The Female Genital Mutilation Act of 1996
Though the legislation was introduced to Congress in 1993, it was not until 1996 when the Female Genital Mutilation Act was passed through Congress. Introduced by Patricia Schroeder (pictured) and Barbara-Rose Collins to the House of Representatives, the legislation calls to prohibit the act of female genital cutting on any female under the age of eighteen with the consequences of a fine or five years in prison [12]. The only exceptions to the act is if gential cutting is required for the health of an individual or an individual who requires the medical procedure after labour- all of which must be performed by a registered medical professional [13]. Ultimately, The Female Genital Mutilation Act makes the practice of female genital cutting illegal in the United States in 1996.
In Schroeder's introduction of the legislation into Congress she states: "I hope we can move to do everything we can in the world leadership community to put this awful barbaric practice to an end that kills so many young women every year needlessly" [14]. Her use of "we" as being the U.S Congress, Schroeder argues that the U.S needs to protect non-White women from female genital cutting. Schroeder's introduction of the legislation fails to incorporate the strong voices of non-White women and instead victimizes the survival stories of women who fled the practice. The legislation calls on white people to be leaders in the fight against female genital cutting instead of the women who have experienced it. Again, the voices of non-White women are silenced in the legal battle to end female genital cutting.