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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20.<br />
take <strong>the</strong> boys to school or even pay bride price<br />
for <strong>the</strong> boys with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> family” (participant,<br />
FGD, Paralegals).<br />
O<strong>the</strong>r participants felt that peer pressure has also<br />
contributed to <strong>the</strong> lower<strong>in</strong>g of age – when girls are<br />
<strong>in</strong>sulted or when <strong>the</strong>y see <strong>the</strong>ir friends or older<br />
sisters go<strong>in</strong>g for circumcision, <strong>the</strong>y too may decide<br />
to jo<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>.<br />
Type of cut: Participants also confirmed what<br />
had been observed <strong>in</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r research – that <strong>the</strong><br />
severity of <strong>the</strong> cut has decl<strong>in</strong>ed among <strong>the</strong> Kuria.<br />
This, <strong>the</strong> participants po<strong>in</strong>ted, had arisen out of<br />
<strong>the</strong> desire to reduce trauma and <strong>the</strong> likelihood<br />
of develop<strong>in</strong>g hardened scars, and to ensure that<br />
<strong>the</strong> essential parts of <strong>the</strong> female anatomy were<br />
preserved, <strong>in</strong> addition to speed<strong>in</strong>g up heal<strong>in</strong>g:<br />
These days <strong>the</strong> mo<strong>the</strong>r of <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>itiate will<br />
prescribe to <strong>the</strong> circumciser how much to cut<br />
– more often than not <strong>the</strong>y tell <strong>the</strong> circumciser<br />
to cut just a little” (participant, FGD, mo<strong>the</strong>rs of<br />
circumcised girls).<br />
Seclusion: Unlike <strong>the</strong> past, <strong>in</strong>itiates nowadays no<br />
longer go <strong>in</strong>to seclusion to receive coach<strong>in</strong>g and<br />
education on community values. In some <strong>in</strong>stances,<br />
parents may privately choose to organise coach<strong>in</strong>g<br />
for <strong>the</strong>ir daughters from o<strong>the</strong>r female relatives. The<br />
participants po<strong>in</strong>ted out that <strong>the</strong> current social set<br />
up makes it difficult to have <strong>the</strong> long seclusions<br />
necessary to educate <strong>the</strong> girls and to allow <strong>the</strong>m to<br />
heal. It was also felt that reduction <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> severity of<br />
<strong>the</strong> cut has resulted <strong>in</strong> shorter heal<strong>in</strong>g period, thus<br />
no need for seclusion:<br />
These days a girl is circumcised today and<br />
tomorrow she is jump<strong>in</strong>g around, play<strong>in</strong>g with her<br />
friends” (participant, FGD, parents).<br />
Medicalisation: Although FGM is still largely<br />
done by <strong>the</strong> traditional circumcisers among <strong>the</strong><br />
Kuria, some participants reported that medical<br />
staff have also been <strong>in</strong>volved and that <strong>the</strong>y are<br />
sometimes preferred; some participants alleged<br />
that dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> circumcision period, some<br />
government agencies provide <strong>the</strong> community with<br />
surgical blades and gloves to reduce cases of<br />
<strong>in</strong>fection, which is contrary to <strong>the</strong> Government of<br />
<strong>Kenya</strong>’s official stance on FGM.<br />
FActors thAt mAy hAve<br />
brouGht chAnGe to<br />
<strong>the</strong> PrActice<br />
The research tried to identify specific factors that<br />
may have brought about changes <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> practice of<br />
FGM among <strong>the</strong> Kuria.<br />
Religious <strong>in</strong>fluence: One of <strong>the</strong> factors<br />
which have contributed to change is <strong>the</strong> churches’<br />
campaign<strong>in</strong>g aga<strong>in</strong>st FGM <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> region. There<br />
were reported <strong>in</strong>stances of <strong>in</strong>dividual families<br />
beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g to oppose <strong>the</strong> practice out of religious<br />
conviction:<br />
It is real Christians who have abandoned<br />
FGM, not <strong>the</strong> church goers who claim to be<br />
Christians but are secretly practic<strong>in</strong>g female<br />
circumcision and o<strong>the</strong>r traditions that <strong>the</strong> church<br />
opposes” (participant, FGD, teachers).<br />
Participants reported that <strong>the</strong> Seventh Day<br />
Adventist Church (SDA) has been particularly<br />
vocal <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> campaign aga<strong>in</strong>st female circumcision<br />
<strong>in</strong> south Nyanza region (which <strong>in</strong>cludes Kuria and<br />
Kisii), where <strong>the</strong> practice is equally widespread.<br />
Awareness of <strong>the</strong> undesirable<br />
consequences of FGM: Ano<strong>the</strong>r factor which<br />
might have led to some families abandon<strong>in</strong>g FGM<br />
among <strong>the</strong> Kuria is <strong>the</strong> realization of <strong>the</strong> negative<br />
social effects of female circumcision such as school<br />
dropout, early marriage and promiscuity among<br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>itiates:<br />
contrary to <strong>the</strong> common belief – it is <strong>the</strong><br />
circumcised girls who are promiscuous; <strong>in</strong>stead of<br />
concentrat<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>the</strong>ir studies <strong>the</strong>y are rude and<br />
more <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> men” (participant,<br />
FGD, teachers).<br />
Activities by local organisations to discourage <strong>the</strong><br />
practice were also considered to have <strong>in</strong>fluenced<br />
some families to abandon <strong>the</strong> practice. These<br />
<strong>in</strong>clude <strong>the</strong> formation of anti-FGM clubs <strong>in</strong> schools,<br />
which have contributed significantly <strong>in</strong> giv<strong>in</strong>g<br />
social support to girls who have not<br />
been circumcised.<br />
On <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r hand, some participants said