What Makes a Woman? Case Studies Documenting The Reasons for and Circumstances of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in Indonesia, Ethiopia and Kenya

Abstract

Background: Female genital cutting/mutilation is a harmful traditional practice that violates women’s rights and has adverse health consequences. This paper presents the reasons for and circumstances of female genital mutilation/ cutting (FGM/C) in specific settings of three countries – Indonesia, Ethiopia and Kenya.Methods: Data were collected through a household survey with young people (15-24 years) and through focus group discussions, in-depth interviews and key informant interviews with youth and community stakeholders in 2016 and 2017. Descriptive statistics and thematic content analysis were conducted.Results: The study findings confirm some of the reasons for FGM/C documented by previous studies, noting that these reasons are strongly interconnected, and gender norms are the underlying driver. In all three settings, these reasons drive the alterations of female bodies to result in a ‘cultured’ body that is acceptable to the patriarchal status quo. This results in the ‘pure body’ in Indonesia, the ‘tame’ body in Ethiopia and the ‘adult body’ in Kenya. Health workers and parents play an important role in decision-making around FGM/C in all settings. In Kenya, in particular, young women negotiate their role in decision-making around FGM/C as they are older at the time of circumcision. The study reveals how the changing legal and social contexts in each setting bring about changes in the tradition of FGM/C resulting in medicalization of FGM/C in Indonesia, a lowered age of cutting for girls in Kenya and the increasingly underground practice of FGM/C in Ethiopia.Conclusions: The three cases demonstrate the huge variation in the practice of FGM/C and the social meaning attributed to it by young women and their communities. There is a need to further explore the role of parents in decision-making. Due to the links between the different drivers of FGM/C within each context, the study concludes that context-specific strategies need to be adopted by interventions to create long-lasting change.

Urgency to Re-Evaluate Female Genital Mutilation Practice Among Muslim Communities in Indonesia

“…According to a survey conducted by the Center of Population and Policy Studies (PSKK) from the University of Gadjahmada, one of the main reasons is because of religion then it is about society and family tradition, social sanctions, medical reasons, and sexual pleasure of the husband and/or wife (Dewi H.S et al, 2017). And in Indonesia, the practice of FGM/C is most likely done by Muslims (Kakal et al, 2021). Thus, in this section, we are going to see the rationality of the religious point of view and why the people of Indonesia are so keen on keeping the tradition alive.…”

“…This is seen from the experiences of how some mothers, after giving birth, will be given package choices either to have their baby girl do ear-piercing or be circumcised (KEMENPPA, 2020). And cases of midwives giving FGM/C to the child in consideration for the parents have come from afar (Kakal et al, 2021).…”

The attachment among generation in pertuating the female genital mutilation in Lombok

“…This is also supported by the MUI fatwa on May 7, 2008, concerning the Law on the Prohibition of FGM which allows/legalizes the practice of FGM, as a must for Muslims because Mazhab, Imam syafi'i put the obligation for women to do FGM. In Islam this practice becomes sunnah while society ignore to do FGM, it is being haram (Kakal et al, 2021), particularly 'the response of Indonesian and Malaysian Ministries of Health should be understood in the context of religious identity and political change' (Dawson et al, 2020).…”