Cultural Relativism, Moral Universalism

1
Cultural Relativism, Moral Universalism

• And
• Female Genital Cutting (FGC)

2
What is cultural relativism?

• Began as a rejection of the 19th century social
  Darwinist theory that help European culture to
  the at the top of evolution and other cultures to
  be primitive.
• At the time it was introduced it was seen as a
  moral force for tolerance (Boas, Benedict, Mead,
  Herskovis).

3
Types of cultural relativism

• Descriptive acknowledgement of the diversity of
  beliefs and behaviors across cultures.
• Normative an acceptance of each cultures moral
  judgments as acceptable for that culture.
• Epistemological questions how one can
  comprehend the others reality sufficiently to
  make an evaluative judgment.

4
What is moral universalism?

• Most closely associated with a human rights
  based approach and suggests that some practices
  are never acceptable in any culture and that as
  such, those outside the culture have a right (in
  addition to those within the culture), to
  advocate for universal normative behaviors across
  cultures.

5
The Rights-Based Framework

• Yet some human rights scholars (such as A.
  Slack), have identified two major opposing human
  rights concerns
• The right of cultural self-determination
  (cultural relativism)
• The right not to be subjected to a traditional
  practice that might be harmful (moral
  universalism).

6
Controversial topics

• Often include those involving the welfare of
  children or other vulnerable groups such as
• Female genital circumcision
• Child labor
• Child spanking.

7
Cultural relativism and moral universalism and FGC

• FGC is one area within which the seeming impasse
  between the two perspectives have become
  particularly pronounced.
• FGM is typically performed on young girls between
  the ages of 4-12 years old.
• It is practiced in 28 countries in Africa (8 of
  which have prevalence rates of 50 of higher),
  and additional countries elsewhere (including
  Yemen, Israel, Pakistan and India).
• 90 prevalence rates among some communities in
  Egypt (UNDP study in various villages in Upper
  Egypt).

8
Female Genital Cutting or Mutilation (FGC/FGM)

• According to WHO's definition female genital
  mutilation comprises all procedures that involve
  partial or total removal of female external
  genitalia and/or injury to the female genital
  organs for cultural or any other non-therapeutic
  reasons.
• In 1991, the term Female Genital Mutilation
  (FGM) was adopted at the Inter-Africa Committee
  Regional Conference on Traditional Practices
  Affecting the Health of Women and Children, held
  in Burkina-Faso.

9
TYPES of FGC/FGM

• According to WHO, female genital cutting is
  classified into four types, as follows
• Type 1 Excision of the prepuce with or without
  excision of part or the entire clitoris.
• Type II Excision of the clitoris together with
  partial or total excision of the labia minora.
• Type III Excision of part or all of the external
  genitalia and stitching/narrowing of the vaginal
  opening (infibulation).

10
TYPES of FGC/FGM

• Type IV Unclassified type that includes the
  following practices
• Pricking, piercing or incision of the clitoris
  and/or labia.
• Stretching of the clitoris and/or labia.
• Cauterization by burning of the clitoris and
  surrounding tissues.
• Introcision.
• Scraping (angurya cuts) or cutting (gishri cuts)
  of the vagina or surrounding tissue.
• Introduction of corrosive substances or herbs
  into the vagina.
• Any other procedure that falls under the
  definition of female genital mutilation given
  above.

11
Associated Problems

• Medical complications can be severe and include
  death, often as a result of infections.
• Often limits sexual enjoyment.

12
Associated Benefits

• May make those who participate feel special, that
  they have gained entry into womanhood, create
  or enhance a sense of belonging.
• Often improves marriage prospects.

13
Feedback from those who have undergone the
procedure

• Several studies with women who have been
  circumcised indicate that the vast majority of
  those who have undergone the procedure are
  pleased that they were circumcised and plan to do
  the same for their daughters.
• Other research indicates that those who do not
  undergo the procedure may be socially ostracized
  in some cultures and considered unmarriageable.

14
Group exercise

• Consider both perspectives within the framework
  of your own value system.
• How would you support a family that came to you
  requesting affordable housing, employment, and/or
  access to education, if you subsequently
  discovered that they were planning to circumcise
  their 7 year old daughter and did not see the
  impending circumcision as a concern?