Related Experiment Videos
Ritual female genital surgery among Bedouin in Israel
A Asali1, N Khamaysi, Y Aburabia
1Kupat Holim Clinic, Rahat, Israel.
Archives of Sexual Behavior
|October 1, 1995
Summary
Female genital operations are practiced by Bedouin tribes in Israel. Examinations suggest a shift from mutilation to a non-mutilative ritual incision, indicating an evolution in the practice.
Area of Science:
- Medical Anthropology
- Gynecology
- Sociology
Background:
- Female genital operations (FGO) are prevalent globally, with diverse practices ranging from clitoridectomy to labial removal.
- The practice is considered normative within several Bedouin tribes in southern Israel.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the nature and extent of female genital operations among Bedouin women in southern Israel.
- To explore whether the practice among this population represents a modified, less harmful form of ritual incision.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative interviews with 21 Bedouin women regarding their experiences with FGO.
- Clinical gynecological examinations of 37 young women from the studied Bedouin tribes.
Main Results:
- Interviews confirmed FGO as a normative practice within the studied Bedouin tribes.
- Physical examinations revealed only minor scarring on the labia in all examined women, with no evidence of severe mutilation.
Conclusions:
- The Bedouin community in southern Israel may exemplify an evolutionary pathway for female circumcision.
- The findings suggest a transition towards a non-mutilative ritual incision, a significant modification of traditional FGO practices.