Female Cutting Essay Example

surrounding the continuation of female genital mutilation or circumcision, with some questioning whether the associated health risks are acceptable and if ending the practice would make our country appear weak. Utilitarian thinking can provide a useful approach to answering this question by comparing the benefits and costs of different options. By considering alternative practices that do not involve genital cutting, it is possible to determine which option results in the greatest amount of happiness - as utilitarianism suggests that this is the most beneficial choice (MacKinnon, p. 30, 2009).

Although cultural pride may be highly valued in relation to female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/FGC), its impact on future generations, women, and children must be taken into consideration. The long-term health risks associated with FGM/FGC, including pregnancy difficulties and complications that increase maternal mortality rates, can result in fathers becoming single parents and children losing their mothers – a situation that no one wants.

Based on the utilitarian perspective, neither FGM nor FGC would be considered worth practicing since it does not generate the maximum amount of pleasure. Barbara MacKinnon, the writer of Ethics: Theory and Contemporary Issues, explains that pain is essentially negative, while pleasure is intrinsically positive. In her book, she further discusses that an action that results in pain may be accepted only if it eventually creates more pleasure for all concerned parties (MacKinnon, p. 33, 2009). Nevertheless, genital cutting does not bring about overall happiness for girls and women who undergo the procedure since it causes both physical and psychological pain.

Alleviating the pain experienced by women and girls from genital cutting through finding a common ground will morally justify the practice and ultimately

lead to the complete termination of FGM and FGC.