Discourse(s) of Female Genitalia

Mutilation vs. Cosmetic Surgery

Authors

  • Jordan Wellsch

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32396/usurj.v5i2.448

Keywords:

agency, female genital cosmetic surgery, female genital mutilation, genital utility, liberal sexuality

Abstract

There is a discrepancy between “Western” engagement with female genital mutilation (FGM) and female genital cosmetic surgery (FGCS). Despite a similar ambiguity regarding the outcomes of each, FGM is ultimately condemned, while FGCS is permitted. By unpacking the dominant "Western" discourse(s) of each, this paper accounts for the discrepancy; FGCS is constructed as a medically legitimated option for enhancing the utility of one's genitals and for liberating one's sexuality, while FGM is constructed as a threat to "Western" conceptions of genital utility, sexuality and agency. Such discourse(s) arguably illustrate the tendency to condemn the contextual "other" and take “our” contextual constructions largely for granted.

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Published

2019-08-21

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 2 (2019): Fall 2019

Section

Articles

License

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