Female Genital Mutilation and Widowhood Practice: Strategy for Social Control

Abstract

This work was set to study two harmful traditional practices that are still in vogue in most African countries with special reference to Ikwerre people. Though these practices are regarded as harmful, however, this paper considers them as traditional measures of socially controlling females in the society; more so as African societies are mostly patriarchal in nature. Two hundred respondents were randomly selected from two communities which are purposively chosen. Following analysis and interpretation of available data, it was found out that societies where female genital mutilation and widowhood rites are encouraged are retrogressive, conservative and therefore backward/ Their women are oppressed, dominated and also socialised to accept such harmful practices as normal and good. Those who do not comply are socially excluded by all. Therefore, the women accept the practices without questioning so that they would be accepted by all; the outcome of such process is that women are socially controlled without truly evaluating the impact of such practices on their well being; such practices by extension violate their human rights and sanctity of their human persons.