Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Kenya.
Abstract
Female Genital Mutilation has been a large issue heavily debated, with a number of communities in Kenya. Attempts to combat this issue have been met with varying levels of success due to cultural and social beliefs. This case study outlines the size and scale of the issue, the causes, the problems associated and the human rights implicated by the issue. It also presents a detailed action plan on how to tackle the issue with the introduction of an alternative right of passage.
Definition
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is the procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. (World Health Education, 2014)
There are four major types of procedures which are all considered as female genital mutilation. These are clitoridectomy Excision infibulation and any other practice of other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, e.g. pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterizing the genital area. (World Health Education, 2014)
The cause of FGM in Kenya
In Kenya FGM is a result of culture.Prevelant mostly in the rural areas, FGM is usually practiced on very young girls, with ages varying from as young as infancy to sixteen depending on the ethnic group. (Peters & Wolper, 1995).
Kenyan ethnic groups that practice FGM include; the Maasai, Abakuria, Abagusi, Kikuyu, Kamba, Meru and the Somali. This practice is part of the culture necessary for a girl’s upbringing. These communities associate FGM with cultural ideals of femininity and modesty.
It is believed that girls are pure and beautiful after they have undergone FGM.Furthermore these communities consider the parts removed in the process as male body parts thus unclean. On the contrary they believe that it reduces a woman’s libido and therefore, by a girl undergoing FGM she will be less inclined to participate in...