StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Sex and Sexuality: a Cultural Taboo - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
The essay "Sex and Sexuality: a Cultural Taboo" focuses on the critical discussion and analysis of the role of culture in sex and sexuality and its impact on health. Cultural, social and religious beliefs have been practiced by different cultures and races all over the world…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER97.5% of users find it useful
Sex and Sexuality: a Cultural Taboo
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Sex and Sexuality: a Cultural Taboo"

Sex and Sexuality: Female Circumcision, a Cultural Taboo? Cultural, social and religious beliefs have been practiced by different cultures and race all over the world. Example of these practices is female circumcision but to some they called it female genital mutilation or female genital cutting. People involve on these practices considered it legal but for wider public, they considered it illegal due to health and emotional implications that come along with it. Female genitalia mutilation, also known as female genitalia cutting refers to all procedures involving partial or total removal of external genital organs for non medical reasons. It is classified into four categories; Type I or clitoridectomy, it is a partial or total removal of the clitoris and/or the prepuce. Type I is subdivided into two, Type 1a which is the removal of clitoral hood or prepuce only while in Type Ib is the removal of clitoris with prepuce. Type II or excision is a partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora. It is subdivided into three, Type IIa is the removal of labia minora only, Type IIb is the partial or total removal of clitoris and the labia minora and Type IIc is the partial removal of clitoris together with the labia minora and the labia majora. Type III or infibulations, is the narrowing of the vagina; orifice with creation of covering seal by cutting and positioning the labia minora and/or the labia majora, with or without excision of the clitoris. Type IIIa also subdivided into two, Type IIIa is the removal or apposition of the labia, Type IIIb is the removal or apposition of the labia majora and Type IV: All other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purpose, for example: pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterization (WHO 2008 pp.24). Female circumcision is practice widely in Africa, some countries in Asia, Middle East and immigrant communities in North America and Europe (WHO 2008). It is practice and widely accepted by cultural groups and society due to number of reasons which include health and hygiene benefits, religious, traditional and gender related reasons (END FGM 2009 pp.8). Female circumcision marks the sexual debut of a woman. It also promotes identification in the culture or lineage group. Uncircumcised women prohibit in participating ritual rites such as burial rites and preparing food for the male members of the community with the circumcised women. Another reason for female circumcision is family honour, cleanliness because uncircumcised female is considered as unclean and unmarriageable. They also considered it as insurance to virginity and faithfulness (Althus, 1997). It is believed to stop sexual desire due to decrease sensation in the clitoris area (Womenshealth Website) and prevent extra marital affairs. Uncircumcised female tend to experience peer pressure and social stigma, harassment and being ostracize by members from their communities, this is why it is practice until today despite different programs released by various organization to stop this practice. Family members of uncircumcised female also experience this type of treatment. In Kenya, boys with uncut older sister may not be initiated as warriors (END FGM, 2009, pp.9). Female circumcision is often decided by parents or older family member, extended family members and not the female itself. It is considered important to raise the girl properly and to prepare her to adulthood and marriage (Yoder et al., 1999; Ahmadu, 2000; Hernlund, 2003; Dellenborg, 2004 as cited by WHO, 2008) because men in their community are expected to select circumcised female. Kuria, Maasai, Somali, Samburu and Kisii ethnic groups in Kenya is known to practice the female circumcision. It is usually accompanied with an elaborate ritual of initiation into womanhood. For other tribes, it is done to force on women as a form of retaliation or intimidation and it signifies a return of pre-colonial traditions and performs under medical supervision that confers social standing and prestige (UNFRA Website). Failure to conform to the norm means social exclusion from the tribe they belong, worst than punishment under the law.­­ Parents who conform to this norms mean no harm to their children, they think only the best interests of their children and fear if they do not do it, their children will be a social pariah or excommunicated in their society. Conforming to traditions of the society or group by participating in century old rituals making the tradition alive is a good thing also it prevents extra marital affairs and illegitimate child from being born. But due to health and psychological implication of female circumcision and is often violated the rights of women and children, it is best to prevent this practice. It has no known health benefits (WHO 2008 pp.1), it causes trauma to women due to lack of anaesthesia during the procedure, if anaesthesia is present it leads to further damage of the genitals due to lack of feelings. It has a long term effects that make the life of the women harder. It leads to infertility due to infections, causes reproductive damage and even causes death. Female genital mutilation violates principles, norms and rights that include principles of inequality and non discrimination on the basis of sex. It has been recognized as discrimination based on sex because it is rooted in gender inequalities and power imbalances between men and women and inhibits women full and equal enjoyment of their human rights. It is a form of violence against girls and women because it deprives them from making an independent decision about an intervention that has a lasting effect on their bodies and infringes on their autonomy and control over their lives (WHO, 2008, pp.9-10). These procedures are done to children and women ages 0-15 years old and without the aid of anaesthesia. Female circumcision is usually performs by a person without proper medical training with the use of instrument such as razor, knife, scissors and broken glass, the wound are close using thorns, sutures, matchsticks and twigs that eventually causes infection that leads to severe damage of reproductive system. Short term and long term effects of female circumcision are noted among the women who undergone the procedure. Excessive bleeding, septic shock, infections and sometimes death are among the short term effects. There is also a high increase of HIV transmission due to use of the same instrument with another contaminated person without sterilization. Physiological effect is also noted to the women who undergone the procedure, pain, shock and force applied during the procedure are the reason of trauma among the victims. Long term effects include physical, physiological and sexual effects (END FGM, 2009, pp.6). Physical effects include excessive scar tissues formation or keloid in the site of the cutting. Chronic pain is experience due to trapped or unprotected nerve endings. Infections such as urinary tract infection and infection of the reproductive system are also noted. Birth complications are also present depending on the severity of genital mutilation and danger to newborn. Physiological effects include fear of sexual intercourse due to pain, memory loss, post -traumatic stress disorder and anxiety depression. Sexual effect includes loss of sexual libido. Urinary and menstrual problems are also note, slow flow of menstrual blood and urine are experienced by women who are complete sealing off of vagina and urethra (WHO, 2008, pp.11). High risk during child birth is also reported. Women undergone type I, II and III has a high incidence of caesarean section and post partum haemorrhage than uncircumcised women (WHO, 2008). Due to number of reasons of health and psychological implications of female genital mutilation, various organizations such as WHO and UNICEF have been working non-stop to discontinue this practice in order to protect the human rights children and women. Works Cited Althus F. (1997) Female Circumcision: Rite of Passage or Violation of Rites. International Family Planning Perspective, 23 (3) [Internet]. Available from: [Accessed 24 March 2012]. Budiharsan M., Amalia L., Utomo B., and Erwinia (2003) Female circumcision in Indonesia [Internet]. Available from: < http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNACU138.pdf> [Accessed 24 March 2012]. ENDFGM Website (2009). Ending Genital Mutilation; A Strategy for the European Union Institutions [Internet]. Available from: [Accessed: 24 March 2012]. Horowitz, C. and Jackson, C. (1997) Female “Circumcision” African Women Confront American Medicine [Internet]. Available from: [Accessed 24 March 2012]. HRW Website (2010) Q&A on Female Genital Mutilation [Internet]. Available from: [Accessed 24 March 2012]. Oloo H., Wanjian M., and Jones-Newell K. (n.d.) Female Genital Mutilation practices in Kenya: The role of Alternative Rites of Passage A case study of Kisii and Kuria districts [Internet]. Available from: [Accessed 24 March 2012]. UNFRA Website (2010) Taking Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Out Cultural Mosaic of Kenya [Internet]. Available from: < www.unfpa.org/public/news/pid/5409> [Accessed 24 March 2012]. UNICEF (2005) Female Genitals Mutilation/Cutting: A Statistical Exploration [Internet], UNICEF. Available from: [Accessed 24 March 2012]. Vince G. (2005). Female Genital Mutilation can Cause Infertility. Newscientist.com [Internet]. Available from: [Accessed 24 March 2012]. WHO (2008) Eliminating Female Genital Mutilation [Internet]. Access from: [Accessed 24 March 2012]. Womenshealth Website (2009) Female Genital Cutting Fact Sheet [Internet]. Available from: [Accessed 24 March 2012]. Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(Sex and Sexuality: a Cultural Taboo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1, n.d.)
Sex and Sexuality: a Cultural Taboo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1. https://studentshare.org/gender-sexual-studies/1769141-sex-and-sexuality-a-cultural-taboo-critically-discuss-and-analyse-the-role-of-culture-in-sex-and-sexuality-and-its-impact-on-health
(Sex and Sexuality: A Cultural Taboo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words - 1)
Sex and Sexuality: A Cultural Taboo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words - 1. https://studentshare.org/gender-sexual-studies/1769141-sex-and-sexuality-a-cultural-taboo-critically-discuss-and-analyse-the-role-of-culture-in-sex-and-sexuality-and-its-impact-on-health.
“Sex and Sexuality: A Cultural Taboo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words - 1”. https://studentshare.org/gender-sexual-studies/1769141-sex-and-sexuality-a-cultural-taboo-critically-discuss-and-analyse-the-role-of-culture-in-sex-and-sexuality-and-its-impact-on-health.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Sex and Sexuality: a Cultural Taboo

Sexuality: Sacred or Ordinary

Homosexuality has conventionally remained so much of a taboo because it violates the religious, ethical as well as cultural norms about sexuality.... sexuality is said to be both sacred and ordinary.... 22 July sexuality is said to be both sacred and ordinary.... Would there be any problems with persons understanding sex only as sacred, or sex only as ordinary, non-sacred?... sex has conventionally remained a very controversial topic for discussion....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Shere Hite's The Hite Report

What does the amount of detail suggest about the history of women and sexuality in Western culture.... The Hite Report: A Nationwide Study of Female sexuality was published in 1976.... This was followed by The Hite Report on Male sexuality in 1981 and The Hite Report on the Family in 1994.... She is seen as an inspiration and role model for many feminist activists and writers for offering them radical new insights into female sexuality in western society....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

The Impact of Culture on Sexuality

Such a taboo will control the sexuality of an individual living in such a society because as long as such a person will live with relatives for a long period of time, his or her sexuality will continue being stifled.... It will thus be influenced by ethical, spiritual, cultural and moral concerns of a person.... The cultural aspects will impact an individual's sexuality in the following ways: Impact of cultural taboos and injunctions in a country Different cultures will uphold different taboos and thus shaping the human sexuality of the individuals living in that particular country (Bolin & Whelehan, 2009)....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

What My Parents Told Me (How I learnt about sexuality)

In this paper, I reflect upon how I learned about sex and sexuality when I was an adolescent, and how the lack of parental support and sex education led to my deteriorated concept of sex.... Many advocates are working in collaboration with individuals from health sector and sexuality education, to bring forward national sexuality education standards.... Without sex and romantic feelings, there would be no concept of reproduction of human race....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Human Sexuality and AIDS

This connection to anal sex brings several concerns to the forefront as this particular practice has been a rather taboo subject in most studies regarding the spread of AIDS and HIV.... For various reasons, the question has been asked if the majority of heterosexual AIDS transmission is actually the result Much of the literature avoids the issue of heterosexual anal sex as if it were an abnormal behavior, but studies are increasingly indicating that this is not the case and that anal sex may present a much greater risk for disease transmission than many people realize....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Sex and Sexual Activity of Women

The paper "sex and Sexual Activity of Women" will begin with the statement that even though a lot of variant views are held by our societies when it comes to “sex” and “sexual activity” of women, not enough care has been given to define just what exactly having sex is and what it entails.... Even though in a heterosexual relationship, there exist defined discrimination and a misbalance of power in favor of men, it is clear that such a misbalance exists in homosexual relationships too, thereby pointing at the insidious nature of the cultural norm of there being a dominant and a submissive party in any given relationship....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Social and Cultural Views of Health

In Inis Beag community, it is a cultural responsibility for mothers to train their daughters to submit to sexual desires of their husbands.... Good cultural practice in one society can be an abomination in another society.... hellip; This paper gives detailed information that communities also simultaneously train and inform their members about consequences of diverting from particular cultural practices.... Human sexuality is one aspect of cultural practices whose understanding varies from one community or society to another....
6 Pages (1500 words) Assignment

How are Menstrual Products Sold

The author states that the media today, through advertising, is opening up the communication of this hitherto taboo topic.... The commercialization of menstruation products has over the years influenced how society perceives the female reproductive cycle, and in particular, the process of menstruation… The idea of menstruation has been surrounded by a shared taboo of secrecy and silence for the longest time the history of mankind.... This is quite unfortunate considering that there is actually nothing to be ashamed of in regards to human sexuality....
6 Pages (1500 words) Coursework
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us