FGA vs. FGM

During the APP 2016 conference, an issue concerning female genital piercing in the UK was brought to my attention. It’s probably safe to say that most people are aware that female genital mutilation (FGM) is a thing that unfortunately exists (generally in third world countries where women’s rights often don’t exist), which is totally against the will of the woman and results in physical and emotional trauma. However, under the World Health Organization’s classification of what FGM is more specifically, they have listed “piercing”, along with other non-medical purposes such as pricking, incising, scraping and cauterization as mutilation, and this has stirred up some problems.

Being modified and having been involved with the community for some time, it’s pretty clear to me that consensual piercings (and procedures) are not what I would consider “mutilation”, and are actually adornment or alteration (FGA). Naturally, I have (and have had) a number of genital piercings, and have considered other more permanent, cosmetic procedures. I’ve done mine myself, and being a white Canadian who lives and was born in Canada, I’m not the demographic who’s really going to be affected by this. But this could go beyond.

Women in the UK who see their doctor or gynecologist probably feel like that is a pretty safe place for them. They can openly talk to a professional without being judged, and get the right advice about their health or their body. Men don’t visit the doctor as much as women, and they definitely don’t have a specialist closely inspecting their genitals regularly. This stuff is normal for women to go through. So now, when the gyno sees something a little different, a little intentional, maybe, it must be reported, even a consensual piercing, every time. Here’s an excerpt from issue #70 of The Point, “When is Piercing Mutilation?” by Paul King.

At the time of this writing, I have no evidence that UK authorities would interpret the piercing of a white indigenous adult female’s genitals for adornment as “female genital mutilation.” The protection of the genitals of all minors under the age of 16 is already enforced by strict regulations. The UK has cultural views and therefore legal guidelines on young persons that differ from many states in the US. In the UK, persons 16 and older can consent to sex and medical treatments, without the necessity of parental consent. Although, internationally, there exists a widely held professional ethical standard that only persons considered adults, at the “age of majority,” should have their genitals pierced. However, if a UK body piercer performed a female genital piercing on an adult woman from a UN/WHO/UK recognized “FGM-affected community” the legal outcome gets trickier to predict. If the piercing were discovered by a healthcare provider, the situation would create an ethical dilemma for the healthcare worker, compelled by law to report any alterations. If the reported incident were investigated by law enforcement, it could lead to criminal prosecution of the body piercer, counter staff, shop owner, and/or a friend(s) that accompanied the piercing client (anyone that “aids, abets, [counsels] or procures”) for violation of the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 carrying a penalty of a fine with up to 14 years imprisonment. To mitigate risk, a UK piercer could refuse to pierce female genitalia, while continuing to pierce male genitalia. As another option, UK piercers could sort clients by using the same geographical criteria as the National Health Services and law enforcement; however, in practice, I doubt denying services based on country of origin would go  over well. It would probably lead to accusations of xenophobia and racism.

http://www.safepiercing.org/thepoint/point-70-when-is-piercing-mutilation-paul-king/

You starting to see the bigger picture? An update was posted in issue #77 written by Elayne Angel, discussing the actions being taken by the APP and mentions the now compulsory reporting of FGM even without consent, meaning that piercing could inflate statistics (page 18): http://www.safepiercing.org/thepoint/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Point77-Winter2016.pdf

There’s a lot going on in the world right now, a lot of it bad. It’s awkward and troublesome for someone with anxiety to feel like it’s okay to put words out there, and create a stir where waves need to be. And with so many problems and concerns in the world to choose from, it’s hard to pick one big idea to stand confidently behind. I love the modification community. I love how we can inspire people and make them feel beautiful. Make them feel like it’s okay to do what they want with their own body, and not feel judged or be persecuted for their choices. I love how it spans so many cultures, races, and lifestyles, and how everyone has their own journey and experiences and they all tell them in their own way. It can be empowering to be in control of something. In a lot of ways, our physical body is the only thing we still have full control over in the new world.

I signed the petition in Elayne’s article, and I ask that you who share my perspective do the same. Naturally, I gave a long-winded response regarding this problem:

It is hard to believe that in this day and age—after being exposed to so many different and new things and learning so much—that women’s rights are still a problem. People’s rights are still a problem. Being able to do what you want to feel happy is still a problem, especially when it involves your own body. There are so many businesses benefiting from the needs of others, their desires, even. You barely need to look around to see all of the things that have been marketed to you to try and make you feel happy, or that claim to make your life easier. But there is more that makes people happy, and taking control of yourself and becoming who you want to be is what so many people want. Sure, a new job or hobby can really help, but there are a few people that feel that just doesn’t cut it. It wouldn’t matter because it’s their body that truly makes them unhappy. And that’s when the specialists and professionals come in. They can make dreams come true. They can build a male body from one that was born female, and vice versa. They can give you the biggest pair of tits you could ever dream of or the most luscious behind. You can go to the gym with a trainer and gain 80 pounds of lean muscle (all natural, I swear), have your body tattooed from head to toe, and get pierced wherever you can pinch. Unless, of course, you’re a chick, and want to willingly change your own genitals. So many women have faced sexual abuse, and so many more will. Sometimes that abuse can leave a mark physically, though it always has its emotional toll. Having control over that area after such trauma can be very empowering and healing. I can’t tell you how many stories I’ve heard and read from women about how a genital piercing brought back their confidence, or how a cosmetic procedure made them feel like themselves again. And I’ve also heard the same from people who never were abused, but felt ashamed of their genitals or just didn’t have sexual confidence. These stories come from professional environments, from professional practitioners, surgeons, piercers, and the every day people who just want to feel better about themselves. What do you really have to gain from taking away a woman’s right to feel better about who they are?