Understanding mother's decision-making concerning the medicalization of her daughter's genital cut.

The objective of my PhD research is to perform an in-depth study on the medicalization of FGC. Based on a comprehensive literature review, I developed the following hypotheses: H1. Medicalization of FGC is stratified by socio-economic status; because of both financial capability and increased knowledge about the healthcare system and possible health risks of FGC. H2. Medicalization of FGC acts as a status symbol on its own. The economic ability of mothers to circumcise their daughter in a medical context may contribute to their social status. H3. Medicalization of FGC acts as a harm-reduction strategy. When social pressure to cut is strong, women may opt for a medicalized cut (rather than to not cut at all) to conform the social pressure in a safer alternative way. H4. Medicalization of FGC acts as a social norm itself. Medicalized FGC has become the dominant cultural view of how FGC should be performed.

Keywords:FEMALE CIRCUMCISION

Disciplines:Sociology of health