When you hear of female genital mutilation, you may think of Africa or the Middle East. Well, it has happened here in the United States as well.
Dr Renée Bergstrom had her clitoris removed when she was three-years-old. Her Christian parents had the procedure done as a “cure” for masturbation. It was in a small, church clinic. She is now 72-years-old, and she is breaking the silence. She wrote about her experience in The Guardian:
“My mother was concerned that I was masturbating, and my face turned very red. She took me to a doctor who said, ‘Well I can fix that,’ and cut off my clitoris.”
“As I was growing older, she told me she knew it was a mistake and that I was not supposed to ever talk about it.”
“I remember the excruciating pain and feeling betrayed. I was told not to talk about it, but keeping the secret meant I was alone with my questions as I grew into puberty: what was missing? What would it be like to be ‘whole’?”
Female Vs. Male Genital Circumcision
Some people call the procedure of removing a woman’s clitoris “female circumcision.” Can this be compared with male circumcision?
Some people say no. They are different organs and different procedures. They are both usually done for religious reasons.
Female circumcision requires the removal of more tissue than a male circumcision. Sometimes the procedure is worse, and it can involve removing of the outer parts of the vulva around the vagina. It can cause a lot of pain during intercourse. It can take a lot longer to heal as well.
The woman will also have a difficult time during childbirth because the scar tissue won’t stretch like a healthy vagina is supposed to.
Many countries are working to ban both the male and female versions of the procedure.
Featured image via YouTube screenshot
