Beyond the Sociocultural Rhetoric

Female Genital Mutilation, Cultural Values and the Symbolic Capital (Honor) of Women and Their Family in Conakry, Guinea—A Focused Ethnography Among “Positive Deviants”

Bibliographic Data

ID12465858
AuthorsMarie‐Hélène Doucet (0000-0002-7734-6988, McGill University, corresponding author), Alexandre Délamou (0000-0002-9397-7106, Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry), Hawa Manet (0000-0001-7582-8273), Danielle Groleau (0000-0003-2421-9069, McGill University)
Year2022
Volume26
Issue5
Pages1858-1884
Publication date2022-05-11
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSexuality & Culture (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1095-5143 • E-ISSN: 1936-4822
PublisherSpringer Science+Business Media (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.1007/s12119-022-09975-5
PMID36032217
OpenAlexW4280559828
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited31

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is justified by sociocultural arguments, including that it guarantees girls'/women's appropriate sexual behavior, thus preserving family honor. We explored the perspectives of Guineans who do not practice FGM ("positive deviants"), as well as of Guineans who still practice FGM but who are supportive of abandoning the practice ("reluctant adherents"). We conducted a "focused ethnographic" study in Conakry, Guinea with a sample of 58 people. Individual semi-structured interviews were undertaken to explore the views and experiences of 18 women and 12 men of different generations who abandoned the practice of FGM. Group interviews with an additional 16 women and 12 men (half of whom were "positive deviants" and the other half "reluctant adherents") validated and enriched the data. Participants consider that FGM has deleterious consequences as it: (1) does not prevent girls or married women from being sexually active outside of marriage; (2) may impair couples' sexual satisfaction, and thus lead to divorce, men's infidelity or polygamy; and (3) may reduce women's ability to have multiple children, because of the increased risk of infertility or obstetric complications. In addition, participants reported that many Guineans fear that the promotion of FGM abandonment is a Western plot to eradicate their culture. We conclude that Guineans who practice and do not practice FGM share the same cultural values about the importance of culturally appropriate sexual behavior, being married, and having many children, which are central sources of honor (symbolic capital) to women and their families. They, however, have opposing views on how to achieve these objectives. Based on our participants' perspectives, the harmful consequences of FGM can potentially sabotage these sources of honor. Recommendations for messages aimed at promoting FGM abandonment are discussed

Developmental psychology · Ethnography · Honor · Lesbian · Political science · Promotion (chess · Sociocultural evolution · Sociology · Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Issues · Feminism, Gender, and Sexuality Studies · Gender Studies · Genital Health and Disease · Law · Psychology · Social Psychology

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