Double standards: principled or arbitrary?

Many contemporary moral theorists concern themselves with the question of whether a universal model of ethical reasoning exists. In more political fields that question is of interest as well. Theoretical frameworks are challenged by the practical problems coming from the field of bioethics. Responses tend to fall into the categories of universalist and relativists. An example of a question to be considered is that of female genital mutilation, which is viewed differently from a legal standpoint in different countries and cultures.