Sexualised Violence

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Female Genital mutilation (FGM) or cutting as a procedure that is meant to ‘intentionally’ alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non ’medical reasons’. The most common term is clitorectomy, the partial or total removal of the clitoris and/or prepuce. The amount of tissue taken depends on the community. It is widely known to be used in some cultures/communities in various African and middle eastern countries. It is often carried out in unhygienic conditions without any pain relief. Women who have suffered through this process have reported severe problems including, bleeding, fear of intimacy, genital sores and chronic pain. Some groups claim the procedure maintains ‘modesty’ and prevents premarital sex. They preserve the rite/act to “prepare young women for the responsibilities of adulthood and marriage” (Greenberg, 2018, 194) To ensure the female to ready to be a wife/mother and to remove any ‘masculine’ body parts. Although the United Nations has labelled this act as a human rights violation against women/girls' rights and many counties have condemned it such as, Egypt and Ghana. Many communities continue the practice as they see it as an important part of maturation, pride, and cleanliness in their culture. It is an extreme example of oppression against women.  

Over 230 million girls and women today have experienced female genital mutilation (FGM) across 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia where the practice occurs. FGM is typically performed on girls between infancy and 15 years old.

Religion enacts violence both symbolically and physically, with ritual playing a key role in this process. Symbolic acts often pave the way for actual violence by stirring emotions, shaping perceptions, and preparing individuals for conflict. Through rituals that demonize opponents, the enemy is portrayed as dangerously evil, not just to be resisted but to be fully removed or destroyed. An example of a ritual is ‘scarification’ and is often found in Africa. In Papa New Guinea boys of the Kaningara are initiated into a painful ritual at the age of 18-19 to become men. It is an ancient ritual that is based off a legend. A villager called Marsivo gained the power of a crocodile's spirit by scaring his skin with its scales. The skin cutting ritual marks the skin for life with hundreds of tiny cuts. They are seen as bites from the crocodile spirit. The young boys are excluded from family for 6 months before the ritual and mud is smeared on their face to symbolise a state of limbo. 

Flagellation is a religious practice involving whipping, used for discipline, devotion, purification, or driving out evil. Across ancient and tribal cultures, it appeared in initiation, fertility, and purification rites, sometimes including self-inflicted pain. Ritual beatings were also common, from Native American ceremonies to Spartan and Roman traditions, where whips made of leather, oxtail, or leaded strips were used.

A martyr is someone who willingly chooses to face death rather than renounce their faith through words or actions. Most major religions honor this kind of sacrifice with formal recognition. More broadly, the term can also describe a person who gives up their life or something deeply valuable in support of a cause or principle. it is seen across many religions for example, Islam, Christinianity, Judaism and Buddhism. 

In Christianity, early Christian martyrs included St. Stephen, St. James, and key apostles like Peter and Paul, who were executed in Rome. Writers like Clement of Rome called them “God’s athletes,” and Ignatius of Antioch saw martyrdom as a path to union with God. While martyrdoms were relatively rare in the first two centuries, they were deeply honored by Christians. Roman authorities, however, were conflicted, sometimes viewing Christian defiance as mere stubbornness. Christians were often given the chance to prove loyalty to Rome by offering sacrifices to the Roman gods. Their refusal typically led to execution.