Abstract

Female genital mutilation derails efforts to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of girls and women. In Kenya, national estimates show a steady decline in prevalence, although there is considerable variation at the sub-national level. There is a need to better understand female genital mutilation-related norms and meanings and whether there have been changes in these given long-term and diverse efforts to promote abandonment. Focusing on Narok and Kisii counties, we conducted a cross-sectional qualitative study to identify social norms surrounding the practice of female genital mutilation, as well as consensus or contestation with respect to these norms. Ten focus group discussions were held with men and women aged 18 years and older from the Maasai and Abagusii communities that have traditionally practised female genital mutilation. Study findings showed that norms associated with female genital mutilation such as sexuality and marriageability were actively contested by community members. This change may provide a useful starting point for programmes that seek to create dialogue and critical reflection on female genital mutilation to accelerate its abandonment.

摘要

女性外阴残割破坏了实现性别平等和赋予女童和妇女权力的努力。在肯尼亚，国家估计显示流行率稳步下降，尽管在次国家层面存在相当大的差异。有必要更好地了解与女性外阴残割相关的规范和含义，以及在促进遗弃的长期和多样化努力中，这些规范和含义是否发生了变化。我们以 Narok 和 Kisii 县为重点，进行了一项横断面定性研究，以确定围绕女性生殖器切割做法的社会规范，以及对这些规范的共识或争论。与来自传统上实行切割女性生殖器的马赛和阿巴古西社区 18 岁及以上的男性和女性进行了十次焦点小组讨论。研究结果表明，与女性生殖器切割相关的规范，如性行为和适婚性，受到社区成员的积极质疑。这一变化可能为旨在就女性外阴残割问题建立对话和批判性反思以加速放弃这一做法的计划提供一个有用的起点。