Life Histories and Lifelines: A Methodological Symbiosis for the Study of Female Genital Mutilation (2021)
This study is a Exploratory research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics:
Author(s): Gutiérrez-García AI,Solano-Ruíz C,Siles-González J,Perpiñá-Galvañ J
FGM/C Type(s): All
Health area of focus: None.
Objective: The objective of this study was to analyse the use of life histories and lifelines in the study of female genital mutilation (FGM) in the context of cross-cultural research in participants with language differences. It explored the strengths and challenges of the combined use of both the lifelines and life stories of women who have been subjected to FGM. The lifeline tool was employed during the second interview with the participants,and the results of this work are explored hin this article by examining the lifelines of three of the participants.
Study Population: women living in Spain whod who met the established criteria of having experienced FGM as a child or adolescent and being sufficiently sociolinguistic competent in Spanish to enable communication
Findings: The use of two techniques strengthened the researchers’ knowledge of women’s lives and facilitated reflection and critical thinking by the study participants,generating richer and more in-depth data on the study problem. The difficulties that some women had in the communication process are diminished by the visual and chronological representation of the events in the lifelines. The visualization of their lifelines and the realization of this activity for which they did not feel capable due to their lack of education,empowered them,generating a great personal satisfaction. The results of this study confirm the usefulness of combining visual and narrative methods in groups where communication difficulties are an obstacle to the collection of information. Exploring new forms of expression and data collection can give voice to underrepresented groups in qualitative research.The expression of feelings through lifelines and reflections on their experiences have enabled us to understand the sub-Saharan women in the diaspora,traditional practices such as FGM or forced marriages,the socio-cultural context,the value of women in sub-Saharan society and migration processes. We have also been able to capture the process of acculturation and its consequences,not always positive for the eradication of FGM.
This research contributed to expanding the knowledge about the joint use of visual methods,in this case,lifelines,alongside interviews for data collection. The aim of this work was to describe and report upon the combined use of these techniques in women with certain communication difficulties related to using a language other than their mother tongue in the context of multiple interviews and when dealing with a sensitive and culturally-rooted topic.
Geographical coverage
Region(s):Southern Europe
Country(ies):Spain