In each case, parents who want these procedures for their children are doing so because of cultural norms and fear of ostracism. In the case of surgeries on intersex children, we have doctors and legislators incensed about taking away parental rights to make decisions. The point is not to defend female genital mutilation. Female genital mutilation should be opposed, especially when practiced on young children and minors. But the comparison of female genital mutilation to intersex surgeries helps to shed light on what shapes our ideas about what is barbaric and unacceptable — and how those ideas subsequently shape our laws.

Source: New York Times May 02, 2019 15:00 UTC