The identity economics of female genital mutilation
Open accessAbstract
Female genital mutilation (FGM) involves the partial or complete excision of external female genitalia and other damage to the female genital organs. This paper develops the identity economics of FGM as a complement to the agency-cost explanation provided by previous rational choice theorists. We analyze how identity influences the costs and benefits associated with participation in the FGM ritual, offering insight into effective change of the practice. Our analysis also explains some of the counter-intuitive phenomena associated with FGM, such as older circumcised females being the main gatekeepers who perpetuate the practice.
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The ethnographic literature reveals a range of socio-cultural reasons why parents cut their daughters, including initiation into adulthood, social status, cleanliness, gendered/ethnic identities, and respect for authority/community culture.
“Importantly, the ethnographic literature on FGMC reveals a range of socio-cultural reasons why parents cut their daughters; these reasons include initiating individuals into adulthood and elevating their social status (Coyne and Coyne, 2014;Shell-Duncan et al., 2011, 2018), maintaining cleanliness and hygiene (Gruenbaum, 2001), imprinting gendered and ethnic identities onto the body (Boddy, 1982;”
From Abandoning female genital mutilation/cutting (FGMC) is an emerging but costly parental investment strategy in rural Ethiopia. (2023) · cites this paper as Coyne and Coyne, 2014
Cites
The Female Circumcision Controversy: An Anthropological Perspective
Gruenbaum, E. (2001) · doi:10.9783/9780812292510 · Cited by 335 · see citing works
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Gibson, M. A., Gurmu, E., Chua, R., Van Bavel, H., & Myers, S. (2023) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116170 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
- Authors
- Coyne, C. J., & Coyne, R. L.
- Affiliations
- George Mason University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Coyne, Christopher J.
- Venue
- The Journal of Developing Areas
- Publisher
- Project MUSE
- Published
- 2014-03
- Volume
- 48
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 137-152
- ISSN
- 0022-037X (ISSN-L)
- 1548-2278
- OpenAlex
- W3125975977
- Cited by
- 35
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 4.98
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- doi.org
- Locations
- The Journal of Developing Areas (publishedVersion)
- SSRN Electronic Journal (acceptedVersion)
- Project Muse (Johns Hopkins University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Issues
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender, Labor, and Family Dynamics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Genital Health and Disease
- Keywords
- female genital mutilation, identity economics, identity, agency costs, rational choice, gatekeepers, women's agency
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