Abstract
Based on ethnographic research among the Samburu of northern Kenya, this article examines the association between formal education and the abandonment of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). It challenges the notion that Samburu continue cutting out of “ignorance” of the health and legal implications of cutting. The findings show that, rather than a causal effect of “knowledge” on cutting-related attitudes and behavior, formal education can replace FGM/C as a source for status, respect, and adulthood. In addition, alternative expectations apply to formally educated Samburu. Challenging the reproduction of the “ignorant pastoralist” narrative in anticutting campaigns is important because of the harm such narratives inflict on pastoralist communities.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | n/a |
| Pages (from-to) | 3742-3761 |
| Number of pages | 20 |
| Journal | Violence against women |
| Volume | 28 |
| Issue number | 15-16 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The author disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research was funded by the SOAS Research Studentship and SOAS Fieldwork Award.
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2022.
Keywords
- Female Genital Mutilation
- FGM/C
- Female circumcision
- Female Genital Cutting
- Education
- Class
- Samuburu
- Kenya
- Africa
- Discourse
- Ethnography