Africa
Anthropology
Campaigns
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Diaspora
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Female Circumcision
Female Genital Cutting
Female Genital Mutilation
History
Legislation
Male Circumcision
Political Science
Public Health
Ritual Context
Product details
- ISBN 9781847014245
- Dimensions: 138 x 216mm
- Publication Date: 21 Apr 2026
- Publisher: James Currey
- Publication City/Country: GB
- Product Form: Hardback
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A nuanced, interdisciplinary examination of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) that challenges dominant health and human-rights narratives by situating the practice within its social, ritual, and cultural contexts, and foregrounding the voices of affected communities.
Few issues arouse as much controversy as female circumcision, also called a variety of terms including female genital cutting, female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), and female genital modification. The very terminology is contentious, reflecting polarised ideological stances. This book discusses, critiques, and analyses contemporary issues around female circumcision in Africa and the diaspora, campaigns and legislation against it, and alternatives to it. It traces historical continuities in anti-FGM/C campaigns and examines how certain hegemonic narratives have developed as initiatives, legislation, and protocols were rolled out. The book argues that FGM/C is not 'just' a health, human-rights, and gender-violence issue but is multi-faceted and intersectional.
Moving away from a focus on the physical 'cut', chapters examine FGM/C in terms of social relations, asserting that FGM/C must be situated and understood in deeper ritual context and that external interventions aimed at ending the practice are doomed to fail unless external actors listen to and truly engage with the communities concerned. At the same time, FGM/C is discussed in parallel with male circumcision, as both mark ritual initiation into adulthood, raise people's status, and underpin the structure of age-organised societies. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, including perspectives from anthropology, history, political science, medicine and zemiology, the book includes a range of voices, importantly, those of community members as well as scholars, development practitioners and public health professionals, with a view to promoting constructive dialogue between sectors.
LOTTE HUGHES is an independent scholar and Honorary Associate of The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK. MARK LAMONT is Lecturer in International Development at The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK. KATY NEWELL-JONES is a consultant in international development and global education. DAMARIS PARSITAU is Associate Professor of Religion and Gender Studies at Daystar University,
Nairobi, Kenya and Director of the Nagel Institute for the Study of World Christianity, Calvin University, Grand Rapids, USA. DAMARIS PARSITAU is Associate Professor of Religion and Gender Studies at Daystar University,
Nairobi, Kenya and Director of the Nagel Institute for the Study of World Christianity, Calvin University, Grand Rapids, USA. KATY NEWELL-JONES is a consultant in international development and global education. LOTTE HUGHES is an independent scholar and Honorary Associate of The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK. MARK LAMONT is Lecturer in International Development at The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK.
