I also hope that those who oppose female circumcision will be able to form a more reasoned opinion about it...

In fact, female circumcision has often been justified by comparing it to male circumcision. For example, some American doctors say that circumcised men “make better lovers because they have more staying power that uncircumcised men” (Lightfoot-Klein, 1994). Likewise, in countries where women are operated on, women are more sexually pleasing because “the tighter she is sewn, the more pleasure he [her husband] has” (Lightfoot-Klein, 1994). Furthermore, medical reasons can be used to substantiate both male and female circumcision. “An uncircumcised penis causes urinary infections…[and] will cause cervical cancer in women” (Lightfoot-Klein, 1994). Comparatively, “Female circumcision protects the health of a woman. Infibuation prevents the uterus from falling out. If a man’s penis touches a woman’s clitoris he will become impotent” (Lightfoot-Klein, 1994).

... the claim that circumcision makes an individual more pure and clean stands to support the reasoning behind many male circumcisions as well (Lightfoot-Klein, 1994).

1. The clitoris is dangerous and must be removed for health reasons. For example, “a baby will be born hydrocephalic if its head contacts the clitoris during birth” (Lightfoot-Klein, 1994).
2. Bad genital odors can only be eliminated by removing the clitoris and labia minora.
3. It prevents vaginal cancer.
4. An unmodified clitoris can lead to masturbation and lesbianism.
5. Circumcision prevents nervousness from developing in girls and women.
6. Circumcision can prevent the face from turning yellow.
7. Circumcision makes a woman’s face more beautiful.
8. If it is not performed, older men may not be able to match their wives’ sex drive and may have to resort to illegal stimulating drugs.
9. An intact clitoris generates sexual arousal in women, which can cause neuroses if repressed.

Forgetting religion and cultural systems of belief, the circumcision of women can be compared to the circumcision of men in North America. Of the three types, it is the practice of removing the prepuce which is most common. [Quelle?] While infibulations still occur, they have been banned in all countries. However, American media neglects to make a distinction between the different operations and usually only reports on the illegal practice of infibulation.

This particular type is often compared to the circumcision of males because in both cases no part of the sexual organ is cut off (Lightfoot-Klein, 1994).

Because the clitoris houses a number of nerve endings

ome women comment that the damage is life-long both emotionally and physically. Others, in contrast, claim that they are quite content with the procedure.

Americans have no right to deem the practice as right or wrong, regardless of whether or not the ritual is religious, cultural, or both. To judge by our own codes of conduct is to deny the uniqueness of another society. In doing so, we automatically label a country and its people negatively and therefore miss out on the other aspects of a culture that could be beneficial to our own well-being.

...we automatically label a country and its people negatively and therefore miss out on the other aspects of a culture that could be beneficial to our own well-being.

Because the people who take part in female circumcision practice a variety of different religions, one can only conclude that the practice is cultural, not religious.