Many people think that female genital cutting (FGC) is a
tradition only practiced in Africa or Asia, but many women living in the
U.S. also experience it. The practice of cutting means the partial or
total removal of the external female genitalia.
Mary, a woman living in the U.S., describes it as "worse than
anything in this world." She experienced the most violent form of FGC
when her clitoris was removed and her vagina was stitched together. The
U.S. officially banned the procedure in 1996.
Another young woman, Amy, said her parents would kill her if
they knew she talked about the tradition in public. It is estimated that
150,000 to 200,000 girls in the U.S. are in danger of being sent
overseas to undergo FGC.
tradition only practiced in Africa or Asia, but many women living in the
U.S. also experience it. The practice of cutting means the partial or
total removal of the external female genitalia.
Mary, a woman living in the U.S., describes it as "worse than
anything in this world." She experienced the most violent form of FGC
when her clitoris was removed and her vagina was stitched together. The
U.S. officially banned the procedure in 1996.
Another young woman, Amy, said her parents would kill her if
they knew she talked about the tradition in public. It is estimated that
150,000 to 200,000 girls in the U.S. are in danger of being sent
overseas to undergo FGC.