9. Female genital cutting and the applicability of social convention theory in a migration context

Abstract

Social convention theory stipulates that the continuation of female genital cutting (FGC) is upheld by social norms and/or a marriageability convention. The aim of this paper was to test the applicability of this theory in a migration context. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Sweden with 648 Somali men and women. There was a substantial agreement between an individual's own approval of FGC and their perceived approval of FGC among most other Swedish Somali men and women. Further, perceived percentage of Somali girls being circumcised in Sweden was significantly higher among Swedish Somalis who said they wanted tissue to be removed on their own daughter (mean 23%, 95% CI: 18.3-27.9) compared to those who said they opposed removal of tissue on their own daughter (mean 8%, 95% CI: 6.4-9.1). The majority of Swedish Somali men (92%) stated a preference to marry someone without FGC or with pricking, which was also the view of most of the Swedish Somali women (90%). Our findings suggest that Swedish Somalis' propensity to support FGC is influenced by expectations about what others prefer, and that the convention to circumcise to enhance marriageability shifts in a migration context.