Restoring what no longer exists: therapeutic and cultural issues regarding female genital mutilation/cutting

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-26
Author(s):  
Christie Coho ◽  
Roxana Parra Sepúlveda
Keyword(s):  
Child Abuse ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
The Self ◽  
Cultural Issues ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
The World ◽  
Letting Go ◽  
Feminist Perspectives ◽  
Female Genital

Female genital mutilation/cutting/circumcision (FGM/C) is a form of childhood sexual violence, typically perpetrated by females on females, which has been passed down the generations across cultures and communities around the world. While the explanations for this practice involve love, future security, and cultural pride, the resulting expression of these ideals is a physical-cum-sexual/psychological damaging of the genitalia and the self for the purpose of suppressing and dominating the female, particularly her sexuality. Exploring this form of child abuse and sexual assault, this article will provide an overview of female genital mutilation. Varying purposes and functions of the practice are then outlined, from both cultures of origin and feminist perspectives. Psychological defences enabling the perpetuation of this harmful practice are explored. Potential versions of the therapeutic work are considered, which might involve resolving confusion, letting go of psychological defences, processing trauma and grief, reconfiguring attachment patterns, and/or re/connecting with one's body and sexuality. The journey is from victim to non-perpetrating, resilient survivor.

scholarly journals Awareness of different forms of child abuse among Beni Suef University students: descriptive survey

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nermeen N. Welson ◽  
Yasmen A. Mohamed
Keyword(s):  
Child Abuse ◽  
University Students ◽  
Corporal Punishment ◽  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Psychological Problems ◽  
Health Science ◽  
Physical Child Abuse ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
Science College ◽  
Female Genital

Abstract Background Child abuse is a worldwide phenomenon that can cause intense long-term aftereffects. Aim To evaluate the awareness of Beni Suef University students about different forms of child abuse as well as the size, causes, and complications of this problem in our society and determine the prevalence of physical child abuse. Methods The study included 1688 students from health science and non-health science colleges of Beni Suef University, Egypt. The study participants were asked to answer a questionnaire of two parts. The first part included questions about demographic data and personal experience of child abuse, and the second part included questions about opinions of participants on child abuse to assess their awareness and if there was any difference in the level of awareness between students of health science colleges and those of non-health science colleges. Results Health science college students were more life satisfied and felt more loved. Only 28.91% of the included students were not exposed to child abuse, while 12.59% of them suffered from wounds or fractures as a result of the abuse they were exposed to. About one third of the students thought that the commonest form of child abuse is verbal punishment such as threatening or humiliation and that the age at the greatest risk for abuse was the primary school age. About 68.36% of students thought that sexual abuse is a huge problem in our society. Only 21.56% of students disapproved child corporal punishment. More than half of the students stated that the most dangerous complication of child abuse is psychological problems such as depression. Most of the included students would talk to the child’s parents and advise them if they saw a case of abuse, while the least would call the police. Only half of the students disapproved female genital mutilation (FGM). The strongest predictive factors for FGM approval were rural residence and male sex. Students mainly thought that FGM is a social habit that is carried out for ethical causes. About half of the students approved legal punishment by the court for FGM performers. Conclusion A significant proportion of the students experienced physical child abuse which left no injuries in most cases; males and first academic year students show more exposure to abuse. Moreover, most of the students think that child corporal punishment can be allowed although about half of them think that the most dangerous aftereffect of child abuse is psychological problems. Lack of reporting the exposure to child abuse is explained by the largest percentage of students to be due to lack of awareness. Rural resident males show more approval of female genital mutilation. A significant lack of awareness about FGM complications is observed in both groups (the health science and non-health science college groups) and the opinions of both groups are very close.

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.

Female Genital Mutilation around The World:

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ngianga-Bakwin Kandala ◽  
Paul Nzinga Komba
Keyword(s):  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
The World ◽  
Female Genital

Female Genital Mutilation in the World Today: A Global Review

1981 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 415-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fran P. Hosken
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
The World ◽  
Female Children ◽  
Upper Volta ◽  
Female Genital

Extensive research and field work have established that more than 74 million women and female children are mutilated by female genital operations in Africa alone. The operations are also practiced in many parts of the Middle East and, with Moslemization, were introduced into Indonesia and Malaysia where they are performed at the present time in a less damaging form. This paper lists the countries where instances of excision and infibulation have been reported and includes case reports from Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Nigeria, Mali, Upper Volta, and Senegal. The ethical issues posed by genital mutilation are also discussed.

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.

scholarly journals IS THE TABOO OF FEMALE SEXUALITY THE SOLE REASON FOR THE CONTINUATION OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION IN EGYPT?

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 169-193
Author(s):  
Tabi Stew
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Desire ◽  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Female Sexuality ◽  
Cultural Practice ◽  
Control Female ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
The World ◽  
And Control ◽  
Female Genital

As the first conviction of FGM in the U.K. proves, female genital mutilation is a ‘harmful cultural practice’ that persists across the world. Egypt has one of the highest rates of FGM in the world. Based on a variety of different studies and questionnaires undertaken in doctors’ surgeries and hospitals across the country, three clear reasons are given for the continuation of the practice. These are the belief that it is decreed by Islam, that it is a tradition and to preserve young women’s chastity as it would reduce their sexual desire. The overarching theme of these justifications is the fear and control of female sexuality, given the teachings of modesty in the Qur’an and the importance of chastity in order to obtain a good marriage in Egyptian society. However, the Qur’an does not condone female genital mutilation or mention it. Additionally, the Qur’an promotes sexual fulfilment and positivity within the confines of marriage for both men and women which directly conflicts with the consequences of FGM. The importance of honour and the preservation of chastity in Egyptian society continues to prevail in modern Egyptian society, and medicalisation legitimises the practice among the educated elite. However, this work hopes to prove that certain interpretations of certain aspects of the Qur’an and the hadith and Sunnah have led to the need to control female sexuality, and these beliefs are intertwined with tradition and result in the continuation of female genital mutilation in Egypt.

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