Female genital mutilation (FGM) involves the partial or total removal of the external genitalia, and partial stitching closed of the opening. Usually carried out by traditional practitioners without anaesthetic in unhygienic conditions, the pain in this most-sensitive part of the body is almost unimaginable.
About 3m women still suffer this horrific trauma in Africa every year, and there may be as many as 20,000 girls under 15 at risk in the UK, with more in other European countries. There are estimated to be 140m women who have endured this ritual. Many girls die from the procedure, and complications can leave the girl crippled. Childbirth is made difficult, thus traumatising the infant as well as the mother.
Most common in Africa, FGM is regarded as part of many traditional cultures. Despite being illegal in most countries, women continue to inflict it on their daughters because they will be marginalised if they do not. Further, as ‘uncut’ women their daughters would be unable to marry, and treated as unclean - unable even to cook, or pass a drink of water to someone.
But there are deeper historical reasons for the custom based in male domination. In many cultures, women’s sexuality is regarded as dangerous, as reflected in arranged marriages before puberty, isolation of women from men other than the husband, and wearing of the burka. FGM ensures that the girl will be a virgin at marriage, and reduces the risk of adultery by removing any possibility of sexual pleasure. It is thus used by men to create societies in which women are inferior, and objects that they own.
Village women have commonly ignored efforts by outside NGOs, often from overseas, to persuade them to give up the practice. They think: “Why should we stop? It’s our culture. Who are you to pressure us?” Now, since 2008, a new approach has been adopted in the 12 worst-affected countries. African women are talking to African communities in the local context, opening non-judgmental dialogues through repeated visits. This work is being supported by cultural ambassadors touring the villages. One such is Sister Fa, a hip-hop star from Senegal who is on a tour called “Education against Mutilation”. She believes music is the way to reach people in Africa, particularly the young. She was cut herself, and her home town has now stopped the practice.
Since the project started, 6,000 villages in 6 countries have abandoned FGM, and more do so all the time. Overall, the gains look small so far, but the movement is growing. In Ethiopia, the prevalence has fallen from 80% to 74%; in Kenya from 32% to 27%; and in Egypt from 97% to 91%. The project aims to wipe out the practice within a generation.
Mary R Mugyeni and Safina Kwekwe Tsungu - female African parliamentarians - have called for a similar approach that is community-based, working with civil society, traditional chiefs and religious leaders, youth movements, health personnel, teachers and local government.
A key to success is persuading men that it is ok to marry an uncut girl. As the coordinator of the UN Project noted, “Believe me, the female genital mutilation would stop tomorrow if the men wanted it to.” Another key is to remove religious endorsement. In Mauritania, for example, a fatwa pronounced in January 2010 and signed by 34 Islamic scholars called for FGM to be banned and asserted that it is by no means a religious requirement.
For the first time, there seems to be a realistic hope that this barbaric practice may be on its way out.
For more information see:
Our book Hope for Humanity, p234-8.
McVeigh, T. Africa shows signs of winning war against female genital mutilation The Observer newspaper, 6 February 2011
Blog by Mary R Mugyeni and Safina Kwekwe Tsungu We need a more robust effort to eradicate female genital mutilation posted 5 November 2010.
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