Migrant and Refugee Women, Scaremongering and Afterthoughts on Female Genital Mutilations

Abstract

In the last decade European governments have formally committed to preventing female genital mutilation (FGM). These practices have been tackled with specific laws and projects, but scaremongering has also been rife. In Italy, prevention has partly relied on sensationalist and top-down approaches that don't help ethnic communities understand the problem. A survey involving migrant women revealed misunderstandings, conflicts and ambivalent attitudes towards the norms and values these practices are based on and the laws introduced to put an end to them. Women thus face an impossible choice (between their family or the host society), while both entities exploit similar bio-political processes to activate either social inclusion or exclusion policies. For the community to which they belong, a mutilated body guarantees identitarian acknowledgement, but the host country refuses it and holds their community responsible. If the abuse is reported or the practice rejected, one may be guaranteed international protection but will probably be ousted by one's family and community. Culturally targeted communication, based on tailor made and peer-mentoring exchanges can create bonds of trust between victims, institutions and services, helping women who share FGM values, beliefs and meanings to overcome these conflicting values they have to come to terms with.