ABSTRACT
In many parts of the world female genital cutting, child marriages, and denying girls the same opportunities for schooling that boys receive are regarded as violations of the law. This chapter begins by defining some terms and clarifying the problem, since "female circumcision" and "relativism" have many different meanings. Female genital cutting or circumcision is commonly classified into three types. Type 1 circumcision is the removal of the clitoral hood or prepuce. Type 2, or intermediary circumcision, is the removal of the entire clitoris and most or all of the labia minora. Type 3, or pharaonic circumcision, is the removal of the clitoris, labia minora, and parts of the labia majora. The chapter considers the evidence and argues that it does not support the plausibility of conventionalist ethical relativism or a justification for tolerance of female genital circumcision or infibulation.
