Hear, Hear, Euryleia! I couldn't agree more. Female circumcision is a primitive tradition and has no value other than to prove a girl's virginity (I stand to be corrected if I'm wrong). I like the comparison with castration, and I'll accept it as accurate.

I wonder if there is a female equivalent to male circumcision.

Nevertheless, no circumcision (male or female) is performed to make the subject prettier, like ear-piercing is. Sometimes it's done for health reasons. Sometimes for relegious reasons. Sometimes because of "binding" custom, but never as decoration.

In my opinion, body decoration must be restricted to people who are capable of wanting it, appreciating it, and able to make informed choices about it.