Female Genital Mutilation as a Social Norm: Examining the Beliefs and Attitudes of Women in This Diaspora

García, Ana Isabel Gutiérrez; Solano-Ruiz, MCarmen; Perpiñá‐Galvañ, Juana; Siles-González, José; Jiménez‐Ruiz, Ismael

doi:10.1177/10497323221097885

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…This finding aligns with other studies suggesting that undergoing FGM/C is no longer mandatory for marriage [26,28,40,41]. Additional research, including the Gutiérrez-García et al study, indicates that both diaspora girls who experienced FGM/C before migrating and those born in Spain without FGM/C have similar marriage rates [41].…”

Section: Change In Perception Towards Uncircumcised Girls and Better ...supporting

confidence: 88%

“…In the Akinsulure et al study, male participants had no specific preference for dating or marrying uncut women, but those who did generally preferred women without FMG/C [24]. This finding aligns with other studies suggesting that undergoing FGM/C is no longer mandatory for marriage [26,28,40,41]. Additional research, including the Gutiérrez-García et al study, indicates that both diaspora girls who experienced FGM/C before migrating and those born in Spain without FGM/C have similar marriage rates [41].…”

Section: Change In Perception Towards Uncircumcised Girls and Better ...supporting

confidence: 65%

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Investigating Factors Associated with Migration and Cultural Adaptation in Relation to Change in Attitudes and Behavior towards Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) among Populations from FGM/C-Practicing Countries Living in Western Countries: A Scoping Review

Salah,

Cottler-Casanova,

Petignat

et al. 2024

IJERPH

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A growing body of evidence indicates a significant decrease in support for female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) within post-migration communities in Western countries. Addressing knowledge gaps and comprehending the factors associated with FGM/C discontinuation in these communities is crucial. The objective of this scoping review is to describe the effects of migration and cultural change on factors supporting FGM/C cessation in migrant communities. The review, from 2012 to 2023, included the following databases: Embase, PubMed, Google Scholar, Swisscovery, CINAHL, APA PsycInfo, and gray literature. Applying the PRISMA-ScR framework, we identified 2819 studies, with 17 meeting the inclusion criteria. The results revealed seven key factors shaping attitudes and behavior toward FGM/C abandonment: (1) legislation against FGM/C, (2) knowing that FGM/C is not a religious requirement, (3) enhancing education about the practice, (4) migration and cultural change, (5) awareness of the harmful effects of FGM/C, (6) a positive view of uncut girls, and (7) a sense of self-agency. These findings highlight factors on a social, community, interpersonal, and personal level that enhance the abandonment of the practice. Further research in the FGM/C field will gain more accuracy in understanding and accounting for these multilevel factors in post-migration settings, offering valuable insights for targeted interventions to promote the cessation of the practice.

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Section: Change In Perception Towards Uncircumcised Girls and Better ...supporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Change In Perception Towards Uncircumcised Girls and Better ...supporting

confidence: 65%

Investigating Factors Associated with Migration and Cultural Adaptation in Relation to Change in Attitudes and Behavior towards Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) among Populations from FGM/C-Practicing Countries Living in Western Countries: A Scoping Review

Salah,

Cottler-Casanova,

Petignat

et al. 2024

IJERPH

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“…Answers to these complex questions must be approached interjectionally and qualitatively. While this falls beyond the scope of this research, it is significant to note that in utilizing Social Convention Theory "public statements about the topic is complex and that the taboo permeating the practice remains intact even outside of Africa" ( [54], p. 1153).…”

Section: Religious Excuse Had Somehow Been Passed Down Generations An...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Decolonizing Female Genital Mutilation: A Harmful Yet Identity-Affirming Practice

ElMorally

2024

Women and Society

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Women have historically been the target of violence, especially in the situation of social flux; for instance, the Rwandan Civil War of 1994. It was observed that countries in conflict simultaneously observe an increase in Violence Against Women (VAW), particularly Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). This article displays the historical context within which the practice developed, culturally significant facts and myths encouraging its continuation, to substantiate existing scholarship around FGM and colonial legacies, and its effects on gender discourse. I argue that colonial legacies of ethnic rivalry, unequal distribution of resources, and weak institutions have dominated postcolonial scholarship, few have zoomed in on the role dehumanization played. I claim that colonial legacies and power dynamics correlate to the frequency and resilience of harmful practices such as FGM, as the ritual itself could be perceived as an anti-colonial act. I conclude that for harmful practices to be eradicated, cultural and moral absolutist arguments, which justify cultural impositions to ‘save’ “brown women from brown men,” should be made obsolete. Instead, I recommend that the international community ought to recognize the identity-affirming capacity FGM possesses, and acknowledge its relationship to colonial legacies before attempting to counteract it.

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“…Education campaigns and awareness-raising about the negative health effects may contribute to changing social norms and values that perpetuate the practice [13,[15][16][17][18]. Additionally, the absence of a religious requirement and, at the interpersonal level, comparable marriage rates for uncut girls in communities compared to girls with FGM/C, can help question the necessity of the practice in this new setting [19]. Personal attitude changes involve breaking the taboos surrounding FGM/C and openly opposing the practice; these attitude changes are often prompted by introspection and the development of supportive social networks within the community [20].…”

Section: Theoretical Framework Associated With Attitude Changesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding Professionals’ Knowledge Regarding Factors Influencing Changes in Attitudes toward Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in Post-Migration Communities in Geneva, Switzerland

Salah,

Cantoreggi,

Petignat

et al. 2024

IJERPH

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Female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C) is a practice involving the partial or complete removal of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. To facilitate attitude changes, the ecological model of behavior change considers multiple levels of influence and their relationships with environmental and behavioral factors. The combined effects of migration and cultural adaptation result in a transformative process that leads to decreased support for FGM/C. This qualitative study aimed to gain knowledge from FGM/C field professionals regarding the factors promoting behavioral changes in migrant communities in Geneva, Switzerland. Between September and October 2023, we conducted semi-structured interviews using a reflexive thematic analysis. Our qualitative research is reported in accordance with the COREQ criteria. A data analysis was performed using NVivo 14 software. Four influential dimensions were identified, each with associated factors. The first dimension, the social level, includes (1) the impact and implementation of anti-FGM/C laws. The second dimension, the community level, encompasses four factors such as (2) religion, (3) a multifaceted examination of social aspects, (4) navigating language barriers and raising awareness, and (5) cultural adaptation processes. The third dimension, the interpersonal level, includes factors such as (6) changing views on the marriage prerequisite. Finally, the fourth dimension, the personal level, is associated with (7) women’s experiences and perspectives regarding FGM/C. The findings highlight seven environmental factors, both within and across dimensions of the ecological model, that interact with human behavior to enable an adaptive cultural process. This process influences changes in attitudes and behaviors regarding FGM/C.

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Female Genital Mutilation as a Social Norm: Examining the Beliefs and Attitudes of Women in This Diaspora

Cited by 4 publications

References 60 publications

Investigating Factors Associated with Migration and Cultural Adaptation in Relation to Change in Attitudes and Behavior towards Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) among Populations from FGM/C-Practicing Countries Living in Western Countries: A Scoping Review

Investigating Factors Associated with Migration and Cultural Adaptation in Relation to Change in Attitudes and Behavior towards Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) among Populations from FGM/C-Practicing Countries Living in Western Countries: A Scoping Review

Decolonizing Female Genital Mutilation: A Harmful Yet Identity-Affirming Practice

Understanding Professionals’ Knowledge Regarding Factors Influencing Changes in Attitudes toward Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in Post-Migration Communities in Geneva, Switzerland

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