FGM /C THE HIDDEN FACTS

By Clementine Osodo So far there is n o m e d i c a l explanation or reason as to why FGM/C should be practiced but the following are the reasons given by the various communities practicing it in Kenya. Gendering Some communities in Kenya believe that by mutilating the genitals, they remove the maleness in a woman. They believe that the organ grows to match the size of the male organ thus it may challenge the male organ during intercourse. Those who have not undergone the practice are considered abnormal women and are not accorded the respect given to real women. Rite of Passage / Initiation S e v e r a l K e n y a n communities like Meru, Embu, Maasai, Kalenjin consider FGM/C a rite of passage through which important cultural values and adult expectations are transmitted to the youth. Women and girls who are not cut are often ridiculed, discriminated, called names, made to feel ashamed of themselves and addressed as children. Ensure Marriageabilty The Samburu support cutting because it makes their daughters marriageable and also attracts high bride price. To the Maasai however, marriage is considered a very important factor to a girl’s life because it gives her a home and it is important for the continuation of the family tree. Maasai men feel honoured to marry circumcised girls and any man who campaigns against the same practice can not be elected as a leader. Women in the same communities also believe that marriage is not complete unless a mother cuts her daughter preparing her for marriage. In other communities such as Kisii and Kuria, uncut girls are considered as children and are called names eg “Egesagane” in Kisii and “Kunene” in Kuria. These are derogatory terms that make it diffi cult for them to get married. Family Honour The Somali believe that a family that fails to circumcise its daughters risks losing respect and its members may be ostracized and made outcasts. This is because of the great importance and value that they attach to virginity and marriage. The virginity of a bride, usually ascertained by the narrowness of the vagina after infubilation attracts a very high bride price. Women who do not circumcise their daughters are seen as irresponsible, immoral and imitators of the western culture. This is common also among the Meru, Kalenjin and Abagusii. Controlling Sexuality Many ethnic groups believe that cutting and stitching a girl’s genital organ suppresses her sexual desires. This keeps her from having sex for pleasure before, outside and during marriage. The Kisii believe that a woman will not have pre- marital and extra- marital sexual affairs because she will not have a strong drive for the same. Women who are uncut are believed to have a very strong sexual desire and are easily aroused a situation which is culturally unacceptable. In some communities such as the Somali, re-infubilation is done after birth, divorce or before remarrying to enhance the husband’s sexual pleasure. According to most elders, the practice is done to reduce the libido of the girls and to enforce the cultural values of sexual purity and virginity until marriage. Religious Requirement The Somali, Borana, Orma, Wardey and Boni practice FGM/C because they believe it is a religious requirement. They believe that it constitutes a religious practice. This is where the prepuce covering the clitoris is removed to make the prayers of that person to be accepted. The clitoris is considered not pure in the sense of religious purity and cleanliness thus it must be removed. Cultural and Ethnic Identity Most ethnic groups that practice FGM/C in Kenya consider it a deeply rooted cultural practice. Many women do it to their daughters because their parents did it to them and they feel their daughters have to undergo the same and pass where they passed. The following are the consequences women who have undergone FGM/C have to face. They may be psychological, physical, sexual or health consequences. Kidney failure Due to total stitching in some girls, the passage of urine is limited and this affects the operations of the kidney making it to develop a disease or damage. Fistula This is a situation where there is continuous leakage of urine. It develops due to obstruction, straining and prolonged labour. Multiple Keloids Girls may develop Keloids (growth) around the vulva as a result of poor and unhygienic mutilation. Haemorrhage and Infection Because most of the people who do the mutilation are not health practitioners, they don’t know ways to control bleeding and some of the herbs they use may develop infections. Some of the girls who are cut may bleed to death or develop infections. HIV and AIDS Some of the midwives who mutilate insist on using one knife on all the girls as a way to fulfi l the requirements of the rite of passage. This may in turn lead to the passage of the HIV virus through transfer of fresh blood from one girl to another. Birth Consequences Most women who have been cut undergo caesarian section delivery, they lose 70% more blood compared to those who are not cut, their babies are always resuscitated, there is a high possibility of baby death during birth due to the strain to pass through the narrow vagina. Prolapse of Uterus This is a situation where the uterus hangs out of the vulva, it comes about due to the strain exerted on it during delivery. Men have been called upon to be in the frontline to oppose FGM/C since just about all reasons given for the practice is to allegedly please or favour them. 􀂈