Female Genitalia Mutilation

Female genitalia mutilation is a necessity for women to be considered "wife" material in many African tribes and communities. There are a variety of reasons why women are expected to become circumcised before marriage, but the main reason for this practice is because it is assumed that preventing female pleasure will keep the woman from committing adultery in her marriage. The worse part about this practice is it normally occurs during childhood and can be as young as four years old (possibly younger). The procedures are often done in filthy areas, without medications, and with whatever tool is available; even fingernails have been used. I would have a very difficult time accepting the relativist's response on this issue. "There are things that just seem to be wrong; not wrong relative to a culture, but simply wrong" (Mosser, 2010) and this is definitely one of those situations. I believe the relativist might have difficulty giving a justified response to this issue due to the horrific nature of this practice. The majority of the victims are children; whom are being forced to endure excruciating pain without a choice on the matter. As difficult as it is, the relativist is expected to say that if female genitalia mutilation is wrong to one culture then is wrong for them, but it is not wrong to the culture that believe it is right. Even with this being torture and the ages of children that this is being done to relativism would say it is ok because it is accepted within the culture. Even if our views were totally against it, relativism would point out in our culture it would be ok to be against it because that is what our culture feels, but since it is accepted in this other culture relativism would then agree with their culture.