At the roots of ethnic female genital modification: Preliminary report

Abstract

The substitution of the term female genital mutilation with ethnic female genital modification (EFGM) would be beneficial because of its lesser semantically negative connotation and superior expression of the interventions' expansive/reductive duality. All forms of EFGM have a clear relationship with coupling, and thus with the resulting fecundity (concrete manifestation of procreative capacity). Fecundity is the fundamental element linking the first inhabitants of Africa to their most recent descendants (De Rachewiltz, 1963). All forms of EFGM aim to increase fecundity (in reality or according to cultural assumption) and are accomplished by either enhancement of genitalia (expansive modification, such as elongation of the labia minora) or degradation of genitalia (reductive modification, such as infibulation). Both longininfism and infibulation refer, in their origin, to the same past population, the Bushmen/Hottentots. This group carried the "apron" as a congenital, morphologic feature. This has been preserved through manipulation, for example, among the Baganda of Uganda. In Somalia, the Midgan, operators of infibulation, belong to an ethnic group of hunters (the Bon), probably descending from an ancient Khoisanid population. © 2006 Springer.