@maxdancona,
Quote:The relevant issue... that makes a great counterpoint to the other issue we have spent so much time discussion... is abortion.
Comparison is usually a ploy used to prop up an unsupportable position.
Immediate complications include severe pain, shock, haemorrhage, tetanus or infection, urine retention, ulceration of the genital region and injury to adjacent tissue, wound infection, urinary infection, fever, and septicemia. Haemorrhage and infection can be severe enough to cause death.
Long-term consequences include complications during childbirth, anaemia, the formation of cysts and abscesses, keloid scar formation, damage to the urethra resulting in urinary incontinence, dyspareunia (painful sexual intercourse), sexual dysfunction, hypersensitivity of the genital area and increased risk of HIV transmission, as well as psychological effects.
http://www.unfpa.org/resources/female-genital-mutilation-fgm-frequently-asked-questions
______________________________________________
From the same link:
At what age is FGM performed:
It varies. In some areas, FGM is carried out during infancy – as early as a couple of days after birth. In others, it takes place during childhood, at the time of marriage, during a woman's first pregnancy or after the birth of her first child. Recent reports suggest that the age has been dropping in some areas, with most FGM carried out on girls between the ages of 0 and 15 years.
___________________________________________
Comparing females who willingly choose to abort a fetus to females who are subjected to genital mutilation because of cultural tradition does not serve to put female genital mutilation in a better light.
From the same link:
Why is FGM performed?
In every society in which it is practiced, female genital mutilation is a manifestation of deeply entrenched gender inequality. Where it is widely practiced, FGM is supported by both men and women, usually without question, and anyone that does not follow the norm may face condemnation, harassment and ostracism. It may be difficult for families to abandon the practice without support from the wider community. In fact, it is often practiced even when it is known to inflict harm upon girls because the perceived social benefits of the practice are deemed higher than its disadvantages.
________________________________________