Length: 1-3 Hours
Level: Intermediate (majors and non-majors)
Discipline: Psychology, Women's Studies
Female circumcision, or female genital mutilation, affects thousands of young girls and women in more than 30 countries worldwide (but primarily in Africa and portions of the Middle East). Despite efforts to ban this procedure, it continues today due in part to deeply-embedded cultural traditions and perceptions of women. This problem explores the types of female circumcision, reasons why it is done, and if/how it should be stopped. Implications for US legal and medical professionals are also discussed.