Here in the shadow of high-rises lives a custom that dates back to the days of the Egyptian Pharaohs. It is female circumcision, which involves cutting part or all of a girl's genitalia. It's practiced in about 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. In the 19th century, it was also done in America and England as a cure for mental disorders and hysteria. Today in the United States, doctors and school nurses are having to cope with the medical ramifications.
Controversy surrounds the practice of circumcision.
Those who support it say it prevents promiscuity. Those against it say it hampers a women's sexuality and hurts her self-esteem. Many African immigrants, while not condoning circumcision, nevertheless believe that the West is blowing the issue out of proportion. What we Africans do may be shocking to some people, but it's our culture. I think it's an issue that a lot of people are exploiting.