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.

scholarly journals It’s a Woman’s Thing: Gender Roles Sustaining the Practice of Female Genital Mutilation Among the Kassena-Nankana of Northern Ghana

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
PATRICIA AKWEONGO ◽  
Elizabeth F. Jackson ◽  
Shirley Afua 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 BackgroundThe practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) 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. MethodsThis paper presents findings from a qualitative study of the FGM beliefs and opinions of men and women in Kassena-Nankana District of northern Ghana. Data are analyzed from twenty-two focus group panels of young women, young men, reproductive age women, and male social leaders. ResultsThe social systemic influences on FGM decision-making are complex. Men represent exogenous sources of social influence on FGM decisions through their gender roles in the patriarchal system. As such, their FGM decision influence is more prominent for uncircumcised brides at the time of marriage than for FGM decisions concerning unmarried adolescents. Women in extended family compounds are relatively prominent as immediate sources of influence on FGM 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 than women. ConclusionFindings attest to the need for social research on ways to involve men in the promotion of FGM 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 practices.

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

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
PATRICIA AKWEONGO ◽  
Elizabeth F. Jackson ◽  
Shirley Afua 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 The practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) 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. MethodsThis paper presents findings from a qualitative study of the FGM beliefs and opinions of men and women in Kassena-Nankana District of northern Ghana. Data are analyzed from twenty-two focus group panels of young women, young men, reproductive age women, and male social leaders. ResultsThe social systemic influences on FGM decision-making are complex. Men represent exogenous sources of social influence on FGM decisions through their gender roles in the patriarchal system. As such, their FGM decision influence is more prominent for uncircumcised brides at the time of marriage than for FGM decisions concerning unmarried adolescents. Women in extended family compounds are relatively prominent as immediate sources of influence on FGM 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 than women. ConclusionFindings attest to the need for social research on ways to involve men in the promotion of FGM 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 practices.

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.

Predictors of Female Genital Mutilation or Cutting Among Daughters of Women in Guinea, West Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-13
Author(s):  
Bright Opoku Ahinkorah ◽  
Edward Kwabena Ameyaw ◽  
Abdul-Aziz Seidu ◽  
Sanni Yaya
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Wealth Index ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
Creative Commons ◽  
Credible Intervals ◽  
Female Genital

Background and Objective: In some African countries like Guinea, female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) has been considered as an essential social norm in ensuring girls’ and women’s virginity by reducing their sexual desires. This study aimed at examining the factors associated with FGM/C among daughters of women aged 15-49 in Guinea. Methods: Using the 2018 Guinea Demographic and Health Survey, we analyzed data on 10,721 women of reproductive age (15-49 years) who had at least one daughter. A two-level multi-level logistic regression analysis was fitted and the random and fixed effects together with their corresponding 95% credible intervals (95% CrIs) were presented. Results: Women of all age categories had higher odds of having circumcised daughters with the substantially highest odds among those aged 35-39 (aOR=26.10, CrI=11.22-53.94) compared to those aged 15-19. “FGM/C was higher among daughters of circumcised mothers (aOR=5.50, CrI=3.11-9.72), compared to those who were not circumcise. Compared to Muslims, women who were either animists or had no religion were more likely to circumcise their daughters (aOR=2.13, CrI=1.12-4.05). Conversely, women with secondary/higher education, whose partners had secondary/higher education, Christians, women of richest wealth index and those who lived in the Faranah and N’zerekore regions were less likely to circumcise their daughters. Conclusion and Implications for Translation: The current study revealed that individual and contextual factors are associated with FGM/C among daughters of women aged 15-49 in Guinea. The findings imply that eliminating FGM/C in Guinea requires multifaceted interventions such as advocacy and educational strategies like focus group discussions, peer teaching, mentor-mentee programs in regions noted with the FGM/C practice. This will help achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 5.3 which focuses on eliminating all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation by 2030.   Copyright © 2021 Ahinkorah. et al. Published by Global Health and Education Projects, Inc. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0.

scholarly journals Sexual Function in Women With and Without Female Genital Mutilation in Reproductive Age in South of Iran

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahshid Bokaie ◽  
Samaneh Hatefi ◽  
Shahnaz Mojahed ◽  
Nasibeh Roozbeh
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Function ◽  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
P Value ◽  
Women Of Reproductive Age ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Female Genital

Abstract Objectives: Female genital mutilation (FGM) is an important public health issue, especially in developing countries and it is still done in some parts of Iran. This study aimed to investigate the effect of FGM on the sexual function of women of reproductive age in Hormozgan province/IRAN.Study design: This study is a descriptive-analytical case-control study that was conducted in 2020 on 209 married women of reproductive age (15-49) in rural areas of Minab and Sirik counties in Hormozgan province/IRAN. Main outcome measures: The reliable and valid questionnaire FSFI for assessing female sexual function in the two groups was used after to obtain informed and voluntary consent from all participants and data with SPSS v: 16 software and with using descriptive/ Analytical statistics tests with a significant level of 0.05 were examined. Results: There is a significant difference between mutilated and non-mutilated women in the total score of sexual function(22.18±3.23 versus 23.41±2.52 respectively, p=0.023) and the domains of lubrication(3.04±0.62 versus 3.3±0.53 respectively, P=0.000), orgasm(3.81±0.63 versus 4.08±0.47 respectively, P=0.003), and sexual satisfaction(5.09±0.1 versus 5.37±0.87 respectively, P=0.017) But in the domains of desire, arousal, and pain in the two groups was no significant difference(P-value>0.05). Conclusion: FGM maybe leads to sexual dysfunction. Although most women were reluctant to perform mutilation on their daughters, more educational Actions are suggested to educate women about the impact of female mutilation on their sexual function. Counseling programs are also recommended to improve the sexual function of mutilated women.

scholarly journals Persistent female genital mutilation despite its illegality: Narratives from women and men in northern Ghana

PLoS ONE ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. e0214923 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn Sakeah ◽  
Cornelius Debpuur ◽  
Raymond Akawire Aborigo ◽  
Abraham Rexford Oduro ◽  
James Kotuah Sakeah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Northern Ghana ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
Female Genital

scholarly journals Prevalence and associated factors of Female Genital Mutilation among reproductive age women’s of Wolayita Zone, Southern Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
pp. 091-098
Author(s):  
Anjulo Bargude Balta ◽  
Lambebo Amanuel Fanta
Keyword(s):  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Community Intervention ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Multivariate Logistic Regression Model ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
Female Genital

Background: Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is estimated to have been practiced on at least 200 million girls and women in 30 countries around the world. Clitoridoctomy is the most common type of FGM in Ethiopia. Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the magnitude of Female Genital Mutilation and associated factors among women’s of Wolayita zone. Methods: A community-based quantitative cross-sectional study was used. Face-to-face interviews with prepared questionnaires were used to collect data. SPSS version 20 software was used to analyze the data. The prevalence of FGM was determined using descriptive statistics. The researchers utilized a bivariate and multivariate logistic regression model to find independent determinants of FGM. Result: 296 women were undergone FGM out of a total of 333, indicating that FGM is prevalent in the research area (88.9%). Age (AOR-1.86, 95% CI: 0.42-0.98) and support to reduce sexual due to hyperactivity (AOR: 14.595, 95% CI: 3.391-6.807) were all independently linked to FGM. Conclusion: An integrated effort administrative and surrounding community intervention to be initiated to alleviate FGM practices through empowering women, discouraging risky factors like traditions; and sensitizing parents, community members and the public focusing on the rejecting of FGM.

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.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document