It’s a heavy topic. Honestly, when people ask about the purpose of female circumcision, they’re usually looking for a logical reason for something that feels entirely illogical to most of the modern world. You’ve probably seen the headlines or heard the clinical term—Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). But calling it "circumcision" is how it’s often discussed within the communities where it actually happens.
Why? Because in those contexts, it isn't seen as a medical procedure. It’s a rite of passage.
It is complicated. Deeply so. To understand what is the purpose of female circumcision in the eyes of those who practice it, we have to look past the surface-level shock and dive into the cultural mechanics of honor, marriageability, and social survival. This isn't just about "tradition" in a vague sense. It is a rigid social requirement that, for millions of women, dictates whether they are "clean" or "unclean," "virtuous" or "promiscuous."
The Cultural Logic Behind the Practice
Most people assume this is a religious requirement. It isn't. Not really. While some practitioners point to religious texts, major leaders in Islam and Christianity have spent decades clarifying that their faiths do not demand this. Yet, the belief persists.
The primary purpose of female circumcision in many sub-Saharan African and Middle Eastern cultures is the control of female sexuality. That sounds blunt, because it is. By removing the clitoris or the labia, the intent is to reduce a woman's libido. The "benefit," according to the elders in these communities, is that the girl will remain a virgin until marriage and remain faithful afterward. It’s a mechanism for guaranteed chastity.
Think about the stakes for a family in a rural village. If a daughter isn't cut, she might be considered "loose." No one will marry her. In a society where marriage is the only path to financial security and social standing, an uncut girl is a liability. She is a pariah. For a mother, putting her daughter through this excruciating pain is often seen as an act of love—a way to ensure her child has a future. It’s a "necessary" cruelty.
Social Acceptance and "The Cut"
In some places, like parts of Egypt or Ethiopia, the procedure is tied to aesthetics and cleanliness. There is a persistent myth that female genitalia are "ugly" or "masculine" if left intact.
The clitoris is sometimes viewed as a dangerous organ that could grow to the size of a penis or kill a baby during childbirth if it touches the infant's head. These are myths, obviously. Scientifically, they hold no water. But in a community where medical literacy is low and tradition is king, these "facts" are as real as the ground under their feet.
- It marks the transition from childhood to womanhood.
- It signifies a girl’s readiness to take on the responsibilities of a wife.
- It acts as a badge of membership in the tribe.
If you don't do it, you aren't one of us.
The Medical Reality vs. The Perceived Purpose
While the community sees "purity," the medical world sees trauma.
Dr. Jasmine Abdul-Kadir, a specialist at the Geneva University Hospitals, has documented the long-term impacts of these procedures extensively. When we talk about the purpose of female circumcision, we have to contrast the "why" with the "result." The "purpose" might be marriageability, but the "result" is often chronic pain, recurring infections, and life-threatening complications during labor.
There are different types. Type I is the partial or total removal of the clitoral glans. Type III, often called infibulation, is the most extreme. This involves narrowing the vaginal opening by creating a seal. The legs are often tied together for weeks to let the scar tissue form.
Imagine that.
When a woman who has undergone Type III gives birth, the scar tissue cannot stretch. It tears. Or the baby gets stuck. In areas with no access to emergency C-sections, this is a death sentence for both mother and child. So, the "purpose" of ensuring a "proper" birth is actually the very thing that prevents it.
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The Shift Toward Medicalization
Lately, there’s been a weird, troubling trend. It’s called "medicalization."
Because of international pressure and health campaigns, some parents are now taking their daughters to actual doctors or nurses to have the "circumcision" performed in a sterile environment with anesthesia. They think this makes it okay. They think that by removing the risk of sepsis or immediate hemorrhage, they’ve fulfilled the cultural purpose of female circumcision without the "bad parts."
But the World Health Organization (WHO) is very clear: medicalization doesn't make it right. It still removes healthy, functional tissue. It still violates a girl's right to physical integrity. It still reinforces the idea that a woman’s body needs to be "corrected" to be acceptable.
Breaking the Cycle: What Actually Works?
You can’t just walk into a village and tell everyone they’re wrong. That doesn't work. It usually makes people cling tighter to their customs.
The most successful interventions have been "Public Declarations." This is where entire villages get together and decide, as a collective, to stop. They realize that if everyone stops, then no one’s daughter is a pariah. The social pressure vanishes. Organizations like Tostan in Senegal have used this model to great effect. They don't lecture; they facilitate discussions about human rights and health.
The purpose of female circumcision is rooted in a desire for social belonging. Therefore, the solution has to be a new way to belong.
Alternative Rites of Passage
Some communities have started "Circumcision through Words."
Girls go away to a camp for a week. They learn about their culture, their history, and their responsibilities as women. They dance, they celebrate, and they receive gifts. But there is no cutting. They get the status of being a "woman" without the physical trauma. It preserves the cultural "purpose"—the transition to adulthood—while discarding the harm.
It’s a slow process. Change usually is.
Moving Forward With Real Information
If you are looking for ways to support the end of this practice or need to understand the nuances for advocacy or education, accuracy is your best tool. The purpose of female circumcision is a shield used to protect a status quo that hurts women, but it is a shield held by people who often believe they are doing the right thing.
Take these steps for a better understanding or to get involved:
- Study the WHO Classifications: Familiarize yourself with the four types of FGM to understand the varying levels of physical impact.
- Support Grassroots Organizations: Look for groups like the Orchid Project or Safe Hands for Girls. These are often led by survivors who understand the "purpose" better than any outsider ever could.
- Avoid Sensationalism: When discussing this, focus on the human rights and health aspects. Over-dramatizing the "savagery" of the practice often backfires by alienating the very people who need to change.
- Listen to Survivors: Read accounts from women like Waris Dirie or Jaha Dukureh. Their stories provide the context that dry medical reports miss.
Understanding the deep-seated motivations behind this practice is the only way to effectively dismantle it. It’s not about "fixing" people; it's about evolving traditions so that they honor women rather than hurting them.