Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting : The Secret World of Women as Seen by Men
Kaplan, Adriana (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament d'Antropologia Social i Cultural)
Cham, Babucarr (School for Enrolled Community Health Nurses and Midwives (Mansakonko, Gàmbia))
Njie, Lamin A. (School for Enrolled Community Health Nurses and Midwives (Mansakonko, Gàmbia))
Seixas, Ana (NGO Wassu Gambia Kafo (Banjul, Gàmbia))
Blanco, Sandra (NGO Wassu Gambia Kafo (Banjul, Gàmbia))
Utzet, Mireia (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Pediatria, Obstetrícia i Ginecologia i Medicina Preventiva i Salut Pública)

Date:	2013
Abstract:	Efforts aimed at the abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) in the communities where it is deeply rooted have extensively considered and addressed women's perceptions on the issue, leaving those of men barely acknowledged. Although the practice is generally confined to the secret world of women, it does not mean that men cannot be influential. Indeed, men can play an important role in prevention. In order to address this gap, and having as background an extensive ethnographic field work, a transversal descriptive study was designed to explore Gambian men's knowledge and attitudes towards FGM/C, as well as related practices in their family/household. Results show ethnic identity, more than religion, as the decisive shaping factor on how men conceive and value FGM/C. The greater support towards the practice is found among traditionally practicing groups. A substantial proportion of men intend to have it performed on their daughters, although reporting a low involvement in the decision making process, with very few taking alone the final decision. Only a minority is aware of FGM/C health consequences, but those who understand its negative impact on the health and well-being of girls and women are quite willing to play a role in its prevention.
Note:	Altres ajuts: The authors are grateful to the Fundacio "La Caixa", Diputación Foral de Álava, and Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID), for funding the project. They also want to thank the NGO Wassu The Gambia Kafo for the support provided.
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Published in:	Obstetrics and Gynecology International, Vol. 2013 (july 2013) , ISSN 1687-9597

DOI: 10.1155/2013/643780
PMID: 23935631

12 p, 1.3 MB

The record appears in these collections:
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles