When people give the reasons for female genital cutting, and the
"decrease of the female libido" is cited as a reason for the practice,
I often wonder to myself, "What about the male libido"?  How do we
control that?


However, I also don't like the West's characterization of the practice
as "barbaric", while one can argue of its harmful affects, I don't
think those of us who live in the West should use the practice as a
way of demeaning others' culture.  I'm sure we have some "barbaric"
things as well.


I tend to agree with Fatoumata here.  And I think we can talk about
the harmful affects of the practice without completely demeaning the
people that practice it.


Because if you come and say, "oh you guys are just terrible people for
practicing this", or you paint a whole culture of people as "barbaric"
or "uncivilizied", then you're just again, imposing your own values on
someone else, and I think you can educate people on the harmful
affects without demeaning them.


Perhaps this is why the best people to do this are the ones who have
been affected the most by it.


Ginny



On 4/11/07, Suntou Touray <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> kabir ,as always i enjoy your inputs .the comments i made were that of
> another woman i even mention her name and i also have her personal phone
> number for any one willing to contacted her.
> now coming to the sisters response ..also if you have read my story properly
> i
> am only puting accross the defense of those who support the practice .
> in our country not every tribe practice it . i am a fanafana by tribe but
> brough
> up in a different communittee , i don't speak my tribal language
> perfectly .what i am coming at is ,if you as non-initiated woman trys to
> stand
> against the practice it will be initiated women who would actually against
> you
> not men .also the tribal divide will come into play .the issue is not just
> about
> my stupid comment ,i am olny trying to revive the discussion .but in every
> thing that a human wants to defend he/she will find a case to argue. this is
> natural. sister i take no offense ,men look for sex .true ,women offer it
> .also
> true. if there is no demand there would be no supply ,but also if there is
> no
> market the buyer /seller relationship will not exist .
> the libido aspect is strong case for the pros -.now you as a woman have a
> duty to in any limited way discusse the harmful effects of the practice .as
> a
> man i can only wish you well.
> one thing though ,our attitude to what we dislike create more barrier than
> our
> words. only last month i was trying my best to disway an accountant friend
> of
> mine who was insistence on sending her two daughters to be circumscissed
> but she too  have her reasons. among them sister is C L E A N L I N E S S .
> PLEASE DON'T RUBBISH ME ,WE LIVE IN A DIVERSE WORLD. some parts it is
> women that marry men and other places it women that practice polyandry
> (having more than one husband.) i don't directly support what i say only
> putting accross what some say is their reasons. thank you.
>
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