Underlying Reasons for the Persistence of Female Genital Mutilation

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likely to have the practice stop in an immediate matter. However, addressing the Ngaribas may not change the general attitudes towards the custom. From what was observed, the importance of the social conventions was mainly pressured from previous generations. The man from Gallapo village demonstrated it when explaining the conflict between his mother and him, about having his daughters circumcised. Also Fatima’s experience and the consequences she suffered when feeling the pressure by her grandmother to get married. Her goal in life was not to get married and have children at a young age, even though it was a normal thing to do where she comes from, as it is in most African communities. Fatima wanted to get an education and make her own choices in life. In the context of underdevelopment the most vulnerable are often women and children in rural areas where education and resources is not accessible, and in times of socioeconomic change. The rural and urban poor often hold on to tradition as a survival mechanism 72 , which has then persisted by women being inferior to superstition and knowledge. The stress for girls to get married at a young age is in my opinion one major issue to address since it seems to be the main accomplishment from having the procedure done. Whatever reason, perception or tradition given the justification of the act, they are all mechanisms that help contribute and maintain the practice. But understanding the information about the underlying reasons can help the understanding of what needs to be done in order to make the practice stop. There are many theories suggesting the empowerment of women, and addressing the importance of education for girls and women in Africa. The recent generation stand for changes in attitudes and the circumstances for women around the world are improving because of awareness and education. A change in attitudes and norms is not accomplished by laws and legislations alone. There was recently an article in the Swedish newspaper DN 73 , about a women living with the consequences of FGM in her everyday life in Kenya. Her story about her struggles has made the front news page since it leads to a parliament vote on a new legislation forbidding the practice of FGM. Her story took the issue of FGM into the public in Kenya as well as the government, which before her statement was against the legislative proposal. Some men in the parliament confessed of not knowing about what their mothers, wives, sisters or daughters had gone through and that her story made them realize how great an issue FGM is. The change has to start from the root of the understanding of the behavior towards FGM, and the awareness can change when 72 Dorkeeno, Cutting the Rose, p. 58 73 Dagens Nyheter 2011-‐ 05-‐27 35
given the opportunity for education, and in my opinion, especially the opportunities for women. For the reason that if marriage is the only means of survival for women, and the preparation for that means getting circumcised, the task of ending the practice will be difficult. Therefore changing the conditions for women on how they live and how they are perceived needs to be the major focus for change. 36
Page 1 and 2: Exempel 11, sid 4-5 Underlying Reas
Page 3 and 4: ABBREVIATIONS FGM UNICEF WHO CE
Page 6 and 7: 1. INTRODUCTION Female genital mut
Page 8 and 9: is in no way based on religious bel
Page 10 and 11: 1.4 Aims and objectives The purp
Page 12 and 13: 1.8 Disposition The study is divi
Page 14 and 15: 2.1 Qualitative case study rese
Page 16 and 17: young girl that herself had undergo
Page 18 and 19: 3. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK The pra
Page 20 and 21: organizations and intergovernmental
Page 22 and 23: obliged to form and adjust domestic
Page 24 and 25: human rights and therefore the disc
Page 26 and 27: as the custom has spread historical
Page 28 and 29: consequences of the urine and menst
Page 30 and 31: It is through this organization I h
Page 32 and 33: three or four years old when her gr
Page 34 and 35: many regions that practice/practice
Page 36 and 37: morals and fundamental rights, publ
Page 38 and 39: 5.2 Discussion FGM is internation
Page 42 and 43: 6. CONCLUSIONS Throughout this ess
Page 44: Reliabilitet Validitet 2011, retrie

Underlying Reasons for the Persistence of Female Genital Mutilation

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