The New York
Times published recently published an opinion piece with photographs of underage females subjected to marriage and female genital cutting, which you can
read
here.
Even if you don't read all the details, the photographs themselves are
provocative. How does a society sexualize girls as young as nine? Why
does this remain a problem in numerous countries where legislation
forbidding such practices has been passed? Why do people in societies still feel the need to control female sexuality?
Such topics,
though disturbing, are covered in the context of learning sex therapy.
Our human anatomy is intricately connected with feelings of pleasure.
When genitals are mutilated, pleasure as well as function can be
disrupted or even destroyed. Although I personally have not treated
anyone who has undergone such a procedure, there are sex therapists and
sexual medicine specialists who have.
The World Health Organization has an
online resource
about female genital mutilation (FGB). It also is difficult to read,
or to think about. Socially, sex has been used to dominate and oppress
people. Even though a sex therapist may not have such clients, such
topics prompt us to address themes such as oppression, dominance, and
consent.
I invite you to read and contemplate how you might
approach someone who has been forced to experience FGM if she came into
your office for help. It is a type of trauma that requires great
sensitivity, compassion, and skill, as well as an ability to speak
openly about sexual pleasure and its meaning in society.