ADUN SPEAKS | "It must be carried out, because that’s the only way we can maintain the purity of girls and make sure they do not go out of control”.

The above is one of the most common reasons often used to justify the gross act of unsanctioned modification done to our bodies.

Trying to understand why certain inhumane practices are still being carried out in this day and age, is not an easy task. The past few weeks have been peppered with news headlines that show just how patriarchal our society truly is. Topics ranging from child marriage, sexual harassment to marital rape and now, the validity of female genital mutilation have driven yet another wedge that pries us apart - either you strongly agree or strongly disagree with very little room for the middle ground.

Digesting how society can be inconsiderate over the wellbeing and safety of our young girls is exactly what most of us have been doing while trying our very best to remain calm and rational.

Unfortunately for us, female genital mutilation has become a rather common practice in roughly 30 countries (perhaps even more) and it is estimated that more than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone some form of female genital mutilation. In addition to that, it is also estimated that over 3 million girls are currently at risk of undergoing some form of female genital mutilation every year. These numbers are high and extremely worrying.

Some have argued whether this practice is a religious necessity or is solely a cultural practice but wherever the discourse takes, it leads to one key objective: to control our sexuality by sniping or removing completely the most sensitive part of our anatomy - the clitoris.

This practice which is also sometimes referred to as circumcision has absolutely no health benefits. Girls are conditioned to be obedient and submissive through barbaric genital mutilation. Such cultural practices spread the idea that purity can only be upheld when women are stripped of any form of expression because sexuality is often regarded as a taboo. Cutting us up is, in fact, a form of oppression imposed upon us by patriarchal beliefs.

Distorted cultural views on our bodies and the obsession some have over our sexuality come from a dark place that is neither healthy nor inclusive. Some believe that these are methods that can reduce a girl’s sex drive, therefore prevent certain social ills that can tarnish a family’s good name or bring shame to a nation.

Such practices are rooted in patriarchal tribalism where most of these male-centric communities reduce our roles within the periscope of reproduction and servitude: a woman simply exists for reproductive purposes or to service the needs of her husband.

While international treaties exist to remind everyone that female genital mutilation is a violation of human rights (especially women and girls), laws are simply not enough to curb the widespread of this practice. There needs to be a paradigm shift of social norms and a change of mindset.

Our society must understand that this practice is dangerous and downright unjust. Perhaps, this is now the best time to initiate much-needed discourse - we need to talk about this and we need to make sure critics understand that brutalising girls in such a manner cannot be allowed to continue. Ending female genital mutilation is about upholding social justice and human dignity but more so, it sends the clear message that we are serious about safeguarding the wellbeing of our girls.

Let the chants of “our bodies, our rights” be loud and clear - the need for autonomy and consent are demands that we cannot afford to compromise at any cost.

SYERLEENA ABDUL RASHID is the assemblyperson for Seri Delima, director for Penang Women's Development Corporation, and the chairperson for the Gender Inclusiveness Advisory Committee.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.