Female Genital Mutilation practices in Kenya: - Feed the Minds
Female Genital Mutilation practices in Kenya: - Feed the Minds
Female Genital Mutilation practices in Kenya: - Feed the Minds
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Uphold<strong>in</strong>g cultural tradition: <strong>the</strong> research<br />
also found that <strong>the</strong> Kuria community believes<br />
that female circumcision is part of <strong>the</strong>ir cultural<br />
heritage; as a result, efforts to discourage <strong>the</strong><br />
practice were perceived as dilut<strong>in</strong>g or “kill<strong>in</strong>g” <strong>the</strong><br />
Kuria culture. This concern was raised <strong>in</strong> an FGD<br />
with <strong>the</strong> Council of Elders; <strong>the</strong>y wondered why <strong>the</strong><br />
government and o<strong>the</strong>r players were attempt<strong>in</strong>g<br />
to eradicate female circumcision, an <strong>in</strong>tegral part<br />
of <strong>the</strong> Kuria culture. Even younger members of<br />
<strong>the</strong> community considered FGM as important <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> Kuria culture, and concerns about negative<br />
medical and social effects of <strong>the</strong> practice were not<br />
seen as critical:<br />
[Circumcision] identifies you as a true<br />
Kuria, so you get license to participate <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
community fully. One cannot run for an elective<br />
position <strong>in</strong> this community if <strong>the</strong>y are not<br />
circumcised or are married to an uncircumcised<br />
woman” (participant, FGD, young men).<br />
Social pressure: The research f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs show<br />
that <strong>the</strong> Kuria community has strong sanctions to<br />
discourage women’s refusal to be circumcised.<br />
Fear of ridicule and social stigma, as well as<br />
name-call<strong>in</strong>g, stopped many families from<br />
abandon<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> practice. The FGDs revealed <strong>the</strong><br />
follow<strong>in</strong>g sanctions held by <strong>the</strong> community<br />
around FGM:<br />
•• An uncircumcised woman cannot pick<br />
vegetables from her neighbour’s garden<br />
because if she does, <strong>the</strong> vegetables <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
neighbour’s garden will dry up and die;<br />
•• She cannot draw water from <strong>the</strong><br />
communal water source because <strong>the</strong><br />
water will be contam<strong>in</strong>ated and <strong>the</strong> well<br />
would dry up;<br />
•• She is not allowed to open <strong>the</strong> gate to <strong>the</strong><br />
livestock enclosure;<br />
•• She is not allowed to cook and serve<br />
elders or her husband’s peers if <strong>the</strong>y<br />
come visit<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
There were also myths and misconceptions<br />
expressed widely expressed <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong>terviews, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g:<br />
•• If an uncircumcised woman ur<strong>in</strong>ates<br />
somewhere, any children walk<strong>in</strong>g over<br />
that spot would die;<br />
•• If a baby boy’s body came <strong>in</strong>to contact<br />
with <strong>the</strong> clitoris as <strong>the</strong> uncircumcised<br />
woman gave birth, he would die.<br />
how FGm is conducted<br />
AmonG <strong>the</strong> kuriA<br />
Communal and public event: <strong>Female</strong><br />
circumcision among <strong>the</strong> Kuria is traditionally<br />
a communal and public event, held with much<br />
celebration dur<strong>in</strong>g a specified period pronounced<br />
by <strong>the</strong> community elders, dur<strong>in</strong>g which male<br />
circumcision also takes place. Indeed, when<br />
<strong>the</strong> Kuria talk of a circumcision ceremony, <strong>the</strong>y<br />
are referr<strong>in</strong>g to both <strong>the</strong> male and female rites.<br />
The circumcision period has traditionally been<br />
observed <strong>in</strong> December each year, at harvest time<br />
when <strong>the</strong> community has plenty of food necessary<br />
for <strong>the</strong> public celebration.<br />
Tim<strong>in</strong>g of FGM: Each clan organizes its<br />
own circumcision ceremony at a date specified<br />
by <strong>the</strong> Council of Elders, <strong>in</strong> consideration of <strong>the</strong><br />
community values. For <strong>in</strong>stance, accord<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
<strong>in</strong>formants, because <strong>the</strong> Kuria people believe<br />
that <strong>the</strong> number 7 portends bad luck, <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> year<br />
2007, <strong>the</strong> Council decreed that <strong>the</strong>re would be no<br />
circumcision ceremony, and as a result, no boy or<br />
girl was circumcised <strong>in</strong> that year.<br />
The cutt<strong>in</strong>g ceremonies are colourful events,<br />
marked with public danc<strong>in</strong>g, dr<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g and feast<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
The circumcision ceremony is held <strong>in</strong> an open<br />
field with <strong>the</strong> elders present. Some research<br />
participants observed that dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> ceremonies,<br />
<strong>the</strong> songs conta<strong>in</strong> messages that seem to<br />
encourage <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>itiates (both girls and boy) to<br />
have sex. The <strong>in</strong>itiates no longer go <strong>in</strong>to seclusion<br />
as was <strong>the</strong> case <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> past, although <strong>in</strong>dividual<br />
families do organise for <strong>the</strong> girl <strong>in</strong>itiates to receive<br />
coach<strong>in</strong>g from female relatives.<br />
Age at circumcision: Participants <strong>in</strong> this<br />
research reported that girls are circumcised at a<br />
much lower age than previously. In <strong>the</strong> past, girls<br />
ee<br />
17.