AFRO-NETS> Genital cutting does not eliminate women's sexual sensation...(4)

[Muthoni Mathai <AMMathai@t-online.de>]

Genital cutting does not eliminate women's sexual sensation...(4)
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Dear readers,
 
I have very mixed feelings about this study. First before stating 
that FGC does not eliminate women's sexual desire, I think it is very 
important to differentiate between the different types of FGC and 
handle them differently. Although the report calls this an important 
finding because it negates the arguments of proponents of FGC: Ac-
cording to the investigators led by Dr. Okonofua, Gynaecologist and 
Obstetrician, this important finding ?negates the argument of female 
genital cutting proponents that cut women experience reduced sexual 
sensation (which is expected to make them less likely than uncut 
women to become sexually promiscuous).? 
 
I feel this argument can also be used by the proponents of FGC to ne-
gate the arguments of activists against FGC, who have been using this 
argument of disturbed sexual sensations among others, to campaign 
against the practice for years. And going by the accounts of Frans-
esca [see Genital cutting does not eliminate women?s sexual sensa-
tion...(3)], and several other personal accounts of women who have 
undergone FGC, I still feel it is valid to say that FGC does impair 
sexual sensations and sexual satisfaction in women with the degree of 
impairment depending on several factors among them the type of FGC.
 
I am reluctant to use such a controversial phrase like "eliminate" in 
such a subjective experience like sexual sensations or orgasm. And 
herein lies another problem: How to rate a study which uses standard-
ised questionnaires to enquire about the subjective sexual experience 
of women and from this material draw the conclusion that cut women 
are just as likely to report experiencing orgasm during sexual inter-
course. 
 
Whereas I can just barely understand being able to rate a question 
about who initiates sex by this form of enquiry, I feel it is very 
limited when it comes to the question of an ill defined, and highly 
subjective experience like orgasm. (Unless there were other methods 
of enquiry not mentioned in this report.) I think the form of arguing 
used here can not help in any way to reduce FGC. It won't stop the 
proponents of FGC who think they are reducing promiscuity among 
women. It could on one hand lead them to more drastic forms of geni-
tal destruction, or give them a new argument, like: If it doesn't de-
stroy sexual sensations then leave us in peace to continue our prac-
tice, as for pain and bleeding and infections etc., we can eliminate 
all that through medicalization. This is what makes me so uncomfort-
able with the study and the title of this report.
 
Muthoni Mathai
mailto:AMMathai@t-online.de
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