Transformation and Continuation: FGC Among the Gusii People in Western Kenya

Abstract

There are several cultures that have traditions of body alteration and modification. The initiation ritual of girls, known as “female circumcision” (hereinafter referred to as FC) has also been termed as “female genital cutting” (FGC) and “female genital mutilation” (FGM) (Miyachi in Nilo-Ethiop Stud. 19:1–15, 2014, p. 13) (Several terms have been used to refer describe this practice, as e.g., FC, FGC, FGM from different depending on perspectives. In this paper, basically I use the neutral term, FGC, except on some occasions I use both FGM and FC.). It is a controversial practice and generally considered harmful to women’s rights and their right to reproductive health (Boddy in HAU: J Ethnographic Theory 6(2):41–69, 2016). Since the 1970s, many trials for the eradication of FGM have been conducted in African countries by national and global organisations.