The Truth About Victoriana: Female Circumcision in the US

Friday, February 6, 2009

Female Circumcision in the US

Like its male counterpart, circumcision of females has two histories. First it is a ritual or customary practice among tribal societies (mostly in Africa) and some Islamic communities. Secondly it is a medical intervention, justified by Victorian (and, in the USA, some twentieth century) doctors in exactly the same way as they rationalised circumcision of boys: to deter masturbation, to treat obscure nervous disorders such as hysteria, neurasthenia and epilepsy, and thereby to promote health.

As one reads the writings and experiences of Christians in all ages, one cannot help realizing that, though this experience is common to all, it would seem that in every generation the actual experience of entering into the deliverance which our Lord Jesus gives varies very greatly.

And I think that one of our chief difficulties is that we suppose that the same formula which helped others in an earlier generation must be the formula for our age too.

Whereas in this also our Lord seems to love great variety, and if we cannot find this blessed experience, “I thank God through Jesus Christ,” in the same way as our fathers found it, it simply means that we shall find it in some other way.

Hannah Hurnard in
"The Kingdom of Love"