Excision, Female Circumcision, And Clitoridectomy: Are They Moral?
Excision, Female Circumcision, and Clitoridectomy: Deviance or Simply Immoral?
Social deviancerefers to the fact or state of digressing from normal or accepted standards, especially in social or sexual behavior.
In sociology, social deviance does not necessarily mean corruption or wickedness. It is merely a behavior that violates social rules or standards of conduct, conventions, or expectations of a social group.
Deviance and Cultural Relativism
What is deviant in one culture may even be celebrated in another. For instance, in some parts of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Muslim Africa, women are traditionally circumcised. Known as “excision” or “clitoridectomy,” the process involves cutting off the clitoris and sewing shut the labia, typically without any anesthesia.
In stark contrast, the thought of female circumcision, or female genital mutilation, is unimaginable in most part of the world. It is seen as a flagrant oppression against women.
Cultural Relativism*, a theory in ethics, explains that when we say that excision is bad, we are simply applying the standards of our own culture. For cultural relativists, there is no culture-neutral moral standard to which we may appeal. But, is this claim true?
Clitoridectomy: Pros and Cons
In his book The Elements of Moral Philosophy (3rd Edition, USA: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1999), Philosophy professor James Rachels (1941-2003) explained that a lot can be said against the practice of excision:
1. Excision is painful and it results in the permanent loss of sexual pleasure.
2. Its short-term effects include hemorrhage, tetanus, and septicemia.
3. Long-term effects include chronic infection, scars that hinder walking, and continuing pain.
4. Sometimes the woman dies.
Rachels adds that excision “has no obvious social benefits”, “not necessary for the group’ survival, nor is it a matter of religion.”
However, a number of reasons are given in defense of excision:
1. Women who are incapable of sexual pleasure are said to be less likely to be promiscuous; thus there will be fewer unwanted pregnancies in unmarried women.
2. Wives for whom sex is only a duty are less likely to be unfaithful to their husbands; and because they will not be thinking about sex, they will be more attentive to the needs of their husbands and children.
3. Husbands are said to enjoy sex more with wives who have been excised. (The women’s own lack of enjoyment is said to be unimportant.) Men will not want unexcised women, as they are unclean and immature.
4. And above all, it has been done since antiquity, and we may not change the ancient ways, it is argued.
Is There a Culture-Neutral Standard of Right and Wrong?
Notice that the reasons submitted attempt to justify excision by showing that excision is beneficial—men, women, and their families are all said to be better off when women are excised. Therefore, it’s just proper to approach the argument, and excision itself, by asking which is true: Is excision, on the whole, helpful or harmful?
Here, then, is the standard that might most reasonably be used in thinking about excision: We may ask whether the practice promotes or hinders the welfare of the people whose lives are affected by it.
And, as a corollary, we may ask if there is an alternative set of social arrangements that would do a better job of promoting their welfare. Because if so, we may conclude that the existing practice is deficient.
Take note that this looks like just a sample of “independent moral standard” that Cultural Relativism says cannot exist. It is a “standard that may be brought to bear in judging the practices of any culture, at any time, including our own.” … continue reading
See also: On Excision
Read: 10 INTERESTING INFORMATION ABOUT CIRCUMCISION
Also Check Out: From Socrates to Mill: An Analysis of Prominent Ethical Theories, also by author Jensen DG. Mañebog
LET’S DISCUSS:
So based on the aforementioned discussion: If you were Fauziya Kassindja, would you also do what she did? Why?
Guide questions: Is excision, on the whole, helpful or harmful? Does it promote or hinder the welfare of the people whose lives are affected by it? Is there a set of social arrangements, other than clitoridectomy, that would do a better job of promoting their welfare?
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