Female Genital Mutilation: Symbolic Interactionism, Conflict Theory, And

Female Genital Mutilation/Circumcision is a practice where a female’s private parts are cut. There are four major types. The first, the Clitoridectomy, is when the clitoris is partially or fully removed. Excision is when the labia minora and occasionally the labia majora are shaved off along with the removal of the clitoris. The third and most harmful type is called Infibulation. This is when the vaginal opening is narrowed through the creation of a covering seal through sewing. This creates an extremely narrow hole for excreting fluids. In order to have intercourse or give birth, the female must get defibulated (when they cut an opening into the vaginal opening), and immediately sewn back up again. The last kind is just all other procedures

These are usually harmful, but do not usually involve the removal of body parts. For instance, they can burn the area instead. Type four circumcisions are often symbolic. There are also three major sociology theories that can be used to explain this phenomena. These are Symbolic interactionism, Conflict theory, and Functionalism. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, and each allows a sociologist to examine different aspects of the same issue. While all three theories are important to look at different aspects of the practice of female circumcision, Symbolic interactionism best explains why the practice continues to exist despite its drawbacks.

Functionalism is one theory that examines the consequences of phenomena such as female circumcision. Functionalism is the idea that societies consist of various, interconnected parts, called systems, that work together to create unity within a whole society. When these parts work together, positive effects happen that increases cohesion and the parts are functioning. When negative effects happen, the parts are dysfunctioning and the society falls apart. The manifest function of a system is the intended good consequences of the system. The latent function is the unintended good consequences of the

Conflict theory is the idea that there are competing groups in society that fight over limited resources such as water, food, education ect. The resulting clash between these groups leads to progress. For example the clash between factory workers and factory owners lead to labor laws and unions, which protect worker rights. The groups in question when it comes to female circumcision are the males of the society and the females of the society. The practice of female circumcision is not religious because multiple religions practice it, and it is not racist because multiple ethnicities practice it. In terms of conflict theory, female circumcision is a method of oppression used by the male population in order to curb the pleasure and desires of the female population to keep them subservient. While this theory does a better job than functionalism because it also takes into account people’s non objective desires, conflict theory does not believe in altruism. Conflict theory believes that humans will always act selfish and greedy, which is not true. While men in these societies may be conditioned to believe women are inferior, it's usually not malicious. They aren’t thinking “That’ll teach my daughter to not be independent”, they are thinking “If I don’t do this she can’t get married and she’ll be unhealthy so she’ll die”. Conflict theory can’t take that into