Female Genital Mutilation practices in Kenya: - Feed the Minds

ignored and their support of changes in practice
is crucial for widespread changes in the practice.
In Kisii, it will be important to have high profile
women speaking out against FGM and modelling
its abandonment in their families.
sociAl AccePtAbility oF
uncircumcised women
There are, inevitably in qualitative research, a
number of contradictions in the views and opinions
offered by FGD participants. Some contradictions
indicate opposing views, whilst others reflect
internal tensions with which participants
are struggling.
In both Kuria and Kisii the FGDs with parents and
young unmarried men included many who would
prefer their daughters or future wives not to be cut
but they fear the social consequences, in terms
of social acceptability and see FGM as a cultural
obligation. They struggle with the tension between,
on the one hand, knowing that FGM is illegal, does
not appear to have any health benefits and can be
harmful, and on the other hand, the considerable
societal pressure to conform and therefore be
socially acceptable. They tended to have limited
understanding of The Children Act, express
frustration that the government was not doing more
to enforce the law, and criticise local leaders for
being hypercritical about FGM, saying one thing in
public and another in private. Several were saying
they will reluctantly have their daughters cut, so
that their daughters are not ostracised by the
community, although ask the circumciser to only
prick to draw blood.
If real progress is to be made in reducing
the prevalence of FGM in Kuria and Kisii, this
significant group of people, who would prefer to
avoid FGM but feel pressurised to conform, need
to feel safe enough to break with tradition. The
FGDs suggest that this is more likely to happen in
a climate where respected people, for example
church leaders and school teachers, oppose FGM
both publicly and privately, the rights of children
are more fully understood and action is taken
against parents whose girls undergo FGM.
recommendAtions
In both Kuria and Kisii it is recommended that
• ARP can enhance the effectiveness of
interventions to encourage the abandonment
of FGM, but always as part of a holistic
programme which takes a rights-based
approach and empowers girls and their
parents to make active decisions not to
undergo FGM. Further community awareness
is recommended so that the community
recognise that the girls attending camps are
undergoing a ceremony which prepares them
for adult life in their communities and respects
their cultural background;
• Increased community education is needed on
the negative health and social effects of FGM,
its illegality and the rights of children and
women. It is recommended that programmes
include the role of ARP and engage the
whole community, including boys, men, local
authority staff, teachers, community and
church leaders, and traditional circumcisers
and health professionals;
• The provision of local, accessible girl
empowerment programmes which address
the range of rights and responsibilities of girls
in their communities is extended to a wider
range of communities. It is recommended that
these programmes include health, nutrition
and life skills, as well as the risks of early
marriage and FGM and skills to resist family
or community pressure. These initiatives could
range from clubs in schools and churches to
residential programmes;
• More interventions are developed to help
parents and girls cope with the tremendous
social pressure that forces them to submit to
the practice of FGM. Greater use could be
made of role models of families who have
ceased the practice and support groups for
those wanting to make similar decisions.
Schools and churches are well placed to
provide opportunities to bring people
together to share experiences and offer
mutual support;
ee
33.