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From: edhall@randvax.UUCP (Ed Hall)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: Clitor(id)ectomy
Message-ID: <2348@randvax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 19-Mar-85 13:10:06 EST
Article-I.D.: randvax.2348
Posted: Tue Mar 19 13:10:06 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 24-Mar-85 04:48:12 EST
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Organization: Rand Corp., Santa Monica
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> I'm not an expert on the forms of clitoridectomy practiced, but I'm sure that
> if the operation involved only removing the clitoral hood, it would increase
> sexual pleasure in exactly the same manner as circumcision is supposed to.
> In fact the operations would be analogous as the clitoris is thought (by
> Shere Hite among others) to be the homologue in women of the male penis.

Time for an anatomy lesson...

If I remember my Master's & Johnson, the clitoral hood is essential for
proper clitoral stimulation from intercourse.  Perhaps removing it would
increase stimulation for other forms of sexual contact--maybe excessively
so.  There are as many nerve endings in the tip of the clitoris as in the
entire head of the penis.  Many women find direct clitoral stimulation
painful.

(As an aside on the clitoris being a penis homologue--it is a big mistake
to think of the clitoris as a ``baby penis''.  Aside from having a higher
density of nerve receptors in its tip, the clitoris' root has as large and
as rich a blood supply as the penis--there is nothing ``undeveloped''
about it.  But they are definitely homologues, and embryologically
derive from the same structure.)

Yes, ``female circumcision'' can consist of removing part or all of the
clitoral hood, as well as being a euphemism for clitoridectomy.  I'll
leave it to someone more knowledgable to describe its history--it was
actually practiced in this country at one time.
> 
> Radical removal of the clitoris would certainly reduce pleasure as our culture
> defines it, but IF the so-called G-spot exists it would be possible that
> some cultures would place more emphasis on it than on the clitoris. (No
> flames on G-spot, I know Shere Hite's opinions on that one too.)

I suspect that either sex is able to find alternative pathways for sexual
stimulation--personally, I think this is a good idea even for people
who haven't been mutilated.  But from all I've read, clitoridectomy would
do the same thing to sexual pleasure as lopping off the end of the penis.
> 
>                                        --Jamie.

		-Ed Hall
		decvax!randvax!edhall