From: mark@uctvax.uct.ac.za
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Subject: Re: Clitoridectomy / African Culture
Date: 11 Nov 92 16:10:49 +0200
Organization: University of Cape Town

A response to several of the postings on female
circumcision.

If anyone requires more information on the practice, I can
recommend the following books, both by Zed Press, London,
published in 1982, and authored by African women:

Sisters in Affliction, Circumcision and Infibulation of
Women in Africa; by Raqiya Haji Dualeh Abdallah.
and
Woman, Why do you weep? Circumcision and its consequences;
by Asma El Dareer.

The first book deals with circumcision of women in several
african countries, while the second deals with the practice
in Sudan.  Asma El Dareer was herself circumcised at the age
of 11, and the book is the result of a survey of the
practice in Sudan, while Raqiay Haji Dualeh Abdallah writes
in her introduction:

"The main objective of this book is to initiate action to
abandon the practice of female circumcision, especially in
the Somali Democratic Republic where the more drastic forms
of these operations are performed and still are not seen as
a social problem, except by a very few enlightened women and
men.
No change is possible without the concious participation of
women.  It is our duty as women to fight to abolish this
practice which is imposed on young girls by old customs and
erroneous beliefs.  I believe that only women themselves can
create awareness in their society, influence change in
societies attitudes, fight against the humiliation of this
practice and urge its total abolition.  This book is
intended to stimulate such actions, and to involve all those
- men and women - who are concerned with change and human
development."  [p7/8].

I was suprised that "Sisters in Affliction" does not list
South Africa as one of the countries where circumcision is
practiced.  About four years ago an aquaintance of mine had
boasted about the circumcision of his wife and daughters.
He used to live in the Orange Free State before coming to
Cape Town, and it was there that the rituals had been
performed.  He claimed that female circumcision was a custom
of the Sotho people, and his attitude clearly showed that it
was a form of control by the husband/father over his
wife/daughters sexuality.  We were all revolted by the
description of the "circumcision" and no-one in the company
accepted his assurance that the circumcision benefitted his
wife sexually, nor his plea that the women "volunteer" for
the ritual.  The practice was not acceptable to the Xhosa, 
Zulu or Swazi (men and women) present.

As an aside, as an uncircumcised male, I fully appreciated
the concern of a Xhosa male-friend of mine who carefully
avoided initiation/circumcision rites for some years.  He
was successful at first because his father had had him
circumcised as a baby (in order to avoid the sometimes
dangerous ritual).  Although my friend knew he would only be
participating in initiation rites, and would not be re-
circumcised he was reluctant to "go to the bush".  (The
ritual is held in a special camp isolated from the rest of
society).  His fear arose from a deep-seated protectiveness
towards his penis, which as I say I appreciated.  When he
was discovered he went "into the bush" for about 2 weeks, as
a result of social pressure: as a union shop-steward he
could no longer command the respect of many of his peers who
regard a Xhosa male who has not undergone the initiation
ceremonies as a "boy" (yenkwenkwe - derogatory term) despite 
the physical appearance of his penis.  Incidently there are 
always several young men who die anually in this country as a
result of infections developing during the initiation rites.
A number of traditional healers have called for revision of
the practice, so that the actual operation is performed in a
clinic or hospital.  Others claim that the deaths arise when
newer healers who have not been properly trained perform
the operation incorrectly.  Apparently razor blades are used
now in place of the traditional "sharpened stone".  The
initiation ceremonies are secret, and my friend would tell
me little about them on his return.  A lot of it was about
passing on cultural traditions, history and attitudes.

Having two daughters, I am glad I never faced the "choice"
of whether or not to circumcise a son.  (No more children
thank-you!)  Doctor Spock - at one stage a guru in the US on
raising children (before he spoke against the Vietnam war) -
suggested that all parents circumcise their baby boys, so
that they can "be regular kids on the block".  If we put
aside those who do it for religious reasons, this still
seems to be the primary reason in "the west" today.  In
other words there is similar social pressure to what my
friend experienced.

Mark Ramsden
UCT
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african