Talk of the Nation Ethical Relativism View

By April Weis

Debate over West Africa women seeking political asylum

• African women does not want to return to her home because of her culture ritual practice of female genital mutilation.

Female genital mutilation (FGM)

• Practice is extreme and objectable.

• Can you validate the practice is o.k.? Why or why not?

• What if any type of FGM is acceptable? Why or why not?

• What’s right for my culture won’t necessarily be what’s right for your culture.

Ethical relativism

• Represents the position that there are no moral absolutes, no moral right or wrong

• No moral principles are true for all people at all times and in all places.

• Our morals evolve and change with social norms over a period of time.

Opposed view

• Motivated by concerns regarding the consent.

• Cultural practice to children is harmful.• Harmful to women's health, physical and

mental.• Child and maternal mortality.• Violence against women, rights of the

child, freedom from torture and rights to health and bodily integrity.

Positive View

• Enduring tradition in many societies and cultural groups.

• Circumcision is seen as 'the machinery which liberates the female body from its masculine properties’.

• Practice holds much cultural and marital significance.

Review web site and video to help with the class with further

discussion

• http://www.viswiki.com/en/Khalid_Adem

Notes• I would also try to incorporate in the discussion, is our

culture better? Why..We have laws to protect children and others from being tortured..

• Will women flood the U.S. to be protected from their cultural practice? Probably no d/t lack of resources and education

• Bring up the issues of increase risk of HIV (very high in Africa).

• Can you really look or justify this (FGM) at it in a ethical relativism view, that there is no right or no wrong to doing this.

• February 6 is International Day Against Female Genital Mutilation

• The need for education, to have changes.