Abstract
Female circumcision is a traditional practice commonly associated with culture, religion, or a mix of both. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the controversy surrounding female circumcision and determine whether this practice is justified or a violation of human rights. There are two main critiques of female circumcision as posed by the international community. The first critique is the health risks associated with the procedure and the second risk is the lack of consent within practicing communities. Due to these reasons, female circumcision is not only outlawed in most African countries with its disbandment supported by the African Union but is also internationally condemned as a human rights violation. With the extensive involvement of outsiders evaluating this cultural practice, the Western idea of human rights is criticized as an imperialistic mandate enforcing its own norms on other cultural groups. A case study of the Maasai people is examined within this paper to explain the meaning behind female circumcision, the resistance behind ending the practice and some recommendations moving forward on how to address and attempt to dismantle this practice.
Recommended Citation
Kasmani, Mahdiyyah. 2021. "Determining Whether Female Circumcision is a Human Rights Violation." Bridges: An Undergraduate Journal of Contemporary Connections 5, (1). https://scholars.wlu.ca/bridges_contemporary_connections/vol5/iss1/3