Published in:
01-12-2020 | Labioplasty | Sociocultural Issues and Epidemiology (J Abdulcadir & D Bader, Section Editors)
Different Cultures but Similar Requests: Adolescents’ Demands for Non-therapeutic Genital Modifications
Published in: Current Sexual Health Reports | Issue 4/2020
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Purpose of Review
It is supposed that adolescent’s needs might be different in different cultures. However, adolescents often want some same things such as being like their peers, being accepted in a group, and corresponding to norms and ideals of beauty accepted in their community.
Recent Findings
This paper talks about three young girls coming from different parts of the world, with different cultures and believes, each of them asking for a modification of her genitalia because their shape does not correspond to an ideal requested in the culture of belonging and desire to be like other girls of their same group. Sara from Italy, supported by her mother, wants a labiaplasty. Asha from Somalia believes she must have a modification of her genitalia; she does not want to be infibulated like previous generations and asks for a ritual pricking. Jeannette from Rwanda asks for the reduction of her labia minora, made hypertrophic by the traditional practice of elongation.
Summary
This case study encourages analyzing medical, legal, ethics, and sociocultural issues in three situations involving adolescent girls from different cultures requesting the alteration of their genitalia for non-medical reasons.