Listening to African Voices - FPZ

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ing three girls were considered to be potentially at risk:although their mothers had no intention to have themundergo practice, they made it clear that they had no meansto protect the girls during holidays in Togo. If the family oftheir husband decided to subject them to FGM/C, their ownstatus would not allow them to refuse. The three girls andtheir mothers were enrolled in the follow-up project.“I don’t think that it [FGM/C] is a good thing. But I wouldbe forced to circumcise my daughter back in Togo if thefamily of my husband demands that I do it in order toavoid the problems I would have if I went against the willof my family.” [To the question of the interviewer if shecould fight for the wellbeing of her daughter, the participantanswered: “Not if it means that I would be shunnedby the family and everybody I know.” (woman of Togoleseorigin)The findings of the last two sections indicate that thenumbers of women and girls at risk residing in Hamburgare probably higher than the estimations based on the localprevalence of FGM/C in section 5.2.5.5.2.4. Perceptions related to the practiceMost of the men (68%) and women (62%) cannot see anybenefit in the practice or even feel strongly appalled by it.“I have never seen a circumcised girl, but I have heardpeople talking about the practice. It is mostly Muslimsand a couple of Christians who take off the girls’ organsbut I would rather call it castration.” (woman of Togoleseorigin)“These circumcised girls are beings that disturb the compositionof the society: they are neither girls nor boys;they are humans, but of unknown sex. I really hope thatthis practice has ceased existing.” (woman of Togoleseorigin)“Female circumcision is related to pure ignorance. Thereis absolutely no need to cut anything off of a woman.”(man of Togolese origin)The remaining proportion associates one or several benefitswith FGM/C, in particular advantages related to the status ofa woman, of her being faithful and of honour to the family(see table 21).Surprisingly, participants of the youngest age group aremore than twice as numerous in seeing benefits in FGM/C.Furthermore, the region, the religion and the education levelalso play a role. Muslim and participants from the Centraland Northern regions (Plateaux, Central, Kara and Savanes)are more likely to see advantages in FGM/C. Moreover, 26%Table 21: Perceptions regarding FGM/C among immigrants from TogoHas heardof FGM/CConsidersthe practicehas benefitsCleanliness/hygieneSocialacceptanceAssociates FGM/C withBettermarriageprospectsPreservationof virginityReligiousapprovalReduction ofsexual desireof womanSexWomen 95.1 37.9 6.9 15.5 15.5 12.1 13.8 13.8Men 96.1 32.0 6.7 14.7 14.7 14.7 10.7 18.7Age groups16-30 95.8 58.3 8.3 25.0 20.8 29.2 8.3 25.031-44 95.1 32.1 6.4 14.1 16.7 10.3 14.1 17.945+ 100 25.0 8.3 25.0 16.7 8.3 16.7 8.3RegionSouth 96.8 29.5 6.6 8.2 9.8 9.8 1.6 14.8North 95.6 41.5 6.2 21.5 20.0 16.9 21.5 20.0ReligionMuslim 96.5 52.7 9.1 29.1 29.1 21.8 25.5 25.5Christian 97.1 20.9 6.0 4.5 4.5 7.5 1.5 10.4Education (years)0-9 96.3 44.2 3.8 25.0 23.1 21.2 21.2 19.210-14 93.8 30.4 10.9 10.9 8.7 6.5 6.7 13.015+ 96.7 27.6 6.9 6.9 13.8 10.3 3.4 20.7Total 95.7 34.6 6.8 15.0 15.0 13.5 12.0 16.5Listening to African Voices 45
of the Muslims believe that practicing FGM/C procures themreligious approval. The data also indicate that the probabilityof seeing advantages in FGM/C diminishes with a growingeducation level.5.5.2.5. FGM/C and religionThe greater part (62%) of the participants saw no connectionbetween FGM/C and their faith, but almost 20% ofthe participants perceive FGM/C as a religious requirement.Muslims (33%) see FGM/C three times more often as areligious obligation than Christians (9%). Moreover, 18%of the interviewees of Togolese origin reported to have noknowledge of the position of their religion towards FGM/C.Most of them were Christians.5.5.2.6. Perception of disadvantages and knowledge of risksand consequencesMost participants of Togolese origin (81%) could name atleast one inconvenience or risk associated with the practiceof FGM/C. The disadvantages cited ranged from immediateconsequences such as pain, bleeding and infections to psychologicaland sexual consequences and reproductive healthproblems (childbirth, infertility). Some participants describedpersonal experiences related to the negative consequencesof FGM/C.“I have a cousin who was circumcised during her childhoodand she suffered from heavy bleeding. I also knowa woman from Senegal who lives here in Hamburg. Sheis circumcised as well and suffers from bad trauma evennow, although she has two healthy children.” (woman ofTogolese origin)Men showed less awareness than women: 23% of themhad no knowledge of the risks and disadvantages of FGM/Cwhile this was only the case in 14% of the women. Women(39%) were more likely, however to name very vague orincorrect negatives than men (24%). The most frequentlycited negative effect of FGM/C was the experience of sexualdisadvantages for the woman (pain during intercourse, lackof sexual desire, difficulties reaching orgasm etc.). Men(35%) were more likely than women (23%) to describe thisconsequence of FGM/C.5.5.2.7. Knowledge of German law and attitudes towards theabandonment of FGM/COver 80% of the participants reported that the German legislationinterdicts FGM/C. Men, persons who are 45 years andolder, and participants with a high education level (15 years+)were most likely to show awareness of the position of Germanlaw on the subject. Women and the youngest age group(16-30 years) were less likely to be informed about the prohibitionand many of them answered that they didn’t know howFGM/C was perceived by the German legal system.Furthermore, the findings indicated clearly that the greaterpart of the participants (83%) support the abandonment ofFGM/C.“In my opinion, the practice of female circumcision hasto be eradicated because it is nowadays a shame for theAfrican woman.” (man of Togolese origin)“I’m against female circumcision. Most Africans knowthe consequences and are against it. The men think thatthrough the cutting of the clitoris the woman loses hersexual desire. But it is the opposite. The woman never getstired of sex since she is never really satisfied. Sex is a twowaything and both man and woman have to enjoy it. I cannotenjoy it if the woman ends up being in pain. The peoplehave to understand that the clitoris is responsible for thepeace and satisfaction of women. (man of Togolese origin)A minority of 4% of the participants argues for the continuationof FGM/C and further 11% feel that the decisiondepends on the circumstances and the nature of the practice.Interestingly, those in favour of its continuation are all men,mostly Muslims and from the youngest age group. Theydefend FGM/C as a tradition with advantages and feel that itsabandonment is imposed by Western powers. By comparingthe sexual behaviour of women in Germany and in their homecommunity, they draw the conclusion that FGM/C is whatexplains the less promiscuous behaviour of African women.“Our traditions need to be maintained. This is all we haveleft. The white man has taken all our treasures and nowhe wants to destroy our culture. This cannot be allowed.”(man of Togolese origin)“It is good when they cut the woman so that she does notscratch herself [masturbate] and that she does not fl irtaround. If I have a daughter, I will cut her in Africa. I knowthey don’t allow us to do it here but women are betterbehaved in Africa than here.” (man of Togolese origin)5.5.3. Nigeria5.5.3.1. Socio-demographic profileThe Nigerian community is the third largest community fromSub-Saharan African in Hamburg. The registered numberis 1,100 persons with almost twice as many men (727) thanwomen (373). The interviewers described the Nigerian menas easily accessible for interviews. Many of them gave theiropinion in a very bold manner. The women were more dif-46Listening to African Voices
Page 3: Cover photo: Plan/Alf Berg - “Gir
Page 9 and 10: Within the cohort of daughters of t
Page 11 and 12: • To explore the level of awarene
Page 13 and 14: 12Listening to African Voices
Page 15: • Many of them are struggling to
Page 18 and 19: 1 The interviewers approached diver
Page 20 and 21: that even close friends and people
Page 23 and 24: cies. 9 The table below displays th
Page 25 and 26: 4.7. FGM/C in Germany4.7.1. Estimat
Page 29 and 30: illegally in Hamburg. The table is
Page 31 and 32: The largest proportions of intervie
Page 33 and 34: Reactions to the research topicThe
Page 35 and 36: A small proportion of parents annou
Page 37 and 38: Germany. Some participants reported
Page 39 and 40: In order to determine the proportio
Page 41 and 42: “I am against the practice. It ha
Page 43 and 44: Table 18: Knowledge of German law a
Page 45: gin of the immigrants (see map in a
Page 49 and 50: Table 23: Socio-demographic charact
Page 51 and 52: irth, their mothers come from Afric
Page 53 and 54: None of the participants named infe
Page 59 and 60: 5.5.5.7. Knowledge of German law an
Page 61 and 62: The majority of the participants (7
Page 67 and 68: It was not an easy task to get the
Page 69 and 70: “As I said, for a number of pract
Page 71 and 72: “Female circumcision is and will
Page 73 and 74: Table 36: Proportion of women and m
Page 75 and 76: Table 37: Knowledge of German law a
Page 77 and 78: that FGM/C had been carried out in
Page 79 and 80: 5.7.1. Protective factorsThe findin
Page 81 and 82: 5.7.2.4. Low awareness and indiffer
Page 83 and 84: “The problem of female circumcisi
Page 85 and 86: The two remaining gynaecologists ha
Page 89 and 90: and an acceptable job, uniting the
Page 91 and 92: Daughters who were born in Africa a
Page 93 and 94: making power to protect their daugh
Page 95 and 96: challenging and requires reaching v
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• In order to encourage an attitu
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BEHAVIOR CHANGE MODEL: Abolition of
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Institut National de la Statistique
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8.3. Question list for key informan
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8.5. Questionnaire for quantitative
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Evaluation of girls at riskQ214 CHE
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8.6. Questionnaire for quantitative
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Evaluation of girls at riskQ214 CHE
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8.7. Map of the geographical spread
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8.9. Map of the geographical spread
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