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被禁止的性行为与性暴力
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性暴力:
性器官毁损:
起源
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古埃及的包皮环切
(绘画，公元前3000年)
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Male circumcision
in ancient Egypt
(Painting, 3rd
millennium BC)
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性器官毁损似乎于公元前3000年起源于埃及。无论如何，我们知道古希伯莱人从埃及人那里养成了包皮环切的习惯，并且在他们出埃及之后，使这种习惯成了其民族的标志。但是，一些研究者并不认同特定地区的起源说，而相信这种习俗在许多不同地区各自独立兴起说。因而，包皮环切的起源的含义及其目的至今仍是一个未解之谜。它也许早就是一种宗教祭祀活动，或男子汉的一种测试，即测试男子忍受疼痛能力的一种考验，或者它也许早就是设计用作对女孩初潮或第一次破膜的模仿。
至于女性性器官毁损，其起源的细节甚至更为含混。不过，有证据显示它于公元前1000年在埃及统治阶级的妇女中施行。这种手术可能被视为提高她们魔力的途径之一，最终这种习俗在这个地区被其他人群所采纳，并且随着阿拉伯人征服北非，扩展到了世界其它地区。在近代，非洲移民就已经把这种习俗带到了美国和欧洲，在那里，他们要求医生实施这种手术，因而让那里的医生处于两难境地：医学道德规范不允许他们实施这样手术，但是，如果他们拒绝实施，这种毁损手术将仍由一些外行实施。出于这种目的的需要，那些父母甚至可能会把他们的幼女送到祖籍国家去“度假”。
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Prohibited Sexual Behavior and Sexual Violence |
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Sexual Violence: Mutilation of Female Sex Organs: Origin
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It seems that the mutilation of sex organs originated in Egypt in the third
millennium BC. In any case, we know that the ancient Hebrews adopted the practice of male circumcision from the Egyptians and, after their exodus from Egypt, made it a special mark of their tribe. However, some researchers do not believe in a particular place of origin, but think that the custom arose independently in many different regions. Thus,
the original meaning and purpose of male circumcision remain unknown. It may have been a religious sacrifice, or a test of virility, i.e. the ability to endure pain, or it may have been designed as a male parallel to a girl’s first menstruation or to the breaking of her hymen.
As for the mutilation of female sex organs, the details of its origin are even less clear. However, there is evidence that it was practiced on women of the Egyptian ruling class in the first
millennium BC. The operation may have been seen as a way of enhancing their magic powers. In any case, eventually the custom was adopted by other peoples in the region, and with the Arab conquest of Northern Africa it spread to other parts of the world. In recent times, African immigrants have brought it with them to the US and Europe where they ask doctors to perform the operation, thus presenting them with a dilemma: Their medical ethics do not allow them to proceed, but if they refuse, the mutilation will nevertheless be performed by some layperson. For this purpose, the parents may even send their little daughter on a “vacation” in their country of origin. |
