Ethical Relativity of Female Genital Mutilation

Ethical Relativity of Female Genital Mutilation
The standards used to determine what is termed as right or wrong vary from place to place. This aspect that is also referred to as ethical relativity is a common occurrence all over the world. The difference between the various values held by diverse communities all over the world can be attributed to the difference in cultural beliefs, religious beliefs, a country’s constitution among many others. Ethical relativity can be witnessed even in the highest levels of the society such as the national scale where various economic systems may be acceptable or unacceptable in different countries. Among the practices that fall under ethical relativity, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) stands out due how prevalent the practice is in particular areas of the world and also the adverse effects resulting from the practice.
Since FGM has a broad support base in certain areas while it is also a crime in other places, should the practice be respected and appreciated as a cultural heritage among certain cultures? The answer to this question is a strict NO. This is because the practice is retrogressive and also inefficient in serving its intended purpose which is the preservation of a girl’s purity and thus other safer practices could serve the same purpose. Besides, the cost of the adverse effects from the practice exceed the purpose it is intended for in that, a life lost or ruined because of the practice cannot be equated to the purity of that particular person.

Even though FGM is a negative practice, should those who do not practice it judge those who practice it willingly? The answer to this is YES. Those who do not practice FGM are justified to judge those who do not. This is because society is responsible for coming up with its culture and cultural practices. Those who started the practice may be justified since, during that past that was limited in information, they did not know or comprehend adverse effects of the practice. However, in the modern world where people are enlightened, it is inhumane and unwise to stick with such a practice just because your ancestors also practiced it.
The society where FGM is practiced should also take action against the practice besides urging individuals to stop engaging in it. This is because adverse impacts of the practice affect the society adversely as a whole more than any benefits that could be accruing from the practice. Some of the costs faced by the community include; health costs because practice is unhealthy to the female population, social costs such a negative and unfriendly living environment especially for those against the act where it is practiced and economic costs such as the increase of costs in health systems due to FGM-related health complications (Garcia-Moreno. et al, 3).
The U.S. government should restrict foreign practices such as FGM even though they are practiced by Immigrants from societies that believe in them. This is because they are crimes as per the constitution and thus there should be no double standards and secondly they are also against human right which are the universal rights that all people all over the world are entitled to.
Work cited
Garcia-Moreno, C. et al. Understanding and addressing violence against women: Female genitalmutilation. World Health Organization Website, 2012.http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/77428/1/WHO_RHR_12.41_eng.pdf