Today I came across an interesting article that featured Tostan’s founder, Molly Melching. The Washington Post’s story on FGM and immigration examined the challenges that many circumcised African women faced as they sought asylum in the US. This was not only interesting in that in featured the founder of Tostan, but in that it brought the issue closer to home. While FGM is fairly universally agreed upon as a cruel and torturous practice, it does seem like a very far-removed issue. It is extremely thought-provoking to consider a person feeling the effects of FGM in the U.S. The thought alone seems contradictory, when putting such a primitive practice in as progressive a setting as the U.S. Here is a link to the article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/02/AR2008110202219.html?sub=AR
While the article is commendable in its informative nature, it is especially ground-breaking in that it highlights the heartbreaking effects of the pairing of FGM with the knowledge of how cruel a practice it is. This, essentially, is the realization I’d expect from the people in Africa that were educated by Tostan’s program. It was also interesting to witness Melching’s prevalent and deep understanding of the women, whom she has spent so much of her life working with.
As far as my dealing with Tostan goes, no formal plans have been made. However, my research has certainly generated an inexplicable amount of interest in the subject-- as I hope it has for some of you reading. Planning an event was a bit ambitious for the point in the semester we started, but hopefully by next semester we will have organized ourselves enough to plan something. Molly is still waiting for an answer back from the student government, and I have yet to approach the Marriot with a formal plan.
While I would have liked to have gained experience in the formal sense, and worked along with someone in an actual office setting, my experience was invaluable. I not only heightened my knowledge on a pertinent issue, but feel that I have achieved some level of understanding as to the difficulties one faces as an NGO. I certainly was able to witness the work that goes into being an NGO. My communication with the Tostan organization will hopefully continue and progress, ideally resulting in at least one successful event.
Monday, November 24, 2008
November 22: A discouraging find
In juxtaposition to my previous post, further research culminated in the finding that Tostan’s relative success in Senegal was met by a substantial amount of opposition-- and some communities even reverting back to their initial ways. This finding was rather discouraging, as my prior research had been so hopeful. Realistically, when dealing with as controversial a topic as FGM, opposing sides should be expected. An interesting BBC article (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3132350.stm) about some Senegal villages rejecting FGM made it a point to highlight that, while the government is indeed opposed to the practice, the tribal custom is deeply rooted in African and Islamic societies. While this does not necessarily counter my previous findings, it seems to formally suggest some Senegalese refusal to stray from their customs. Even more disappointing was a foreign policy blog I came across at http://children.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2007/08/21/female-genital-mutilation-continues-in-senegal/. While the blog discussed the law against FGM--one that specifies it as a criminal offense that would result in imprisonment for 6 months to 5 years-- as a positive step in the right direction, it also discussed critique of the law as many believe programs to educate on the dangers of FGM should have been more widespread prior to its implementation. This suggests a lack of understanding and therefore acceptance of the law. While Tostan’s holistic education approach is clearly rewarding and thus assuring, it is important to remember that they can only reach so many people. Lack of respectable approaches to ending FGM could likely result in inevitable defiance of the law. The statistics found in this blog, which cited the US Department of State 2001 US State Department Report on FGM in Senegal found that since July 1997, approximately 708 villages had banned FGM, but an estimated 5,500 villages in the country continue to practice it. The blog further addressed the fear of many that the official banning of FGM in 1997 wasn’t as momentous as thought, seeing as stories of FGM continue a decade later.
Molly Melching, the founder of Tostan, noted that the organization did not set out trying to end FGM when it began its programs, nor is FGM eradication its only goal. The Christian Science Monitor (http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0405/p06s01-woaf.html), who interviewed Melching, found that--in some ways-- Tostan is becoming “a victim of its own success.” According to the article, as the number of declarations swells, some Senegalese have come to view Tostan as merely an anti-FGM agency. Particularly in northern Senegal where resistance to ending the practice remains strong, some villages have protested and rioted to dissuade the organization from working with them. It is strange that--as huge a success as this seems-- many Senegalese themselves view the FGM ban as an utter failure. The abovementioned foreign policy blog even quoted a woman stating: “The same women who are publicly declaring it has been abandoned are continuing to cut.” This of course, would discredit a large amount of the success my prior research had assumed. It is almost incomprehensible that anybody would resort back to such a practice after having been extensively education about human rights and health concerns.
It was both discouraging and disheartening to see the essential regression in light of all the seemingly necessary progression. The fact that some villages that had taken part in the abolition of FGM were allegedly reverting back to the custom was especially disheartening.
Molly Melching, the founder of Tostan, noted that the organization did not set out trying to end FGM when it began its programs, nor is FGM eradication its only goal. The Christian Science Monitor (http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0405/p06s01-woaf.html), who interviewed Melching, found that--in some ways-- Tostan is becoming “a victim of its own success.” According to the article, as the number of declarations swells, some Senegalese have come to view Tostan as merely an anti-FGM agency. Particularly in northern Senegal where resistance to ending the practice remains strong, some villages have protested and rioted to dissuade the organization from working with them. It is strange that--as huge a success as this seems-- many Senegalese themselves view the FGM ban as an utter failure. The abovementioned foreign policy blog even quoted a woman stating: “The same women who are publicly declaring it has been abandoned are continuing to cut.” This of course, would discredit a large amount of the success my prior research had assumed. It is almost incomprehensible that anybody would resort back to such a practice after having been extensively education about human rights and health concerns.
It was both discouraging and disheartening to see the essential regression in light of all the seemingly necessary progression. The fact that some villages that had taken part in the abolition of FGM were allegedly reverting back to the custom was especially disheartening.
November 15: Success in Senegal
Although things started to pick up for a bit, I haven’t had much contact with Tostan since my last entry. Molly is still waiting on an email back from the student government, and until we establish some sort of plan, there isn’t very much to do. I told both Gannon and Molly that I would be more than willing to come into the office, even to do the mundane things like filing, but Molly laughed at the idea seeing as she barely has enough busy-work to stay occupied. Considering the recent lull, I figured it would be an opportune time to do a little more research. I remember Molly telling me about her witnessing Tostan’s success in Senegal, due, in her belief, to Tostan being Senegal- led and due to their unique approach. I wanted to look into the actual success of Tostan in Senegal. Indeed, Molly was extremely correct. A website I came across-- http://www.popcouncil.org/rh/tostan/tostan.html-- did an excellent job of summing of Tostan’s impactual successes. In the past decade alone, almost half of the 5,000 communities estimated to practice FGM in Senegal have publicly abandoned the practice along with child/forced marriage. Essentially, though, the two issues go hand in hand in that one of the leading reasons for FGM is a need for acceptance into a marriage.
Specifically, a group of women from the Senegalese village of Malicounda Bambara declared their decision to end the practice of FGM in 1997. The women attributed their departure from centuries-old traditions to Tostan’s basic education program, and the knowledge they had attained in classes on human rights and health. A seeming domino effect is detected, as 3,307 Senegalese villages, 298 in Guinea, and 23 in Burkina Faso, as well as villages from 3 other African countries, have joined the abandonment of FGM since this initial 1997 decision. The 1997 announcement of the women’s’ decision was a first in the history of Senegal, and can be noted as a conscious decision to apply what they had learned in the program to their own lives and betterment. The fact that such a massive number of villages would make a pledge as substantial as abandoning the practice of FGM as well as all other forms of discrimination against women speaks volumes to the progress being made. And hope for more progress seems like a realistic goal. While UNICEF welcomed the decision, they said they would continue to fight for end to the practice in the entire country. While such an epic decision should be appreciated for what it is, it is important not to be satisfied with some change. FGM is a cruel enough practice and counters relatively universal morals enough to hold out hope for its abolition everywhere. Hope remains yet in the fact that a formal law was passed In January 1999, making FGM illegal in Senegal.
To understand how monumental a decision this was, one must have a general knowledge of the extent to which FGM has been culturally entrenched in Senegal. Female genital cutting has existed in Senegal for approximately 2,000 years. While not all ethnic groups practice FGM, many do-- the practice is mandatory for girls to marry. In Senegal FGM tends to be practiced on girls between the ages of 2 and 5, with excision as the most common type performed. The most severe type of FGC--sealing-- does occur sporadically in Senegal. Further proof of the deeply rooted nature of FGM in Senegal lies in the hostility with which other villages reacted to the decision. FGM is so deeply rooted a tradition--especially in that it is required for a girl to marry into another family-- that ending the practice requires agreement among groups whose children marry one another. In this sense, social change could never be achieved in one village alone, highlighting the importance of the domino effect that resulted from the historic decision to abandon FGM.
My research affirmed Molly’s interesting mention of the notable success of Tostan, in large part due to the fact that it is Senegal-led. Indeed, there was a direct correlation between success in Senegal-- especially when compared with other areas of Africa such as Mali-- and Tostan’s work. It was intriguing to learn that women had directly attributed Tostan to their decision to change such a long-standing cultural tradition.
Specifically, a group of women from the Senegalese village of Malicounda Bambara declared their decision to end the practice of FGM in 1997. The women attributed their departure from centuries-old traditions to Tostan’s basic education program, and the knowledge they had attained in classes on human rights and health. A seeming domino effect is detected, as 3,307 Senegalese villages, 298 in Guinea, and 23 in Burkina Faso, as well as villages from 3 other African countries, have joined the abandonment of FGM since this initial 1997 decision. The 1997 announcement of the women’s’ decision was a first in the history of Senegal, and can be noted as a conscious decision to apply what they had learned in the program to their own lives and betterment. The fact that such a massive number of villages would make a pledge as substantial as abandoning the practice of FGM as well as all other forms of discrimination against women speaks volumes to the progress being made. And hope for more progress seems like a realistic goal. While UNICEF welcomed the decision, they said they would continue to fight for end to the practice in the entire country. While such an epic decision should be appreciated for what it is, it is important not to be satisfied with some change. FGM is a cruel enough practice and counters relatively universal morals enough to hold out hope for its abolition everywhere. Hope remains yet in the fact that a formal law was passed In January 1999, making FGM illegal in Senegal.
To understand how monumental a decision this was, one must have a general knowledge of the extent to which FGM has been culturally entrenched in Senegal. Female genital cutting has existed in Senegal for approximately 2,000 years. While not all ethnic groups practice FGM, many do-- the practice is mandatory for girls to marry. In Senegal FGM tends to be practiced on girls between the ages of 2 and 5, with excision as the most common type performed. The most severe type of FGC--sealing-- does occur sporadically in Senegal. Further proof of the deeply rooted nature of FGM in Senegal lies in the hostility with which other villages reacted to the decision. FGM is so deeply rooted a tradition--especially in that it is required for a girl to marry into another family-- that ending the practice requires agreement among groups whose children marry one another. In this sense, social change could never be achieved in one village alone, highlighting the importance of the domino effect that resulted from the historic decision to abandon FGM.
My research affirmed Molly’s interesting mention of the notable success of Tostan, in large part due to the fact that it is Senegal-led. Indeed, there was a direct correlation between success in Senegal-- especially when compared with other areas of Africa such as Mali-- and Tostan’s work. It was intriguing to learn that women had directly attributed Tostan to their decision to change such a long-standing cultural tradition.
November 8: First attempt
Following up on mine and Gannon’s meal swipe discussion, I set out to approach various companies that may be willing to contribute money to Tostan, sponsor an event, etc. After meeting with Molly and speaking over the phone with Gannon again, however, this seemed a bit ambitious given our own relative lack of direction. I decided, instead, to focus on one company that might have been willing to accompany us in our journey. Gannon had mentioned the Marriott’s work with a variety of local NGOs, so I figured it was worth a shot. I went to the Marriott on Embassy Row and surprisingly found a manager very willing to talk with me. While I didn’t have a set direction, I spoke about possible AU interest in Tostan and fundraising options. I introduced the idea of doing something with meal plans (an idea I’m sticking with because I know how many AU students have tons of extra meal swipes by the end of the semester) and the manager I spoke with seemed to like it. Ultimately, the manager told me that he couldn’t give me a definitive answer as I didn’t have a definitive proposal but told me he would like to keep in touch and be updated on our plan. While we are still--essentially--at square one, the meeting went better than I had expected and at least there’s the possibility of a successful event.
I spoke with Gannon to let him know how it went and he seemed very pleased. My only concern is that the Marriott’s willingness to work with us is heavily dependent on my mention of possible AU interest in Tostan; which is not something we are sure of yet.
I spoke with Gannon to let him know how it went and he seemed very pleased. My only concern is that the Marriott’s willingness to work with us is heavily dependent on my mention of possible AU interest in Tostan; which is not something we are sure of yet.
Novemeber 7: First Live Interaction!
Tonight I met with Molly, the Tostan intern from AU. Meeting with a peer provided for an unmatched level of comfort. I’m glad that we ended up meeting in person before Gannon and I did in that I felt very comfortable asking her questions about Tostan. More importantly, Molly and I were more on the same page. She acknowledged that Gannon was a bit ambitious in trying to form a group at AU, and we spoke about more realistic approaches we could take. She told me that Gannon would be more than willing to come speak at AU, which we decided would be a good plan in determining how much interest there is here in terms of FGM. She decided to email student government and see what kind of event we could come up with. So far, things look promising.
Molly was able to inform me about Tostan and about her position-- as Gannon had discussed me taking her place after she graduates. Her description of the office and of her position made it seem like a relatively small NGO. Her position is not paid and she doesn’t do anything substantial aside from some occasional research for Gannon. From what I gather, it seems like Gannon more or less does it all and her position is to file and such. She talked about the DC office as if it was not substantial in comparison with other Tostan offices. I found this strange being that the DC Tostan office is America’s only branch.
I also learned that Tostan is the only Senegal-run program in the area. She told me that a large portion of the staff is Senegalese, which helps to make Tostan’s work highly effective. She discussed how interesting it is to work there and actually witness progress being made. Although she more or less does meaningless work, she said that this portion of her job makes it very worthwhile.
From my meeting with Molly and a brief perusing of the Tostan website (www.tostan.org), I feel that I finally have a general idea of what Tostan is about. From the community service center and the pamphlet they gave me, I was under the impression that Tostan was an organization dedicated solely to the issue of FGM. However, it turns out that their general focus is on human rights-- clearly FGM falls into this category. My discussion with Molly and the website did lead to a noticeable tendency to emphasize FGM, presumably a primary focus of Tostan. Generally speaking, Tostan’s mission is to “empower African communities to bring about sustainable development and positive social transformation based on respect for human rights.” Indeed, the name Tostan itself--which means “breakthrough” in the West African language of Wolof-- is apt. Tostan is internationally recognized by the international community for their groundbreaking work, even winning the prestigious Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize. Indeed, Tostan’s approach is highly successful and unique. Its innovative approach involves necessary moderation and compromise. Tostan provides a holistic 30-month education program to thousands of African communities. This non-formal education program is taught in local languages and with African oral traditions. In fact, over 99% of Tostan’s paid staff is African. This automatically provides a level of trust and comfort in those they are trying to help. While Tostan benefits greatly from worldwide support, they maintain a vested interest in local, grassroots empowerment. Tostan takes the unique approach at attacking the root of a problem. Perhaps their success can be largely attributed to this.
Their unique Community Empowerment Program allows for the empowerment of African communities to make sustainable development and changes. With current operations in Senegal, Guinea, The Gambia, Mauritania, Somalia, and Djibouti, Tostan is clearly applying their approach to a variety of places-- many of which struggle greatly with the problem of FGM. While ending FGM was not one of Tostan’s initial objectives, it has grown into a pertinent issue for Tostan, and one with which they have had relatively great success. Tostan is especially notable in their approach. They do not try to force their opinions on anyone, but simply provide education and hope that change will be the ultimate result. They provide the information and let the people draw their own conclusions. This does not belittle anyone or cross any already-thin boundaries. In offering education sans opinions, they are simultaneously offering their respect and their confidence in the African peoples’ ability to draw the right conclusions from what they are taught. I find this approach extremely admirable. Simple but smart, the approach attacks the root of the problem by spreading the word to people with the expectation that they will then teach others what they have learned.
Molly was able to inform me about Tostan and about her position-- as Gannon had discussed me taking her place after she graduates. Her description of the office and of her position made it seem like a relatively small NGO. Her position is not paid and she doesn’t do anything substantial aside from some occasional research for Gannon. From what I gather, it seems like Gannon more or less does it all and her position is to file and such. She talked about the DC office as if it was not substantial in comparison with other Tostan offices. I found this strange being that the DC Tostan office is America’s only branch.
I also learned that Tostan is the only Senegal-run program in the area. She told me that a large portion of the staff is Senegalese, which helps to make Tostan’s work highly effective. She discussed how interesting it is to work there and actually witness progress being made. Although she more or less does meaningless work, she said that this portion of her job makes it very worthwhile.
From my meeting with Molly and a brief perusing of the Tostan website (www.tostan.org), I feel that I finally have a general idea of what Tostan is about. From the community service center and the pamphlet they gave me, I was under the impression that Tostan was an organization dedicated solely to the issue of FGM. However, it turns out that their general focus is on human rights-- clearly FGM falls into this category. My discussion with Molly and the website did lead to a noticeable tendency to emphasize FGM, presumably a primary focus of Tostan. Generally speaking, Tostan’s mission is to “empower African communities to bring about sustainable development and positive social transformation based on respect for human rights.” Indeed, the name Tostan itself--which means “breakthrough” in the West African language of Wolof-- is apt. Tostan is internationally recognized by the international community for their groundbreaking work, even winning the prestigious Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize. Indeed, Tostan’s approach is highly successful and unique. Its innovative approach involves necessary moderation and compromise. Tostan provides a holistic 30-month education program to thousands of African communities. This non-formal education program is taught in local languages and with African oral traditions. In fact, over 99% of Tostan’s paid staff is African. This automatically provides a level of trust and comfort in those they are trying to help. While Tostan benefits greatly from worldwide support, they maintain a vested interest in local, grassroots empowerment. Tostan takes the unique approach at attacking the root of a problem. Perhaps their success can be largely attributed to this.
Their unique Community Empowerment Program allows for the empowerment of African communities to make sustainable development and changes. With current operations in Senegal, Guinea, The Gambia, Mauritania, Somalia, and Djibouti, Tostan is clearly applying their approach to a variety of places-- many of which struggle greatly with the problem of FGM. While ending FGM was not one of Tostan’s initial objectives, it has grown into a pertinent issue for Tostan, and one with which they have had relatively great success. Tostan is especially notable in their approach. They do not try to force their opinions on anyone, but simply provide education and hope that change will be the ultimate result. They provide the information and let the people draw their own conclusions. This does not belittle anyone or cross any already-thin boundaries. In offering education sans opinions, they are simultaneously offering their respect and their confidence in the African peoples’ ability to draw the right conclusions from what they are taught. I find this approach extremely admirable. Simple but smart, the approach attacks the root of the problem by spreading the word to people with the expectation that they will then teach others what they have learned.
October 30: Contact, finally
After accepting mutually busy schedules, the director of the U.S. Tostan office and I finally settled for a phone conversation. Even this proved difficult, as it took several phone calls to even set up an opportune time to converse. Gannon Gillespie, the director whom I’ve been emailing with, was as enthusiastic as you would expect the director of an organization like Tostan to be. As I still only know a preliminary amount about Tostan I would have liked to inquire a bit about that. Gannon, however, was eager to discuss much bigger plans. We spoke about what we could possibly do to, at the very least, promote FGM awareness. He told me that there was a substantial amount of interest from both AU students and faculty in forming a group at AU. We discussed my time availability--which is promising-- and how we would go about forming such a group. While I think that solely heading the formation of a Tostan group at AU would be biting off a bit more than I could chew, I think a much more realistic and ultimately beneficial goal would be planning an event to see how much interest we could generate.
We discussed events that Tostan has done in the past. He discussed a fundraiser in which a company donated money for every meal swipe students donated. This reminded me of a popular event at AU in which students use their meal swipes on boxed lunch and give it to the homeless. Hopefully students would be equally generous with their meal swipes for the cause of FGM. He explained how helpful it would be to have a group at AU. Specifically, he mentioned the difficulty in obtaining the support of companies in that there are so many non-profits competing for the same support. He noted that the ability to offer up something like a group at a local college could actually have a substantial impact on a companies’ decision to donate. We ultimately decided to plan something that would either generate interest or test how much interest the AU community has in FGM.
Aside from informally forming a plan of sorts, my conversation with Gannon was very interesting. Firstly, we discussed where he had been (as I knew he had been out of town until October 27). Apparently he had been all throughout Europe doing Tostan-related stuff. I thought that was very interesting as it showed the international pertinence of Tostan. Also surprising was the fact that an AU student currently interns at Tostan. Luckily, she was in the office during mine and Gannon’s conversation. We spoke on the phone and set up a time to meet. Gannon suggested the possibility of the 2 of us working to plan an event together. Hopefully it’ll work out. Either way, I’m excited to meet with her and learn a little bit more about Tostan.
We discussed events that Tostan has done in the past. He discussed a fundraiser in which a company donated money for every meal swipe students donated. This reminded me of a popular event at AU in which students use their meal swipes on boxed lunch and give it to the homeless. Hopefully students would be equally generous with their meal swipes for the cause of FGM. He explained how helpful it would be to have a group at AU. Specifically, he mentioned the difficulty in obtaining the support of companies in that there are so many non-profits competing for the same support. He noted that the ability to offer up something like a group at a local college could actually have a substantial impact on a companies’ decision to donate. We ultimately decided to plan something that would either generate interest or test how much interest the AU community has in FGM.
Aside from informally forming a plan of sorts, my conversation with Gannon was very interesting. Firstly, we discussed where he had been (as I knew he had been out of town until October 27). Apparently he had been all throughout Europe doing Tostan-related stuff. I thought that was very interesting as it showed the international pertinence of Tostan. Also surprising was the fact that an AU student currently interns at Tostan. Luckily, she was in the office during mine and Gannon’s conversation. We spoke on the phone and set up a time to meet. Gannon suggested the possibility of the 2 of us working to plan an event together. Hopefully it’ll work out. Either way, I’m excited to meet with her and learn a little bit more about Tostan.
October 29: The Whys of FGM
I have been emailing back and forth with Tostan, now that the director of the U.S. office is back in town. While we continually encounter problems in trying to meet, it is encouraging to even be in contact. Fortunately, my last portion of research only wet my appetite. Processing so much shocking information at once almost inadvertently led me to ask why. As globally progressive a society we are today, how could such a blatantly cruel tradition still stand? Indeed, FGM is internationally recognized as a violation of human rights. In this portion of my research, then, I set out to figure out what--if any-- attempts at justification of FGM exist. The variety of proposed causes was surprising. While a general knowledge of FGM allowed me an idea of the “keeping women in line” reasoning behind the practice, I did not know how extensive and deeply rooted the reasoning behind FGM was.
The causes of female genital mutilation include a mix of cultural, religious and social factors within families and communities. As a social convention, the social pressure to conform to “the norm” and what others do and have been doing often perpetuates the practice. Further, there is an almost innate notion that FGM is a necessary part of raising a girl properly, and pertinent to preparing her for adulthood and marriage. Oftentimes, FGM is an attempt at reducing a woman’s libido and to ensure her chastity. The procedure of narrowing the vagina physically hinders a woman from having premarital sex, and the lifetime of pain that often comes with circumcision is believed to prevent a woman’s sexual desire and therefore discourage “illicit” sexual acts. Even more ridiculous is FGM’s connotation of cultural ideals regarding femininity and modesty. Girls are considered “clean” and “beautiful” only upon the removal of body parts that are considered “male” or “unclean.” Moreover, practitioners often believe that the practice is religiously backed. The torturous act even is endorsed by something so miniscule as local structures of power and authority. Often community leaders, religious leaders, circumcisers, and even some medical personnel contribute to upholding the practice. More disturbing is the fact that it sometimes even boils down to following trends. In some societies, new groups adopt FGM when the move into areas where the local population practices FGM. Some societies’ adoption is merely an attempt to copy the traditions of neighboring groups, while others get swept up in a wider religious or traditional movement. Many simply argue FGM a necessity in that it is a cultural tradition that should not be broken.
Particularly disturbing and shocking was the fact that FGM has, more or less, some form of religious backing. FGM is often justified by a saying contributed to the Prophet Mohammed. According to http://www.religioustolerance.org/fem_cirm.htm, the Muslim Women’s League argues that those who advocate FGM from an Islamic perspective quote the saying: “A woman used to perform circumcision in Medina. The Prophet said to her: Do not cut too severely as that is better for a woman and more desirable for a husband.” While the actual meaning behind the saying is controversial, it clearly alludes to some condoning of female circumcision.
A UNICEF article (http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/senegal_30046.html) provided profound insights on this subject in that it offered the account of a Senegalese woman. Even rarer was the fact that she was an ex-FGM operator turned anti-FGM. While she was formerly somebody who not only supported but performed the operations, she now campaigns against it. In the article, the Senegalese woman emphasizes how important a practice it seemed to her when she considered it a religious obligation. She is even quoted as saying:
"Ever since I learned that FGM/C is not required by Islam and that it is a violation of girls' and women’s rights, I stopped practicing. It was when the Tostan program came to our village that I understood the dangers of the practice and began to question the need to continue. Our class called together the whole village and other communities where we marry our daughters and sons. Together we made the decision to end the practice."
This new knowledge was enhanced by her being taught about the health concerns that arise due to FGM. She noted a common belief that such problems (including hemorrhaging, shock, infection, etc.) were caused by evil spirits. She then noted how the education program taught her differently.
This speaks volumes to the huge impact that education can have. While such primitive and seemingly unwavering religious notions often seem impenetrable, the UNICEF article provided an exemplary situation in which a mere educational program can detach one from a strict adherence to a belief. The change portrayed was drastic not only in a shift from someone who performed the surgery to someone who campaigns against it but in the change from a strict belief in religious backing to a rational take on the reality of the situation.
While the causes of FGM are extensive and seemingly embedded, approaches clearly exist that can drastically better the problem of FGM.
The causes of female genital mutilation include a mix of cultural, religious and social factors within families and communities. As a social convention, the social pressure to conform to “the norm” and what others do and have been doing often perpetuates the practice. Further, there is an almost innate notion that FGM is a necessary part of raising a girl properly, and pertinent to preparing her for adulthood and marriage. Oftentimes, FGM is an attempt at reducing a woman’s libido and to ensure her chastity. The procedure of narrowing the vagina physically hinders a woman from having premarital sex, and the lifetime of pain that often comes with circumcision is believed to prevent a woman’s sexual desire and therefore discourage “illicit” sexual acts. Even more ridiculous is FGM’s connotation of cultural ideals regarding femininity and modesty. Girls are considered “clean” and “beautiful” only upon the removal of body parts that are considered “male” or “unclean.” Moreover, practitioners often believe that the practice is religiously backed. The torturous act even is endorsed by something so miniscule as local structures of power and authority. Often community leaders, religious leaders, circumcisers, and even some medical personnel contribute to upholding the practice. More disturbing is the fact that it sometimes even boils down to following trends. In some societies, new groups adopt FGM when the move into areas where the local population practices FGM. Some societies’ adoption is merely an attempt to copy the traditions of neighboring groups, while others get swept up in a wider religious or traditional movement. Many simply argue FGM a necessity in that it is a cultural tradition that should not be broken.
Particularly disturbing and shocking was the fact that FGM has, more or less, some form of religious backing. FGM is often justified by a saying contributed to the Prophet Mohammed. According to http://www.religioustolerance.org/fem_cirm.htm, the Muslim Women’s League argues that those who advocate FGM from an Islamic perspective quote the saying: “A woman used to perform circumcision in Medina. The Prophet said to her: Do not cut too severely as that is better for a woman and more desirable for a husband.” While the actual meaning behind the saying is controversial, it clearly alludes to some condoning of female circumcision.
A UNICEF article (http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/senegal_30046.html) provided profound insights on this subject in that it offered the account of a Senegalese woman. Even rarer was the fact that she was an ex-FGM operator turned anti-FGM. While she was formerly somebody who not only supported but performed the operations, she now campaigns against it. In the article, the Senegalese woman emphasizes how important a practice it seemed to her when she considered it a religious obligation. She is even quoted as saying:
"Ever since I learned that FGM/C is not required by Islam and that it is a violation of girls' and women’s rights, I stopped practicing. It was when the Tostan program came to our village that I understood the dangers of the practice and began to question the need to continue. Our class called together the whole village and other communities where we marry our daughters and sons. Together we made the decision to end the practice."
This new knowledge was enhanced by her being taught about the health concerns that arise due to FGM. She noted a common belief that such problems (including hemorrhaging, shock, infection, etc.) were caused by evil spirits. She then noted how the education program taught her differently.
This speaks volumes to the huge impact that education can have. While such primitive and seemingly unwavering religious notions often seem impenetrable, the UNICEF article provided an exemplary situation in which a mere educational program can detach one from a strict adherence to a belief. The change portrayed was drastic not only in a shift from someone who performed the surgery to someone who campaigns against it but in the change from a strict belief in religious backing to a rational take on the reality of the situation.
While the causes of FGM are extensive and seemingly embedded, approaches clearly exist that can drastically better the problem of FGM.
October 24: Initial FGM Research
While my own generated interest in the inhumane practice of FGM arose from the un-ignorably shocking nature of the practice, my knowledge on the topic was not extensive. Indeed, I had obtained a certain level of knowledge regarding the reasoning behind the practice, who the practice generally affects, etc. However, whatever minimal knowledge I had obtained did not include any technicalities. Consequently, my research culminated in inevitable shock-- accompanied by a profoundly heightened interest in the subject.
Most shocking, perhaps, were the technical procedures of the practice itself. While the inexplicable cruelty of the procedure can be deduced from the name alone, the variety and maliciousness of the practices is hardly encompassed-- even in as suggestive a word as “mutilation.” The World Health Organization website offered a useful fact sheet that provided a concise but knowledgeable description of FGM (http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/). FGM is a variety of procedures that intentionally alter or injure female genital organs for non-medical reasons. While it is a rather Africa-specific problem, I was surprised to learn that other portions of the world practice FGM. In fact, an estimated 100 to 140 million girls worldwide are currently living with the consequences of FGM. Even more shocking was the fact that in Africa, 3 million girls are at risk for FGM-- annually.
While the procedure offers no health benefits, the potential for medical problems is extensive. It can cause severe bleeding, problems urinating, potential childbirth complications and even newborn deaths. The unnatural removal of healthy body tissue interferes with natural functions of the body. Severe pain, shock, hemorrhaging, and bacterial infections alone are potential short-term consequences. While the practice is mostly carried out between infancy and the age of 15, the effects of the practice are often felt for a lifetime. In some instances, the practice is performed on women up to the age of 30!
An in-depth description of FGM is not for the weak of heart. It was especially surprising to learn that there was actually a variety of methods. Such a primitive practice actually follows some sort of structure! In fact, some communities have even started to shift from village-appointed operators to certified surgeons. While this should be a positive change in that it makes the practice safer, it is disheartening in that it reflects FGM supporters’ desire to cling to the practice-- going so far as to “remedy” some of the main arguments against the practice. The practice is carried out in 4 main procedures: clitoridectomy, excision, infibulation, and other. Essentially, the procedure varies between a partial or total removal of the clitoris, partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, narrowing--or essentially sealing-- the vaginal opening (with or without the removal of the clitoris), and any pricking, piercing, scarring, scraping, etc. performed on the genital region. The extensiveness of the procedures connote not only the torturous and inhumane aspects of the procedure but the unimaginable pain the women must undergo.
Moreover, the prevalence of FGM was surprising. The Center for Reproductive Rights offered shocking statistics (http://www.reproductiverights.org/pub_fac_fgmicpd.html). FGM is prevalent in about 28 African countries and among a few minority groups in Asia. Significant differences from country to country were extremely shocking. The prevalence rate in Mali is 92%, compared to Senegal’s 28%! There is even a correlation between area and severity of the procedure. While it is estimated that 15% of all circumcised women have undergone the most severe form of FGM (which involves the narrowing of the vaginal opening), approximately 80% to 90% of all circumcisions in Djibouti, Somalia, and Sudan are of this type.
Learning about the intricacies and the prevalence of FGM largely enhanced my interest in the topic. The seemingly deep-seated nature of the issue especially heightened my interest in Tostan. I am curious to learn about Tostan’s approach to such a prevalent and tradition-backed problem.
Most shocking, perhaps, were the technical procedures of the practice itself. While the inexplicable cruelty of the procedure can be deduced from the name alone, the variety and maliciousness of the practices is hardly encompassed-- even in as suggestive a word as “mutilation.” The World Health Organization website offered a useful fact sheet that provided a concise but knowledgeable description of FGM (http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/). FGM is a variety of procedures that intentionally alter or injure female genital organs for non-medical reasons. While it is a rather Africa-specific problem, I was surprised to learn that other portions of the world practice FGM. In fact, an estimated 100 to 140 million girls worldwide are currently living with the consequences of FGM. Even more shocking was the fact that in Africa, 3 million girls are at risk for FGM-- annually.
While the procedure offers no health benefits, the potential for medical problems is extensive. It can cause severe bleeding, problems urinating, potential childbirth complications and even newborn deaths. The unnatural removal of healthy body tissue interferes with natural functions of the body. Severe pain, shock, hemorrhaging, and bacterial infections alone are potential short-term consequences. While the practice is mostly carried out between infancy and the age of 15, the effects of the practice are often felt for a lifetime. In some instances, the practice is performed on women up to the age of 30!
An in-depth description of FGM is not for the weak of heart. It was especially surprising to learn that there was actually a variety of methods. Such a primitive practice actually follows some sort of structure! In fact, some communities have even started to shift from village-appointed operators to certified surgeons. While this should be a positive change in that it makes the practice safer, it is disheartening in that it reflects FGM supporters’ desire to cling to the practice-- going so far as to “remedy” some of the main arguments against the practice. The practice is carried out in 4 main procedures: clitoridectomy, excision, infibulation, and other. Essentially, the procedure varies between a partial or total removal of the clitoris, partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, narrowing--or essentially sealing-- the vaginal opening (with or without the removal of the clitoris), and any pricking, piercing, scarring, scraping, etc. performed on the genital region. The extensiveness of the procedures connote not only the torturous and inhumane aspects of the procedure but the unimaginable pain the women must undergo.
Moreover, the prevalence of FGM was surprising. The Center for Reproductive Rights offered shocking statistics (http://www.reproductiverights.org/pub_fac_fgmicpd.html). FGM is prevalent in about 28 African countries and among a few minority groups in Asia. Significant differences from country to country were extremely shocking. The prevalence rate in Mali is 92%, compared to Senegal’s 28%! There is even a correlation between area and severity of the procedure. While it is estimated that 15% of all circumcised women have undergone the most severe form of FGM (which involves the narrowing of the vaginal opening), approximately 80% to 90% of all circumcisions in Djibouti, Somalia, and Sudan are of this type.
Learning about the intricacies and the prevalence of FGM largely enhanced my interest in the topic. The seemingly deep-seated nature of the issue especially heightened my interest in Tostan. I am curious to learn about Tostan’s approach to such a prevalent and tradition-backed problem.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Introduction: A different route
Hi! Welcome to my blog! I had my heart set on doing the community service option for our final project, and seemed to find my ticket to doing so in the Tostan organization. While I knew my options would be limited, and I shouldn't concentrate my interests into one specific organization, Tostan's involvement with the plague that is Female Genital Mutilation really hit home with me. Although I contacted a variety of organizations, you can imagine my satisfaction upon hearing back from the Tostan organization. It was a bittersweet feeling however-- they were interested in working with me (and possibly starting a group at AU!) but asked to be contacted after October 27. Consequently, I find myself in a unique position. Faced with a topic in which I have infinite and genuine interest, and with an organization potentially but not definitely willing to work with me, I am unsure of the end result of my efforts.
Nevertheless, I intend to--essentially--work backwards. Whereas most people will inform you about their interactions with their respective organizations and then bring it all to a final thesis, I intend to do just the opposite. The upcoming blogs will inform you-- to the best of my abilites-- of the virtually inexplicable problem that is female genital mutilation. As I research, you will learn along with me-- and I will hopefully generate interest. It is my hope that this interest will come to fruition in an event with Tostan. I hope you look forward to this endeavor as much as I do and I am confident that either way the end result will be rewarding.
-Melissa
Nevertheless, I intend to--essentially--work backwards. Whereas most people will inform you about their interactions with their respective organizations and then bring it all to a final thesis, I intend to do just the opposite. The upcoming blogs will inform you-- to the best of my abilites-- of the virtually inexplicable problem that is female genital mutilation. As I research, you will learn along with me-- and I will hopefully generate interest. It is my hope that this interest will come to fruition in an event with Tostan. I hope you look forward to this endeavor as much as I do and I am confident that either way the end result will be rewarding.
-Melissa
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