Why does FGM happen in Somalia?

[GemState]

FGM is 90% enforced by women, I have seen men who were against their daughters undergoing it, but when they were out the house, the older women in the family would do it anyway to the young girl,

 

[youngrichnigga]

FGM is 90% enforced by women, I have seen men who were against their daughters undergoing it, but when they were out the house, the older women in the family would do it anyway to the young girl,

I’ve watched a documentary on it and it was all women who were basically the leaders smh I feel like they’re lowkey jealous of the young girls miskeen.

 

[Angelina]

But why it's only done and encouraged by women? Even the FGM has some kind of a ceremonial meaning for entering womenhood in some women's perspective, there's even some poems about FGM by women.

We live in a patriarchal world, even more so in Somalia and historically. Men influence the norms and rules of society and women follow suit and uphold it in society. I would have thought that it was obvious that a lot of patriarchal traditions rely on the programming and socialization of women to think a particular way in order for certain traditions to carry on.

Its the same as the white sheets on the wedding night tradition. In some cultures, its the aunt or even mother in law who does the inspection of the sheets the next morning. Ask yourself, who benefits?

 

[Amirah]

But why it's only done and encouraged by women? Even the FGM has some kind of a ceremonial meaning for entering womenhood in some women's perspective, there's even some poems about FGM by women.

You don’t see women in other societies encouraging it...why? Because It’s not an inherent trait in women that encourages this practice. They only encourage it themselves because of social conditioning.These women were taught historically that if you’re uncircumcised you’re not marriageable(or desirable)the same way female virginity is guarded by both genders yet male’s isn’t. Do you think women are xoolo who would promote their own abuse? Patriarchal societies set the rules and women had no choice historically but to follow them. As time passed, every mother wanted to ensured her daughter(s) would be accepted into society therefore enforced the rules. What you’re seeing now is the result of 1000s of years of conditioning. No one promotes their own abuse unless it’s been set in motion by someone more powerful than them.

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[Angelina]

FGM is 90% enforced by women, I have seen men who were against their daughters undergoing it, but when they were out the house, the older women in the family would do it anyway to the young girl,

Less than 40 years ago, girls that were not circumcised would not be seen as marriage material. Somali men would not marry them. In societies like Somalia in which marriage is seen as incredibly important due to rigid gender roles in which women need men for survival and finances, these mothers were in their own twisted way securing their daughters future. Mindsets don't change over night. The same women who were socially conditioned to believe that FGM is the only way they can attain respect and value will obviously be pro- FGM.

I find it hilarious how Somali men love to forget about context and history when it comes to FGM. In patriarchal societies, men set the rules, women follow. Even more so, when women have a lot to lose if they don't tow the line.

 

[Empress of Hawiye]

...

 

[Chase]

FGM was something started by Fir’awn regarding the Prophet Musa CS dream, which is haram. Circumcision is one of the sunnahs and is obligatory for males and mustahabb but not obligatory for females. Whatever is decreed sunnah should always be taken into consideration that it is there for our own good and benefit. There are health benefits in female circumcision:


It reduces sensitivity of the clitoris which may increase in size when aroused.

The secretions of the labia accumulate in uncircumcised women which can lead to infections and bad odour.

Circumcision removes excessive libido in women.

It also reduces urinary tract infection.



...amongst many other health benefits. Female circumcision is an obedience to Islam by acting in accordance with the sunnah which encourages it and it should be done in the proper way. It is a choice parents can make for their daughters when they’re young but they should avoid the cutting which resembles FGM.



And Allah knows best

All that can be avoided by just keeping your hygiene in order, even if it was true that it would reduce the chances of a UTI, it would only decrease the rate of infection by 1 or 2% hardly justifying the procedure, and removing excessive libido? Why would any guy want that? What inbred frypan-head subhuman came up with this?

 

[GemState]

Less than 40 years ago, girls that were not circumcised would not be seen as marriage material. Somali men would not marry them. In societies like Somalia in which marriage is seen as incredibly important due to rigid gender roles in which women need men for survival and finances, these mothers were in their own twisted way securing their daughters future. Mindsets don't change over night. The same women who were socially conditioned to believe that FGM is the only way they can attain respect and value will obviously be pro- FGM.

I find it hilarious how Somali men love to forget about context and history when it comes to FGM. In patriarchal societies, men set the rules, women follow. Even more so, when women have a lot to loose if they don't tow the line.

The fact is that the vast majority of the people today who promote, enforce and physically mutilate younger girls in Somalia are other women. Even when there was a controversial bill allowing child marriages in Somalia, the majority of MP's who were voting in favor were other Somali women.

You can calcaal and copy paste paragraphs from Sociology textbooks in an attempt to deflect blame solely onto Somali men all you want, but the truth is that the women are just as culpable

 

[Angelina]

The fact is that the vast majority of the people today who promote, enforce and physically mutilate younger girls in Somalia are other women. Even when there was a controversial bill allowing child marriages in Somalia, the majority of MP's who were voting in favor were other Somali women.

You can calcaal and copy paste paragraphs from Sociology textbooks in an attempt to deflect blame solely onto Somali men all you want, but the truth is that the women are just as culpable

You can't have an honest conversation if you want to completly overlook context and reality. It is a fact that a lot of sexist and patriarchal practices relies on the conditioning of the women. You also, cannot have a genuine conversation if you fail to acknowledge that many of the traditions we hold today, are influenced by past thoughts and opinions passed down. You even refuse to look at why FGM even exists in the first place.

The reality is that the majority of the women who are pro are 50+ women who grew up in a society in which men thought that women without FGM are dirty and umarriageable. Ask your mum or any older woman in the family. You can accuse them of qouting sociological books if you want. To deny this makes you a liar. Men wanted it, women complied.

That is the facts, so you can calaacal all you want. Nor can you escape the historical reality in which FGM is something men thought benefitted them: a without doubt virgin wife.

Your whole post is blaming the middle man who does the dirty work, rather than the one at top who enforces it and benefits from it.

Nice try though.

 

[HiraanBorn]

Male circumcision can already be very difficult for men but it is obligatory so there is no way around it. So in my opinion, doing it to women really is unnecessary since women often go through severe complications in life due to it.

It makes life for women in poverty-stricken countries more difficult to deal with not to mention the struggle of childbirth becoming worse because of fgm. We should be fairer and more merciful to the women and we need to advocate for this horrid practice to end for Allah S.W.T's sake.

 

[whitehartlane]

I don’t see the benefit of finger pointing here... some of you women are just angry and loud for no meaningful reason.

There were million things that were wrong in the world and it takes time for a society to change a certain trait.

luckily FGM has been dying in Somalia slowly but gradually since the 80s...

Today I don’t think you will find this practise in either puntland opuntland cities maybe here and there with the nomadic folks but even there FGM is decreasing at a phenomenal rate.

No sane somali father would let his daughter to be cut..

 

[SOULSEARCHING]

I heard most girls born back home in the west most likely got it done.