Traditional initiation is a rite of passage into manhood for young males that is practiced by various ethnic groups in Africa, including parts of South Africa. Among them are the Xhosa, Ndebele, Sotho and Venda communities.
One could argue that alfeeling that ear mutilations is ok is a cultural thing. Many very young children have their ears pieced, and probably more than half of girls get their ears pierced before they are at the age of consent.
Personally I don’t agree with very young children having their ears pierced, nor do I necessarily agree they need to reach the full age of consent to do so. Definitely it should be done at the child’s request and not the parent’s desire, after careful consideration and not on a whim.
There’s also a world of difference between a small hole that will usually close over if left unused and irreversibly cutting a chunk of a child’s genitals off, while these two things both raise questions of informed consent they should not be seen as equivalent.
One could argue that alfeeling that ear mutilations is ok is a cultural thing. Many very young children have their ears pieced, and probably more than half of girls get their ears pierced before they are at the age of consent.
Personally I don’t agree with very young children having their ears pierced, nor do I necessarily agree they need to reach the full age of consent to do so. Definitely it should be done at the child’s request and not the parent’s desire, after careful consideration and not on a whim.
There’s also a world of difference between a small hole that will usually close over if left unused and irreversibly cutting a chunk of a child’s genitals off, while these two things both raise questions of informed consent they should not be seen as equivalent.