Listening to African Voices - FPZ

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Table 25: Perceptions regarding FGM/C among immigrants from NigeriaHas heardof FGM/CConsidersthe practicehas benefitsCleanliness/hygieneSocialacceptanceAssociates FGM/C withBettermarriageprospectsPreservationof virginityReligiousapprovalReduction ofsexual desireof womanSexWomen 98.7 56.0 22.7 33.3 36.0 34.7 9.3 48.0Men 99.3 66.9 32.4 27.3 30.9 29.5 30.2 45.3Age groups16-30 100 37.5 12.5 17.5 25.0 17.5 7.5 22.531-44 98.3 66.4 27.4 29.2 32.7 28.3 7.1 48.745+ 100 25.0 8.3 25.0 16.7 8.3 16.7 8.3ReligionMuslim 100 55.6 20 35.6 31.1 20.0 15.6 24.4Christian 98.8 66.2 28.0 31.8 31.8 36.3 8.9 54.1Education (years)0-9 97.0 50.0 25.0 25.0 25.0 21.9 12.5 28.110-14 100 71.1 28.9 36.0 36.0 36.0 10.5 53.515+ 98.4 57.4 21.3 26.2 27.9 29.5 8.2 44.3Total 99.1 63.1 25.7 31.8 31.8 31.8 10.3 46.3hygienic and religious grounds.” (man of Nigerian origin whostudies theology)“Every [female circumcision] practicing person is a directdescendant of Abraham. Female circumcision just likemale circumcision is a command of the Bible.” (man ofNigerian origin)Moreover, gender differences appear regarding FGM/Cand religion: men are more likely than women to perceiveFGM/C as a religious obligation.5.5.3.6. Perception of disadvantages and knowledge of risksand consequencesWomen participants were more likely to be aware of therisks and consequences of FGM/C than men: 68% of themnamed at least one disadvantage while the proportion ofmen was considerably lower. In fact, almost half of the meninterviewed answered either that FGM/C has no disadvantagesor that they didn’t know whether or not there mightbe disadvantages. All kinds of disadvantages and risks associatedwith FGM/C were named more frequently by womenthan by men. Women participants named most often sexualproblems (22%) and infections (20%) as disadvantages ofFGM/C. Several women gave testimonies that showed notonly their awareness of the negative effects but also theirwish for the practice to be abolished.“Many African women suffer during childbirth. Manyknow sex only as a means of producing children becausethey don’t have any sensations. Really, if there is a way tostop this, it will be more than good and Allah will blesswhoever will help us.” (woman of Nigerian origin)“Many children were being done [subjected to FGM/C]after six months or even a year of age. How do you thinkthe mother feels when seeing her child for so many days inunnecessary pain? The fear of what may happen...Please,this tradition must be stopped.” (woman of Nigerian origin)Men cited most frequently infections (18%) and sexual problemsfor women (15%) as negative side effects of FGM/C.“It is a lot of stress for men; the men also suffer from it: thewomen have no pleasure, it takes longer for them to getan orgasm. Some are in pain. I don’t have children yet. Butthere is no way that I would let any of my daughters becircumcised.” (man of Nigerian origin)The awareness for many medical risks and disadvantages waslow in the overall sample: the following risks and disadvantageswere named by less than 10% of the participants:• heavy bleeding• psychological consequences• death• difficulties during childbirth• sexual difficulties for the manListening to African Voices 51
None of the participants named infertility as a potentialproblem associated with FGM/C.5.5.3.7. Knowledge of German law and attitudes towards theabandonment of FGM/CThere is a widespread awareness within the Nigerian immigrantcommunity that FGM/C is against the law in Germany:over 70% of the participants know about the legislation andthe sanctions they would risk if they subjected their daughtersto the practice. The awareness of the law is stronger inolder generations and for Christians and seems to increasewith the level of education. The dissuasive effect of the law isillustrated in the testimonies below.A traditional chief, married to a German and a Nigerian wife(who has undergone FGM/C) said about his three daughters:“It depends on their mother. If she wants to do it whynot? But in Europe the law does not allow female circumcision.Unfortunately we cannot practice our tradition offemale circumcision here.” (man of Nigerian origin)“Since the law does not allow it, we will not do it, but Ipray that my children will respect themselves and knowthat it is their pride to preserve their culture.” (man ofNigerian origin)The greater part of the Nigerians were in favour of theabolition of FGM/C. They felt that it should disappear due tothe suffering that it infl icts on women and the evolution ofmankind in which traditions such as FGM/C have lost theirreason for being. Some also mentioned that it was importantthat African women should preserve their values and faithfulnessonce FGM/C is no longer “taming them”.“I don’t like any African tradition because the men usethem to suppress the women. I hope this will not endhere with this interview. Just look, I feel pain thinkingback remembering my childhood...all the same I thankGod that my daughter is born here in Germany. I wouldlike to take her home one day, but I am afraid. I pray thatyou people will do something against female circumcision.”(woman of Nigerian origin)“It was very important to cut the young girls when I wassmall because faithfulness among women was very importantin our African societies. But now we have to acceptto abolish the practice because times have changed.Nothing is like before, we are now civilised. It is a bit sad,but it has to be.” (woman of Nigerian origin)“My sister, female circumcision should be stopped becausethere are too many disadvantages, much more than theadvantages that we are made to believe.” (man of Nigerianorigin)“I am in support of abolishing female circumcision as longas they leave politics out and only if the African womenwill not forget their respect and pride as married women.”(man of Nigerian origin)There was a strong minority, however, mainly composed ofmen (see table below) who advocated the continuation ofFGM/C. They intend to preserve a tradition that they feel tobe important to prevent promiscuity in women.“Circumcision of women should continue. If by chance Ihave a girl, I will circumcise her. It is our tradition and thistradition has to continue.” (man of Nigerian origin)“They should continue with it so that the women don’tmisbehave. I actually wanted to circumcise my daughterhere but the German law doesn’t allow it.[…] It is too latenow to circumcise her because she is already too old.”(man of Nigerian origin)“The practice is very important. The new generation isnot in favour any more which is deplorable. My daughterwas circumcised at the initiative of my father in Nigeria. Itis true, it hurts, but it is right. This practice is very important.”(man of Nigerian origin)“We don’t need the European culture. Female circumcisionis our own tradition. We don’t want our women tobe fl irting around.” (man of Nigerian origin)Next to the militant supporters of FGM/C, a proportion ofabout 16% of the participants expressed the idea that thecontinuation of FGM/C depended on the situation of thefamily. Most of these participants explained that they hadpersonally decided against FGM/C, but that they were notdiscouraging others from preserving the practice of FGM/Cas part of their cultural heritage. They felt that African traditionsshould not be modified under the pressure from animposed European value system.“Personally, I am opposed to female circumcision, but itis a family issue. Some people are trying to force foreignideas onto Africans. We should stand on our ground andpreserve traditions. Africans can also teach the foreignerssomething. Europeans need to respect family values likeAfricans. They need to learn from us. Regarding femalecircumcision, the mothers have to decide whether it isworth it.” (man of Nigerian origin)“I did not know what female circumcision was. If it reallymeans to cut off a part of the woman’s genital organs52Listening 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 and 46: gin of the immigrants (see map in a
Page 47 and 48: of the Muslims believe that practic
Page 49 and 50: Table 23: Socio-demographic charact
Page 51: irth, their mothers come from Afric
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
Page 97 and 98: • In order to encourage an attitu
Page 99 and 100: BEHAVIOR CHANGE MODEL: Abolition of
Page 101 and 102: Institut National de la Statistique
Page 103 and 104:
8.3. Question list for key informan
Page 105 and 106:
8.5. Questionnaire for quantitative
Page 107 and 108:
Evaluation of girls at riskQ214 CHE
Page 109 and 110:
8.6. Questionnaire for quantitative
Page 111 and 112:
Evaluation of girls at riskQ214 CHE
Page 113 and 114:
8.7. Map of the geographical spread
Page 115 and 116:
8.9. Map of the geographical spread
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