The obscene suggestion of cutting off a man's penis is equivalent to some modification to the clitoris, leaving the entire vagina intact,simply illustrates my point. Genital mutilation is wrong, regardless of gender.
"AIDS..."
Ok this is a rubbish argument (amongst a few). I'm only bothered to respond to one though.
1 Those studies are conducted in Africa. Africans do not practice safe sex because religious groups and agencies have taught africans for decades that contraception (safe sex) is wrong/bad/immoral. This includes Pope JPII. This is why AIDS is prevalent. Lack of education. MGM isn't a shield against AIDS.
2 People in western countries use contraception, because they are educated responsibly and not deceived by religious groups.
3 There are contradicting studies and the differences are marginal anyway.

Nothing obscene at all, Steel.
Had you comprehended what you had read then you wouldn't say that, and to clarify the point I referred to gross mutilation. If the words Labia Majora and Labia Minora (to use the more precise Latin plural forms) are beyond your understanding, then I will translate and elucidate, using the help of The Concise Collins Dictionary.

'Labium (n) pl. Labia: any one of the four lip-shaped folds of the female vulva, comprising an outer pair (labia majora) and an inner pair (labia minora).'

I think that it is most important to any discussion to understand just what is being discussed and if one has to be graphic then so be it.
To equate FGM in anyway to male circumcision is to trivialize both the seriousness of this barbaric practice and the debate.

Most cases of FGM have nothing to do with the labia and only deal with the clitoris. It's a common ploy to select the most extreme cases (in third world countries) and present them as a mainstream practice in other countries.
"To equate FGM in anyway to male circumcision is to trivialize both the seriousness of this barbaric practice and the debate."
No it doesn't. To trivialise (and ignore) MGM is sexist, and diminishes the credibility of people who focus only on FGM. It's like saying some types of slavery are ok and others are unnacceptable.

The following is from the New Scientist. Enjoy:
"Female circumcision does not reduce sexual activity
* 12:30 24 September 2002
* Emma Young
Circumcised women experience sexual arousal and orgasm as frequently as uncircumcised women, according to a study in Nigeria.......... in some regions, it is the women themselves who must be persuaded the practice is undesirable, say local health workers."
Note this is where the most extreme form of FGM exists. ^_^

From WHO.

'Female genital mutilation (FGM), often referred to as 'female circumcision', comprises all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs whether for cultural, religious or other non-therapeutic reasons. There are different types of female genital mutilation known to be practised today. They include:

Type I - excision of the prepuce, with or without excision of part or all of the clitoris;
Type II - excision of the clitoris with partial or total excision of the labia minora;
Type III - excision of part or all of the external genitalia and stitching/narrowing of the vaginal opening (infibulation);
Type IV - pricking, piercing or incising of the clitoris and/or labia; stretching of the clitoris and/or labia; cauterization by burning of the clitoris and surrounding tissue;
scraping of tissue surrounding the vaginal orifice (angurya cuts) or cutting of the vagina (gishiri cuts);
introduction of corrosive substances or herbs into the vagina to cause bleeding or for the purpose of tightening or narrowing it; and any other procedure that falls under the definition given above.
The most common type of female genital mutilation is excision of the clitoris and the labia minora, accounting for up to 80% of all cases; the most extreme form is infibulation, which constitutes about 15% of all procedures'

OK,Steel? Just a wee nick? Cutting out the Labia Minora (80%) means that the seal to stop air being pumped in is gone.

Now that we have firmly established what is involved, could we get back to the question at debate?

"Most cases of FGM have nothing to do with the labia and only deal with the clitoris."

Gee! Just a clitoris huh? That is reassuring. Perhaps I have overreacted by being horrified by FGM and thinking it was incomparable with circumcision. *sarcastic tone of typing*

Do you realize that the clitoris is in some respects analogous to a penis not a foreskin? Do you realize that what you see is the tip of the iceberg and in FGM they cut out the whole thing?

Why are you citing studies on the benefits of FGM? You don't actually support FGM and deliberately want to derail the discussion by references to circumcision do you?

I am sure the law would have something to say if we began cutting off the head of males penis. Circumcision only removes the foreskin not the head of the penis. Perhaps cultures who practise FGM should have, under their law, males undergo the equivalent - then it would soon stop.