Put simply, in some intersex conditions, there is determinate fact whether a given genital structure (e.g., a cliteropenis) is 'female' or 'male' tissue. Also, some babies born with penises will grow up to identify as transgender. What if she was circumcised w/o consent?
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Could she raise a retroactive complaint of 'FGM'? In any case, she will have been deprived of ~30-50 cm2 of highly sensitive erotogenic tissue - the fully developed foreskin - that could have been used as vaginal lining in a gender affirmation surgery. https://medium.com/@Virginiahallath/a-transgirl-speaks-about-foreskin-53a4f625bb9d …pic.twitter.com/cU4PeBuxGG
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So while Nimco Ali is technically correct that "FGM is not male circumcision," this is not a meaningful statement in the context of her video. It is supposed to imply that FGM is an impermissible form of 'violence against girls' whereas MC is not a serious moral concern.pic.twitter.com/eXWuM9fS67
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But that is highly misleading at best. Here is why this matters. The 1996 US anti-FGM law was recently ruled unconstitutional. The judge said congress did not have the authority to pass the law because it concerned 'local criminal activity' - namely, physical assault.
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The case concerned a form of 'FGM' done by the Dawoodi Bohra, a Muslim sect, that is similar to a ritual 'nick' described above, typically removing a small portion of the clitoral foreskin. The Bohra cut their sons more invasively, removing 1/3 or more of the penile skin system.
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Both are often done by doctors among the Bohra, and both are justified by religious leaders on the basis of the same secondary Islamic scripture, the Da'a'im al-Islam. If the female 'nick' is physical assault, b/c it is medically unnecessary and non-consensual, what is male circ?
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Defenders of religious MC are aware of this problem. To create a buffer of protection around MC, some are now arguing that 'minor' FGM should be tolerated in Western societies (see below). Defenders of 'female circ' are now using these arguments as well https://theconversation.com/unconstitutional-us-anti-fgm-law-exposes-hypocrisy-in-child-protection-109305 …pic.twitter.com/TbxxW85Aoo
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So battle lines are being drawn. Those who want to cut children's genitals for cultural or religious reasons are banding together to argue for 'parents rights' & pointing out that 'minor' FGM is less severe than MC--e.g., Alan Dershowitz joined defense in the federal FGM case.pic.twitter.com/WpLeNr9wgP
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If anti-FGM activists continue to promote the myth that MC is not morally comparable to FGM (when full range of practices are considered), they risk losing to the parents' rights brigade. The moral issue at stake is the ability to CONSENT to alteration of one's private parts.
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As I argue below, there is an urgent need 4 advocates of children's rights to come together, across the sex-gender divide, to protect the most vulnerable members of society against medically unnecessary cutting of their genitals: female, male, or intersex. https://theconversation.com/unconstitutional-us-anti-fgm-law-exposes-hypocrisy-in-child-protection-109305 …pic.twitter.com/wW9WoL8tuk
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Thanks Brian, for patiently explaining. Those who oppose #MGM also universally oppose #FGM. It's disappointing to see that's still not fully reciprocated, but I am increasingly confident that ultimately, 95% or more of the world will oppose all child genital cutting. #i2
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