Female genital mutilation (FGM) and male circumcision: Should there be a separate ethical discourse?

It is sometimes argued that the non-therapeutic, non-consensual alteration of children’s genitals should be discussed in two separate ethical discourses: one for girls (in which such alterations should be termed ‘female genital mutilation’ or FGM), and one for boys (in which such alterations should be termed ‘male circumcision’). In this article, I call into question the moral and empirical basis for such a distinction, and argue that all children-whether female, male, or intersex-should be free from having parts of their genitals removed unless there is a pressing medical indication.

Publisher: Practical Ethics
Year of Publication: 2014
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