Richard Shweder

regards reactions to female genital mutilation as one of the key tests of whether or not people openly accept differences between cultures. "The mutual 'yuck' response...is particularly intense," he says. Not only do western feminists regard female circumcision with horror (in some countries, it is even grounds for claiming asylum); women in countries where the practice is prevalent, such as Mali and Somalia, are repulsed by the idea of unmodified genitals.

Good point. Maybe the men like it, but the women insist on doing it. This reminds me of footbinding, breast implants, leg shaving, and a host of other customs.