interesting question for the libertarian minded people. Should the law ban adult women from having the procedure? If one allows gender reassigment surgery, why not this surgery?

Now my belief is that no sane woman would agree to female circumcision, and they get pushed into it by the males of their culture, just as habib wearing is also used to oppress women. But does the state have a right to ban either? It can ban habib wearing in court, schools, for passport photos etc – but not generally. Should the state be deciding on behalf of every woman what is right for them?

I emotionally support the ban on female circumcision. I just have a problem supporting it intellectually as it applies to adults exercising free choice.

I suppose at the end of the day it is a balance. If one did not ban it, then you might have many more women coerced into it, then freely wanting it. And I find it hard to understand how any woman would freely want it, but hey I’m not a woman!