6 Major Myths about Female Genital Mutilation (FGM):
1. Female "circumcision" is equivalent to male circumcision.
Fact: In order for male circumcision to be equivalent to even the "mildest" form of female genital cutting, the entire head of the penis would have to be removed, not just the foreskin.

2. FGM is performed to guard virginity.
Fact: Although this is often an effect of FGM, there are a plethora of reasons for performing FGM, including making a girl marriageable and preventing the clitoris from growing long enough to drag the ground.

3. FGM is required by Islam.
Fact: It is not required by any of the sacred Islamic texts.

4. FGM does not occur in the United States or Europe. It is an African "problem."
Fact: Due largely to immigration, FCG is practiced on hundreds of girls in the United States each year. Estimates in Europe are comparable.

5. FGM is an ancient custom in the cultures in which it is practiced.
Fact: Though FGM has occurred in some cultures/regions for many generations, it is a relatively new tradition in others.

6. FGM is not that harmful.
Fact: Thousands of women die each year shortly after undergoing FGM. Those who survive the procedure have complications ranging from difficulty urinating or passing menses to the inability to be penetrated to insuperably complicated births. The often communal nature of FGM also makes AIDS a threat.