The Ritual Female Circumcision in Basilan Philippines
Introduction
A needless operation inflicted on girls and women.
We all commonly know that circumcisions are only for men. Then, why do we have this ritual female circumcision for women? And for all I know this is widely practiced in some communities in Basilan Island, Zamboanga, and Sulu.
As I read articles regarding this issue I can’t help but to be enthralled by their tradition. But that kind of practice is too risky and dangerous that it might lead to death or maybe trauma for the person who experiences it. This is customarily practiced by Muslim people to show respect to their Allah, and they call the female circumcision as Pag-Sunnat.
As stated in the National Statistics Office 2005, the Yakan constitutes the majority 41.3% of the total population of Basilan Philippines and 80% of the total population in Barangay Bato, Lamitan Basilan. And every year according to the Municipal Health Office in Lamitan (2006) there is 1% in Lamitan Emergency hospital that are diagnosed by physicians related to trauma such as clitoris laceration, vulvar inflammation, vulvar infection, and tetanus.
However, the female circumcision in the Philippines is not that similar to the Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) of other countries.
According to the World Health Organization, female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
But what I noticed in the articles that I have read is that in Basilan there are no cuttings involve.
Procedures
Conforming to the study, the person who will perform the ritual female circumcision is called Kah Dayang. There are only 2 procedures in this ritual:
1.) The first procedure is to do the Pagpandih. It is where the Kah Dayang pours the water to the child’s head while reciting the tawal (prayer) as a whisper to the child’s ear. This procedure is believed by the Muslims to make the child at ease and relieve from the feeling of nervousness. This helps them to become more ready for the upcoming ritual or ceremony.
2.) The second procedure is the type IV of female circumcision — the scraping technique, it is where the Kah Dayang will use a knife to scrape the labia majora (also known as the lips of the vagina) of a child with gentleness to avoid bleeding. When the labia majora is red, the Kah Dayang will stop the scraping. She will put cotton on the part where the labia majora is scraped and recite the tawal again which is directed to the reproductive organ of the child.
After doing the ritual, the child is now considered as one of the Islam and can now pray and read the Holy Qur-an.
Benefits
1. Has no physical health benefits
2. Has no physical health benefits
3. Has no physical health benefits
Physically there are really no health benefits that a woman can obtain by performing the ritual but mentally, at least there is. Self-acceptance and self-accomplishment for oneself are thought to be good mental health that a woman can gain after the female circumcision. It is the idea or their belief of following Allah that leads them with that kind of feeling.
“There’s no way of knowing the origins of FGM, it appears in many different cultures, from Australian aboriginal tribes to different African societies,” medical historian David Gollaher, president and CEO of the California Healthcare Institute (CHI), and the author of “Circumcision,” told Discovery News.
I agree with this. It’s hard to trace the origin of this practice since it was done a long time ago. Many people have their different beliefs on where and when the FGM started but as of now there is still no credible evidence that can pinpoint its origin.
But doing this ritual, for them, it is a sign of purity and cleanliness of a woman. Yes, it is also obligatory since they believe that it is stated on their Holy Qur-an. And of course, they are expected to worship and follow the words written on their holy book.
For the sake of honor, culture, dignity, and pride, I think Muslim women are brave enough to perform that risky ritual despite the fact that it can mutilate them. They are willing to do it just to show their sincerity and overflowing respect towards their Allah.
References:
Calsalin, S. A. (2008). Female Circumcision Among Yakan. URL: https://aboutphilippines.org/documents-etc/2008-06-25-135433casalin.pdf
Araullo, A. (n.d). Female Circumcision in the Philippines: A Contoversial Rites of Passage. Retrieved from https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/specials/content/1/female-circumcision-in-the-philippines-a-controversial-rite-of-passage/
Lorenzi, R. (2012, December 10). How Did Female Genital Mutilation Begin? [Seeker]. Retrieved December 19, 2018, from https://www.seeker.com/how-did-female-genital-mutilation-begin-1766105357.html
World Health Organization. Female Genital Mutilation. (2018, January 31). Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/female-genital-mutilation