Female Genital Mutilation: An Analysis through Capability Approach and Cultural Relativism (2013)
This study is a Exploratory research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics:
Author(s): Jasser El-Sissi,Marisol Perez O’Connor,Marissa Vera
FGM/C Type(s): All
Health area of focus: None.
Objective: The purpose of this research is to discover the roots and background of fgm in Africa,what
cultural and religious beliefs make this practice wildly spread in different parts in Africa.
Moreover,this paper discusses whether fgm is simply and traditional cultural practice or if it is a
human rights violation
Study Population: Analyzing literature by both Nussbaum and Herskovits on
the Capability Approach and Cultural Relativism with the intention to discuss two disagreeing
sides of the practice of fgm,relied on scientific books that explain method and methodology in detail in order
to find the appropriate and fitting ones for our research for our more factual based section of the
thesis we will be relying on world organization websites like WHO and the UN including their
facts and articles that explain fgm and its characteristics and its international legal status.
Findings: The issue of FGM in a theoretical context and in order to back up the analysis we gave factual based information on FGM with regards to African culture and history. This has been done specifically with Mali in focus in order to narrow down the facts. The method of choice was the qualitative content analysis,as its view on the role of the researcher was the most applicable to our research. Our methodological choice for the paper was the Constructivist methodology; this methodology has a complex view on the individual interpretation of the society and the differences in human interpretation of a certain truth. It also provides its own analysis of how the researcher should access “knowledge”,this being that the researcher needs to have foreknowledge before any research project in order to conduct proper research.
Geographical coverage
Region(s):Western Africa
Country(ies):Mali