scholarly journals Women’s Survival in Ghana: What Has Law Got to Do With It?

SAGE Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 215824402094147
Author(s):  
Christine Dowuona-Hammond ◽  
Raymond A. Atuguba ◽  
Francis Xavier Dery Tuokuu
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Female Empowerment ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
The World ◽  
Mere Existence ◽  
Women In Decision Making ◽  
Female Genital

In the 21st century, women around the world continue to face societal, economic, and sexual adversities, even as the “#MeToo” and “Time’s Up” movements appear to have excited a new tone toward the fight for gender equality and female empowerment. In this context, and in the broader context of liberating women from the oppressive shackles of a world that seems to punish women for their mere existence, this article tackles issues which are mainly peculiar to Ghana, and which have an impact on the equality, empowerment, and survival of women. The article discusses the laws, policies, and regulations that have been established to improve the lives of women in Ghana. It also examines the scourge of dangerous, discriminatory practices such as female genital mutilation, the banishment of suspected witches, and inhumane widowhood rites, which are detrimental to the survival of women in Ghana. The article recognizes that the lack of sustained growth in women’s progress globally, and specifically in Ghana, is due in large part to these discriminatory practices that have muted the voices and perspectives of women in decision-making. The law, therefore, is not enough. Some of the pivotal roles nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have played to empower women include campaigns to repeal legislation adversely affecting women’s inheritance and to improve the fairness of the Parliamentary process, efforts toward the elimination of trokosi, and the initiatives to protect women suspected of witchcraft from humiliation and banishment.

Female Genital Mutilation: A Dark Age’s Curse in the 21st Century

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 20
Author(s):  
Anjali Singh
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
The World ◽  
Female Genital

The article deals with the inhumane practice of female genital mutilation which is practiced in a large part of the world even today. The practice not only affects the victims physically but it also traumatizes them for life. The article seeks to determine the scale at which it is practiced in different countries. The role of United Nations and its agencies have also been discussed. The author seeks for solutions in her research and discusses the methods already being implemented to end this menace of the society.

scholarly journals Women’s empowerment and female genital mutilation intention for daughters in Sierra Leone: a multilevel analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Kwabena Ameyaw ◽  
Seun Anjorin ◽  
Bright Opoku Ahinkorah ◽  
Abdul-Aziz Seidu ◽  
Olalekan A. Uthman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Women's Empowerment ◽  
Wife Beating ◽  
Women’S Empowerment ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
Female Genital

Abstract Background Female genital mutilation is common in Sierra Leone. Evidence indicates that empowering women provides protective benefits against female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). Yet, the relationship between women’s empowerment and their intention to cut their daughters has not been explored in Sierra Leone. The aim of this study was to assess the association between women’s empowerment and their intention to have their daughters undergo FGM/C in the country. Methods Data for this study are from the 2013 Sierra Leone Demographic and Health Survey. A total of 7,706 women between the ages of 15 and 49 were included in the analysis. Analysis entailed generation of descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages), and estimation of multi-level logistic regression models to examine the association between women’s empowerment, contextual factors and their intentions to cut their daughters. Results A significantly higher proportion of women who participated in labour force reported that they intended to cut their daughters compared to those who did not (91.2%, CI = 90.4–91.9 and 86.0%, CI = 84.1–87.8, respectively). Similarly, the proportion intending to cut their daughters was significantly higher among women who accepted wife beating than among those who rejected the practice (94.9%, CI = 93.8–95.8 and 86.4% CI = 84.9–87.8, respectively). A significantly higher proportion of women with low decision-making power intended to cut their daughters compared to those with high decision-making power (91.0%, CI = 89.0–92.8 and 85.0% CI = 82.2–87.4, respectively). Results from multivariate regression analysis showed that the odds of intending to cut daughters were significantly higher among women who participated in labour force (aOR = 2.5, CI = 1.3–4.7) and those who accepted wife beating than among those who did not (aOR = 2.7, CI = 1.7–4.5). In contrast, the likelihood of intending to cut daughters was significantly lower among women with high than low knowledge (aOR = 0.4, CI = 0.3–0.7), and among those aged 45–49  than among those aged 15–19  (aOR = 0.2, CI = 0.0–0.6). Conclusion The findings underscore the need to align anti-FGM/C policies and programmes to women who have undergone FGM/C, those with low knowledge, women who support wife beating and young women. Such interventions could highlight the adverse implications of the practice by stressing the psychological, health and social implications of FGM/C on its survivors.

scholarly journals Genital Mutilation of Girls

2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 475-485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Almroth ◽  
Susan Elmusharaf
Keyword(s):  
Social Workers ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Limited Effect ◽  
Traditional Practice ◽  
Migration Patterns ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
The World ◽  
Female Genital

Female genital mutilation is a traditional practice affecting girls when their genitals are cut for social, cultural or other non-medical reasons. It is estimated that 3 million girls undergo the procedure every year, mainly in areas in Africa and Asia where it is traditionally practised, but owing to migration patterns, girls living in other parts of the world are also at risk. This article describes the practice of female genital mutilation in a changing world and outlines some aspects in relation to female genital mutilation in girls and women that health staff, teachers, social workers and others should pay attention to. Knowledge regarding complications is important for healthcare, but when complications have been used as arguments against the practice this has had limited effect. Information regarding health risks has to be integrated into culturally sensitive approaches based on human rights and improving the situation for girls and women in order to reach a point where genital mutilation of girls will be generally abandoned.

scholarly journals What Makes a Woman? Case Studies Documenting The Reasons for and Circumstances of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in Indonesia, Ethiopia and Kenya

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tasneem Kakal ◽  
Irwan Hidayana ◽  
Berhanu Abeje ◽  
Tabither Gitau ◽  
Maryse Kok ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Female Genital Cutting ◽  
Traditional Practice ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
Female Bodies ◽  
Female Genital

Abstract Background: Female genital cutting/mutilation is a harmful traditional practice that violates women’s rights and has adverse health consequences. This paper presents the reasons for and circumstances of female genital mutilation/ cutting (FGM/C) in specific settings of three countries – Indonesia, Ethiopia and Kenya.Methods: Data were collected through a household survey with young people (15-24 years) and through focus group discussions, in-depth interviews and key informant interviews with youth and community stakeholders in 2016 and 2017. Descriptive statistics and thematic content analysis were conducted.Results: The study findings confirm some of the reasons for FGM/C documented by previous studies, noting that these reasons are strongly interconnected, and gender norms are the underlying driver. In all three settings, these reasons drive the alterations of female bodies to result in a ‘cultured’ body that is acceptable to the patriarchal status quo. This results in the ‘pure body’ in Indonesia, the ‘tame’ body in Ethiopia and the ‘adult body’ in Kenya. Health workers and parents play an important role in decision-making around FGM/C in all settings. In Kenya, in particular, young women negotiate their role in decision-making around FGM/C as they are older at the time of circumcision. The study reveals how the changing legal and social contexts in each setting bring about changes in the tradition of FGM/C resulting in medicalization of FGM/C in Indonesia, a lowered age of cutting for girls in Kenya and the increasingly underground practice of FGM/C in Ethiopia.Conclusions: The three cases demonstrate the huge variation in the practice of FGM/C and the social meaning attributed to it by young women and their communities. There is a need to further explore the role of parents in decision-making. Due to the links between the different drivers of FGM/C within each context, the study concludes that context-specific strategies need to be adopted by interventions to create long-lasting change.

scholarly journals It’s a woman’s thing: gender roles sustaining the practice of female genital mutilation among the Kassena-Nankana of northern Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Akweongo ◽  
Elizabeth F. Jackson ◽  
Shirley Appiah-Yeboah ◽  
Evelyn Sakeah ◽  
James F. Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Gender Roles ◽  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Social Research ◽  
Extended Family ◽  
Peer Pressure ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Northern Ghana ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
Female Genital

Abstract Introduction The practice of female genital mutilation (FGM/C) in traditional African societies is grounded in traditions of patriarchy that subjugate women. It is widely assumed that approaches to eradicating the practice must therefore focus on women’s empowerment and changing gender roles. Methods This paper presents findings from a qualitative study of the FGM/C beliefs and opinions of men and women in Kassena-Nankana District of northern Ghana. Data are analyzed from 22 focus group panels of young women, young men, reproductive age women, and male social leaders. Results The social systemic influences on FGM/C decision-making are complex. Men represent exogenous sources of social influence on FGM/C decisions through their gender roles in the patriarchal system. As such, their FGM/C decision influence is more prominent for uncircumcised brides at the time of marriage than for FGM/C decisions concerning unmarried adolescents. Women in extended family compounds are relatively prominent as immediate sources of influence on FGM/C decision-making for both brides and adolescents. Circumcised women are the main source of social support for the practice, which they exercise through peer pressure in concert with co-wives. Junior wives entering a polygynous marriage or a large extended family are particularly vulnerable to this pressure. Men are less influential and more open to suggestions of eliminating the practice of FGM/C than women. Conclusion Findings attest to the need for social research on ways to involve men in the promotion of FGM/C abandonment, building on their apparent openness to social change. Investigation is also needed on ways to marshal women’s social networks for offsetting their extended family familial roles in sustaining FGM/C practices.

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