Gukuna imishino

Gukuna imishino is the practice of elongating the labia minora, the inner vaginal lips. It is a common practice in Rwanda, performed to increase sexual pleasure for both genders.

Beginning at puberty, Rwandan girls begin stretching their labia minora using plant extracts with anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. The goal is to achieve a labia length of about 2 inches.

Controversy

The World Health Organization classifies Gukuna imishino as a form of genital mutiliation and human rights violation. However, some believe that it is a cultural pratice and does not infringe on a woman's human rights. Social scientists Marian Koster and Lisa Price of Wageningen University conducted interviews with women who had undergone the practice, and speculated that Gukuna imishino does increase sexual pleasure for both sexes. They write, “Since the labia minora swell during sexual excitement, there is a larger surface area for penile friction during coitus." They go on to say that " [they] believe that there are cultural practices that are not harmful to women’s integrity and rights,” [cite web | url = http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all?content=10.1080/13691050701775076 | title = Rwandan female genital modification: Elongation of the Labia minora and the use of local botanical species ]

References

See Also

* Female genital cutting
* Genital modification and mutilation