14 Rites and Wrongs: An Insider/ Outsider Reflects on Power and Excision

Infibulation is disproportionately used to illustrate the concept of FGM in Western media.

“It is also disproportionately used to illustrate the concept of “FGM” in Western media [17, 21, 51].”

Infibulation is most strongly associated with efforts to ensure female sexual abstinence before marriage.

“This form, which is most strongly associated with efforts to ensure female sexual abstinence before marriage, makes up about 10% of customary female genital modifications globally and is geographically concentrated in parts of Northeast Africa.”

Infibulation is the least common type of ritual female genital modification, making up about 10% of customary female genital modifications globally and concentrated in parts of Northeast Africa.

“The least common type of ritual female genital modification is infibulation (WHO FGM Type 3), which refers to the narrowing of the vaginal opening by cutting and repositioning the labia to form a covering seal.”

Such an approach leads to distorted theorizing.

“But such an approach leads to distorted theorizing [17].”

In the Bondo women's society initiation rituals of West Africa, the rituals include spiritual challenges, learning women's skills and secrets, being recognized as a woman, coming under the protection of the society, and undergoing genital modification.

“Examples of such solidarity can be found in the Bondo women’s society initiation rituals of West Africa, which includes spiritual challenges, learning women’s skills and secrets, being recognized as a woman, and coming under the protection of the society, as well as undergoing genital modification [17].”

Some cultures that practice female genital cutting-and thus also male genital cutting-are relatively sexually liberal and are not particularly concerned with female chastity or virginity.

“Contrastingly, some cultures that practice female genital cutting—and thus also male genital cutting—are relatively sexually liberal and, as such, are not particularly concerned with female chastity or virginity [17, 54, 104].”