scholarly journals The Importance of Genital Mutilations to Gender Power Politics

1970 ◽  
pp. 33-43
Author(s):  
Seham Abd El-Salam
Keyword(s):  
Field Study ◽  
Rites Of Passage ◽  
Gender Issue ◽  
Power Politics ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Beliefs And Practices ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
Gender Power ◽  
Female Genital ◽  
Male Genital

Male and female genital mutilations (known as circumcision) are known in some cultures as rites of passage and purificatoin (Kennedy 1970; Toubia 1993; Turner 1985). However, I argue that they have another less declared but very significant aspect: they are functions and tools of patriarchal gender power politics. This paper deals with both types of genital mutilations, male and female, though it gives more attention to Male Genital Mutilation (MGM) because it is a muted gender issue. It is based on a study that I carried out in 1999-2000. It is a qualitative field study on the attitudes of 23 Egyptian intellectuals towards MGM*. All of the respondents are active against female genital mutilatoin (FGM) but tolerant to MGM. I interviewd them on semi-structured one-one basis. One important result of this study is that MGM as practiced in Egypt today is based on gender power politics (Abd el Salam 2000). Following is an elaboratoin on this point through interpretatoin of some observed beliefs and practices related to MGM and FGM.

TWO BILATERAL GYNANDROMORPHS IN THE CALYPTRATAE (DIPTERA): HYDROTAEA METEORICA (MUSCIDAE) AND SIPHONA HOKKAIDENSIS (TACHINIDAE)

1983 ◽  
Vol 115 (4) ◽  
pp. 379-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. O'hara
Keyword(s):  
Calliphora Vicina ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Slight Rotation ◽  
Female Genital ◽  
Male Genital

AbstractTwo bilateral gynandromorphs, specimens of Hydrotaea meteorica (Linn.) (Muscidae) and Siphona hokkaidensis Mesnil (Tachinidae), are described and illustrated. Circumversion of male genital parts is thought to have been prevented by adjacent female genital elements. Study of essentially unrotated male genital halves of these specimens suggests that asymmetry of male sternite 6 in schizophorans results from asymmetrical development (as advocated by Emmert (1972) and Griffiths (1972)) and not as a consequence of slight rotation during circumversion (as advocated by Crampton (1942) and McAlpine (1981)). From study of genital fusion of male and female sclerites across midline, it is further suggested that sternite 6 + 7 in the above species is derived primarily from sternite 6, not from sternites 6 plus 7 as described in Calliphora vicina R.D. by Emmert (1972).

scholarly journals Intraspecific evidence from guppies for correlated patterns of male and female genital trait diversification

2011 ◽  
Vol 278 (1718) ◽  
pp. 2611-2620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan P. Evans ◽  
Clelia Gasparini ◽  
Gregory I. Holwell ◽  
Indar W. Ramnarine ◽  
Trevor E. Pitcher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Poecilia Reticulata ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Copulatory Organ ◽  
Genital Morphology ◽  
Linear Measurements ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Correlated Patterns ◽  
Livebearing Fish ◽  
Female Genital ◽  
Male Genital

The role of sexual selection in fuelling genital evolution is becoming increasingly apparent from comparative studies revealing interspecific divergence in male genitalia and evolutionary associations between male and female genital traits. Despite this, we know little about intraspecific variance in male genital morphology, or how male and female reproductive traits covary among divergent populations. Here we address both topics using natural populations of the guppy, Poecilia reticulata , a livebearing fish that exhibits divergent patterns of male sexual behaviour among populations. Initially, we performed a series of mating trials on a single population to examine the relationship between the morphology of the male's copulatory organ (the gonopodium) and the success of forced matings. Using a combination of linear measurements and geometric morphometrics, we found that variation in the length and shape of the gonopodium predicted the success of forced matings in terms of the rate of genital contacts and insemination success, respectively. We then looked for geographical divergence in these traits, since the relative frequency of forced matings tends to be greater in high-predation populations. We found consistent patterns of variation in male genital size and shape in relation to the level of predation, and corresponding patterns of (co)variation in female genital morphology. Together, these data enable us to draw tentative conclusions about the underlying selective pressures causing correlated patterns of divergence in male and female genital traits, which point to a role for sexually antagonistic selection.

scholarly journals Female Genital Mutilation: A hope for its end. An Overview

2018 ◽  
pp. 35-37
Author(s):  
Maria A Grácio ◽  
António J Santos Grácio
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Health ◽  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Zero Tolerance ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
Modest Contribution ◽  
Strong Energy ◽  
Physical And Psychological Health ◽  
Female Genital

During human history we found several procedures which can be considered as strong attacks on the physical and psychological integrity of human communities. Amongst these procedures are male and female genital mutilation. We have selected for this manuscript female genital mutilation (FGM) because we have personal knowledge of this practice in Africa and as there is today a growing perception on the necessity of to stop FGM, we want to share our experience of the knowledge of FGM. Effectively, some years ago, when we were working in research projects in Angola (West Africa) we were present at ceremonies (not the act) of female genital mutilation (FGM, whose popular name in Angola is “fanado”) by invitation of the community where the FGM was carried out, and we can transmit the following : (i) the images then seen remain in our memory -men, women and the young had vestments with many colors and adornments of metal, straw etc, were singing and dancing with strong energy ; (ii) the girls were stressed and fearful, thinking of their future suffering. Then, in this context, here we have as:1) general objective: to give our modest contribution to reinforce the necessity to end with the FGM practice, in that the dignity and rights of all girls are not respected; 2) particular objectives: (i) to show the negative repercussion of the FGM on girls concerning their physical and psychological health, since we are convinced that a genuine awareness of the gravity of the problems is an essential pre-condition for the implementation of any tangible measures for its end; (ii) to transmit the actual hope for the end of this procedure, considering, principally, that on 6 February 2019, WHO joins individuals, organizations, and UN partners worldwide in marking the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM [1]. To reach our objectives, we have selected information that we have considered as more relevant in the context of an edital.

Shaping Genitals, Shaping Perceptions

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 417-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjolein van den Brink ◽  
Jet Tigchelaar
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Male Circumcision ◽  
Female Circumcision ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
Human Rights Protection ◽  
Rights Protection ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Human Rights Norms ◽  
Female Genital

Human rights claim universal validity, which implies that bias in their applicability as well as in their application should be avoided. From this perspective it is rather remarkable that female circumcision is a major cause for human rights concerns, whereas male circumcision is rarely addressed in the context of human rights. This raises the question whether practices of female circumcision are really that different from forms of male circumcision. There is at least some evidence that there are more similarities between male and female circumcision than commonly perceived. Taking this as a starting point, on the basis of facts, figures and rationales, we distinguish three types of circumcision: the ‘African’, the ‘American’ and the ‘Abrahamic’ type. Whereas male circumcision may fulfil the characteristics of any of these three types, female circumcision seems to fit only the African type. The typology allows for an analysis of the frames used in the debate to justify or delegitimise male and female circumcision. Frames that feature in the debates on male circumcision are a ‘medical/health frame’ and a ‘cultural/religious frame’, both with an ‘accessory human rights frame’. The debate on female circumcision (mostly referred to as female genital mutilation or FGM), on the other hand, is predominantly a ‘women's rights frame’. The differences in normative framing as well as the consequences thereof for the human rights protection of men and women do not seem entirely justified by the differences between the practices of male and female circumcision. We discuss three forms of bias – related to culture, religion and to gender – that may help explain the diverging normative framings. Irrespective of one's normative assessment of the compatibility of circumcision practices with human rights norms, the universality claim of human rights requires the application of the same standards to similar practices, regardless of sex.

Hegemonic Masculinity Attitudes Toward Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Among a Sample of College Students in Northern and Southern Sierra Leone

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 468-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eusebius Small ◽  
Bonita B. Sharma ◽  
Silviya Pavlova Nikolova ◽  
Betty C. Tonui
Keyword(s):  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Parental Education ◽  
Hegemonic Masculinity ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
Section Design ◽  
Female Genital

Introduction: Female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C) is a public health problem. Approximately three million women and girls undergo FGM/C every year, worldwide. The purpose of the study was to assess the influence of education on hegemonic masculinity attitudes between male and female students and whether parental education differentiated the groups. Method: A cross-section design was used. Data were collected through a survey response from 338 students in May 2017. The data were analyzed using chi-square and correlational tests. Results: Education did not change the attitudes of students toward FGM/C (χ2 = 3.64, p = .16); however, parental education had an influence on both male and female students’ attitudes toward FGM/C. Discussion: The study suggests that education alone may not be sufficient to end FGM/C practice. A comprehensive community-led strategy incorporating culturally congruent health care to involve multiple parties of health professionals, religious leaders, government, and policy makers may be needed to address the problem.

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