Factors Associated with the Persistence of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Benin

Abstract

Female Genital Mutilations (FGM) officially constitute a particular form of Gender-Based Violence associated with certain socio-cultural groups and / or regions. They are generally practiced with the purpose to control women sexuality. In Benin, the political will materialized by restrictive legislation as well as multiple strategies and actions developed to eliminate FGM has not yet been able to curb their trend. On the contrary, they persist through more underground forms that are sometimes deterritorialized. This paper aims to examine factors underlying the persistence of FGM in Benin. The explanatory factors for the persistence of FGM were investigated through the analysis of a secondary data from the survey on the persistence of FGM in the four departments of North Benin conducted in 2020. Thus, Multiple Correspondence Analysis, Regression analysis and content analysis methods were used. Results show that parents who approved the continuation of FGM are mostly uneducated, live in rural areas in poor households, are unaware of the laws that prohibit FGM, praise the benefits of FGM and already have at least one “circumcised” daughter. Moreover, they consider the control actions ineffective. For them, FGM represents a symbol of identity that provides affection, security, protection, solidarity and survival to women. The analyses also show that the department, the ethnicity, household wealth index, the recognition of the advantages of FGM, the non-regret of having been affected by FGM and the ignorance of the laws against FGM perpetuate this phenomenon. From a reproductive justice perspective, it is possible to negotiate with the grassroot population the perpetuation of the symbolic and festive character of this identity rite by substituting any attack on the physical and psychological integrity of women with sexual and reproductive health education.