In the United States, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is illegal under federal law.But it took decades of struggle, advocacy, and survivor voices to g
In the United States, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is illegal under federal law.
But it took decades of struggle, advocacy, and survivor voices to get here.
And the fight isn’t over.
🧠 What Is FGM?
FGM refers to the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons.
It is a violation of human rights and can lead to:
Chronic pain
Infection
Infertility
PTSD
Loss of sexual function
Death
It is often performed on girls between infancy and age 15—sometimes in the U.S., and other times abroad during “vacation cutting.”
This isn’t a faraway issue.
This is happening to children in our communities.
🗓️ A Hard-Won Legal Journey
🔹 1996: First Federal Law
The Federal Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act was passed.
Made FGM on minors a federal crime.
Advocates had to push hard just to get lawmakers to acknowledge the problem existed in the U.S.
🔹 2013: “Vacation Cutting” Law
Criminalized transporting girls out of the U.S. for the purpose of FGM.
Recognized the global aspect of the violence, even when U.S. soil wasn’t the cutting ground.
🔹 2018: Setback in Court
A judge in Michigan dismissed federal charges, declaring the original 1996 law unconstitutional.
Survivors and advocates were devastated.
💬 “We told our stories. We told the truth. And they still said the law didn’t apply to us.” — Survivor
🔹 2020: The STOP FGM Act
In response to the court ruling, Congress passed a stronger law.
Increased penalties to 10 years in prison.
Reaffirmed federal power to protect children nationwide.
🏛️ But Here’s the Thing…
Not all U.S. states have specific anti-FGM laws.
As of 2024, 9 states still have no legal protections on the books.
That means girls in those states are more vulnerable.
That means Survivors may have no legal recourse.
That means we cannot be silent.
🧡 The Struggle Behind the Law
This didn’t happen overnight.
Survivors told stories they were never supposed to tell.
Advocates walked into rooms where they weren’t invited.
Doctors, teachers, and social workers asked questions and refused to look away.
Women stood up and said:
“We will not let our daughters bleed in silence.”
And still, every year, thousands of girls in the U.S. remain at risk.
✊🏾 We Fight Because They Deserve Protection
You don’t have to be from a certain country or culture to care.
You don’t have to be a Survivor to speak up.
You just have to believe that:
Children deserve bodily integrity
Culture cannot be used as a weapon
Silence has no place in the face of suffering
🛡️ What You Can Do:
Learn your state’s laws.
Visit EqualityNow.org to see where your state stands.Support Survivors.
Listen. Believe. Don’t ask them to defend their pain.Advocate for change.
If your state has no FGM law, contact lawmakers and demand protection.Educate others.
Share this post. Talk about it. Normalize not normalizing harm.
FGM is not a tradition. It is a trauma.
And we will never stop fighting until every girl in every zip code is safe.
Because at WeSurviveAbuse.com, we know:
“Children do not belong to cultures. They belong to themselves.”
