Final answer:
FGM/C is a harmful cultural practice that conflicts with universal human rights, which denounce it as a form of gender-based violence. Cultural relativism emphasises understanding practices within their own cultural contexts, but universal human rights advocates argue for fundamental protections across cultures.
Step-by-step explanation:
FGM/C or Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting is a cultural practice involving the partial or total removal of the female genitalia for non-medical reasons. It is considered a violation of universal human rights as it infringes on the well-being and bodily integrity of women and girls. The World Health Organization and the United Nations condemn FGM/C as a form of gender-based violence and discrimination. On the other hand, cultural relativism contends that one should understand and judge a cultural practice based on the context and values of that culture.
Anthropologist Bettina Shell-Duncan adopted a relativist perspective to understand the deeper significance of FGM/C within communities that practice it, finding that it is intertwined with concepts of purity, maturity, and social inclusion. This practice is deeply embedded in the social fabric, with societal pressures and traditions influencing the decision to continue it. Martha Nussbaum, however, argues for a universal account of justice, suggesting that certain human rights, like those violated by FGM/C, should be upheld across cultures.
Efforts to address FGM/C have included educating parents and communities on the adverse health effects, promoting legal regulations against it, and encouraging shifts in social norms. However, effective measures must consider and engage with the local cultural context, involving community leaders and members in the discussion to foster sustainable change.