Understanding the medicalization of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) through the optics of the practising community in Egypt.

In Egypt, female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is increasingly medicalized (performed by trained health professionals rather than by traditional circumcisers). With the current research proposal, I intend to examine how this medicalization trend relates to overall changes in the practice. In doing so, I intend to develop knowledge on (1) how mothers weigh the different options concerning their daughter's FGM/C (traditional cut, medicalized cut, or no cut), and what meaning is given to these different options; (2) whether this decision varies by the social position that the mother occupies, and by the social composition of her network, and (3) whether this decision varies across younger and older birth cohorts, and why. Both quantitative and qualitative methods will be applied. As previous research shows that the implementation of FGM/C legislation alone is not enough to counteract the practice, the proposed research is relevant to the broader policy debate. The results of this research will thus extend the empirical bases for policy discussions on the medicalization of FGM/C and how to improve women's sexual and reproductive health as a whole. At the same time, this project will contribute to the sociological theorizing of medicalization practices, which, to date, is very limited in scope and mainly focuses on practices in high-income countries.

Keywords:FEMALE GENITAL CUTTING, EGYPT, DECISION MAKING

Disciplines:Sociology of gender and gender relations, Counselling, welfare and community services, Sociology of family, Sociology of health, Sociology of life course, family and health not elsewhere classified

Project type:Collaboration project