Being victims or beneficiaries? Perspectives on female genital cutting and reinfibulation in Sudan
(2006) In African Journal of Reproductive Health 10(2). p.24-36- Abstract
- Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) or the more value neutral term, Female Genital Cutting (FGC) is widely practised in northern Sudan, where around 90% of women undergo the most extensive form of FGC, infibulation. One new approach to combating FGC in Sudan is to acknowledge the previously hidden form of FGC, reinfibulation (RI) after delivery, when the woman is sewn back so much as to mimic virginity. Based on a qualitative study in Khartoum State, this article explores Sudanese women's and men's perceptions and experiences of FGC with emphasis on RI after delivery. The results showed that both genders blame each other for the continuation of the practices, and the comprehensive understanding of the perceptions and experiences was that both... (More)
- Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) or the more value neutral term, Female Genital Cutting (FGC) is widely practised in northern Sudan, where around 90% of women undergo the most extensive form of FGC, infibulation. One new approach to combating FGC in Sudan is to acknowledge the previously hidden form of FGC, reinfibulation (RI) after delivery, when the woman is sewn back so much as to mimic virginity. Based on a qualitative study in Khartoum State, this article explores Sudanese women's and men's perceptions and experiences of FGC with emphasis on RI after delivery. The results showed that both genders blame each other for the continuation of the practices, and the comprehensive understanding of the perceptions and experiences was that both the women and the men in this study were victims of th e consequences of FGC and RI.The female narratives could be understood in the three categories: viewing oneself as being "normal" in having undergone FGC and RI; being caught between different perspectives; and having limited influence on the practices of FGC and RI. The male narratives could be understood in the three categories: suffering from the consequences of FGC and RI, trying to counterbalance the negative sexual effects of FGC and striving in vain to change female traditions. The results indicate that the complexity of the persistence of FGC and RI goes far beyond being explained by subconscious patriarchal and maternalistic actions, related to socially constructed concepts of normality, female identity,tradition and religion a"silent" culture betweenmen and women. (Less)
- Abstract (Swedish)
- Abstract in French
La mutilation génitale féminine (MGF) ou bien le terme neutre de plus de valeur, l'excision génitale féminine (EGF) est pratiquée un peu partout au Soudan, où environ 90% des femmes subissent le type le plus coûteux de l'infibulation, l'EGF. Une nouvelle approche pour combattre l'EGF au Soudan consiste à reconnaître l'ancienne forme cachée de l'EGF, la reinfibulation après l'accouchement quand la femme est tellement recoussue si tellement comme pour imiter la virginité. Cet article qui est fondé sur une étude qualitative sur l'état de Khartoum explore les perceptions et l'expérience des femmes et des hommes soudanais par rapport à l'EGF, tout en mettant l'accent sur la RI après l'accouchement. Les... (More) - Abstract in French
La mutilation génitale féminine (MGF) ou bien le terme neutre de plus de valeur, l'excision génitale féminine (EGF) est pratiquée un peu partout au Soudan, où environ 90% des femmes subissent le type le plus coûteux de l'infibulation, l'EGF. Une nouvelle approche pour combattre l'EGF au Soudan consiste à reconnaître l'ancienne forme cachée de l'EGF, la reinfibulation après l'accouchement quand la femme est tellement recoussue si tellement comme pour imiter la virginité. Cet article qui est fondé sur une étude qualitative sur l'état de Khartoum explore les perceptions et l'expérience des femmes et des hommes soudanais par rapport à l'EGF, tout en mettant l'accent sur la RI après l'accouchement. Les résultats ont montré que les deux genres s'accusent l'un et l'autre pour la continuation de la pratique et la compréhension totale des perspectives et des expériences étaient que les femmes et les hommes dans cette étude sont victimes des conséquences des l'EGF et de la RI. Les narrations des femmes peuvent être comprises dans trois catégories: s'apercevant comme un être "normal" pour avoir subi l'EGF et la RI; être attrapées entre les perspectives différentes ayant une influence limitée sur les pratiques de l'EGF. Les narrations des hommes peuvent être comprises dans les trois catégories: la souffrance provoquée par les conséquences de l'EGF et la RI, les tentatives de contrebalancer les effets sexuels négatifs de l'EGF et s'efforcant en vain de changer les traditions féminines. Les résultats ont montré que la complexité de la persistence de l'EGF et la RI dépasse l'explication par la subconscient patriarchal et les actions matriarcales relatives aux concepts socialement construits par rapport à la normalité, l'identité, la tradition et la religion dans une culture "silencieuse" entre les hommes et les femmes. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/1135541
- author
- Berggren, V ; Musa Ahmed, S ; Hernlund, Y ; Johansson, E ; Habbani, B and Edberg, Anna-Karin LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2006
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Women's experiences, men's experiences, Female Genital Cutting, Female genital Mutilation, Infibulation, Reinfibulation
- in
- African Journal of Reproductive Health
- volume
- 10
- issue
- 2
- pages
- 24 - 36
- publisher
- Women's Health and Action Research Centre
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:17217115
- scopus:33846936837
- ISSN
- 1118-4841
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: The Vårdal Institute (016540000)
- id
- 98be6bd0-4157-4fb1-9399-15930a600ee5 (old id 1135541)
- alternative location
- http://www.bioline.org.br/pdf?rh06024
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 15:27:44
- date last changed
- 2022-01-28 05:27:10
@article{98be6bd0-4157-4fb1-9399-15930a600ee5,
abstract = {{Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) or the more value neutral term, Female Genital Cutting (FGC) is widely practised in northern Sudan, where around 90% of women undergo the most extensive form of FGC, infibulation. One new approach to combating FGC in Sudan is to acknowledge the previously hidden form of FGC, reinfibulation (RI) after delivery, when the woman is sewn back so much as to mimic virginity. Based on a qualitative study in Khartoum State, this article explores Sudanese women's and men's perceptions and experiences of FGC with emphasis on RI after delivery. The results showed that both genders blame each other for the continuation of the practices, and the comprehensive understanding of the perceptions and experiences was that both the women and the men in this study were victims of th e consequences of FGC and RI.The female narratives could be understood in the three categories: viewing oneself as being "normal" in having undergone FGC and RI; being caught between different perspectives; and having limited influence on the practices of FGC and RI. The male narratives could be understood in the three categories: suffering from the consequences of FGC and RI, trying to counterbalance the negative sexual effects of FGC and striving in vain to change female traditions. The results indicate that the complexity of the persistence of FGC and RI goes far beyond being explained by subconscious patriarchal and maternalistic actions, related to socially constructed concepts of normality, female identity,tradition and religion a"silent" culture betweenmen and women.}},
author = {{Berggren, V and Musa Ahmed, S and Hernlund, Y and Johansson, E and Habbani, B and Edberg, Anna-Karin}},
issn = {{1118-4841}},
keywords = {{Women's experiences; men's experiences; Female Genital Cutting; Female genital Mutilation; Infibulation; Reinfibulation}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{2}},
pages = {{24--36}},
publisher = {{Women's Health and Action Research Centre}},
series = {{African Journal of Reproductive Health}},
title = {{Being victims or beneficiaries? Perspectives on female genital cutting and reinfibulation in Sudan}},
url = {{http://www.bioline.org.br/pdf?rh06024}},
volume = {{10}},
year = {{2006}},
}