De-colonising FGM a paper in BMJ

[Imnobody4]

Harms of the current global anti-FGM campaign

Abstract

Traditional female genital practices, though long-standing in many cultures, have become the focus of an expansive global campaign against ‘female genital mutilation’ (FGM). In this article, we critically examine the harms produced by the anti-FGM discourse and policies, despite their grounding in human rights and health advocacy. We argue that a ubiquitous ‘standard tale’ obscures the diversity of practices, meanings and experiences among those affected. This discourse, driven by a heavily racialised and ethnocentric framework, has led to unintended but serious consequences: the erosion of trust in healthcare settings, the silencing of dissenting or nuanced community voices, racial profiling and disproportionate legal surveillance of migrant families. Moreover, we highlight a troubling double standard that legitimises comparable genital surgeries in Western contexts while condemning similar procedures in others. We call for more balanced and evidence-based journalism, policy and public discourse—ones that account for cultural complexity and avoid the reductive and stigmatising force of the term ‘mutilation’. A re-evaluation of advocacy strategies is needed to ensure that they do not reproduce the very injustices they aim to challenge.

https://jme.bmj.com/content/early/2025/09/25/jme-2025-110961

It’s scary what tripe organisations obsessed with being on the ‘right side of history’ produce!

I do wonder whether credible organisations have always produced such rubbish or whether it’s a modern phenomena.

It certainly makes it easy to label people concerned about FGM as bigoted.

Sure, I think there are many differences and Im not equating them. Just pointing out that the legal distinction between them is far from clean.

I'm utterly shocked that there wasn't a solution to the chaffing that involved some specialist clothing/support rather than cutting her body. Also the apparent acceptance that her arsehole boyfriend would be typical of all men.

Her surgery had to be approved by a panel of doctors where ethics was top priority.
Her labia were abnormal and stopped her from living a normal life. She couldn't even walk comfortably sometimes if they weren't 'tucked' right.

Never underestimate what men and their handmaids will say and do to justify men getting whatever they want.

This is a different matter from both FGM and elective cosmetic surgery; there was something physically wrong (or at least unusual) that was giving her practical problems, so it needed dealing with and would have done so even if her horrible boyfriend hadn't shamed her about it.
But when it's a matter of genital surgeries on healthy, normal bodies, if it's a choice between allowing cosmetic surgeries and therefore struggling to stop or condemn FGM, or else banning FGM at the price of banning cosmetic surgeries too, I'd say ban the lot. Protecting children from mutilation matters more than pissing off adults who can't have what they want.

Do any of these cosmetic procedures involve having your clitoris, the organ that most women's orgasms come from, cut off? Or its prepuce cut away? Because the impact of the surgery on the woman's sexual pleasure matters when judging how harmful it is, as well as whether the surgery is at her instigation or someone else's.

what sort of specialist clothing would work? Crotchless trousers so your labia could swing freely in the breeze? Would still chafe between your legs. What specialist support? A little labia hammock that you can fasten between your legs…..that would add to the chafing?

Thanks so much for your response blaming me for this.

No she was not booked. With any trust.
We looked after her once she came through the doors but due to malfunctioning crystal balls we were unable to help prior to this.

I would put money on it though that this was included in the ‘failures of midwives’ statistics we hear so much about.

Jesus @Squishedpassenger

I have just read your further replies where you claim to be a midwife and accuse me of making this up.

If you really are a midwife and don’t believe this story - I can’t imagine where you work. Private maybe?

Keep your eyes and ears open for trafficked women. A terrified woman with no English who staggers onto Labour ward alone, with no antenatal care and FGM….it is screaming that there are major problems in her life.

I’m glad she fell into my arms and not yours.

Are you aware that if this woman hadn’t had FGM, she would likely have delivered an unregistered baby at home with no midwifery care? Are you aware that this happens in the UK? If not, you should be.

Not all women have a cosy pregnancy with a functioning notes app and a fucking scan photo. Which if you are a midwife, you should know.

I used to think i couldn’t be surprised in how easily people will try to blame women for actions of another person. I used to think i couldn’t be surprised by people making baseless attacks at HCPs. But have to say I’ve been amazed by how easily a supposed fellow midwife has done this.

@Stilish please don’t worry, I think 99.9% of your fellow midwives are aware of the issue of unbooked women. They’re aware that no matter how hard you might try not all women will disclose. To talk about building up relationships with women smacks of a place of privilege. We’d all love to work in a nice cosy continuity of carer model where that was possible. Not be working for a trust with massive shortages, ten min long antenatal appointments, and being bounced round from one area to another week after week to combat sickness and vacancies. Which is what I see happening to the community midwives locally.

You'll forgive me for being a tad cynical about ethics being a top priority of doctors. It's possible that surgery was the only option, but it sounds surprising simply for an unusual body shape.

Article in the Times
https://www.thetimes.com/article/f8dc1eae-55a2-4eb3-b1e3-10d8989748d9?shareToken=66358600682d4c95f3d592bb2caa7ca3
Alice Evans, a senior lecturer at King’s College London who specialises in gender and international development, said that the essay was an example of “academia digging its own grave”.

“The article blames western media for causing harm by wanting to tackle [FGM]. Nowhere does it mention that this is intended to reduce pleasure and maintain patriarchal control. Publishing this, academia is really digging its own grave.”

She wrote on X: “I previously lived and did research in West Africa, working for an NGO that tackled female genital cutting. The British Medical Journal has published a ‘puff piece’ promoting [FGM], saying it’s perfectly fine for the community (not the individual) to control her body.

Breast reductions are pretty common, and not particularly controversial.

A linked article from the Times.
https://www.thetimes.com/article/4c6ff51e-07e1-11eb-9ac5-9d2cf4a10c9f?shareToken=1364fcfede0b0674c804498eee8b1468

Modja became a vocal activist for that cause, speaking out – despite its “taboo” nature – about her FGM and fighting to raise funding to open, four years ago, La Maison des Femmes in Paris, a safe haven for women who’ve suffered this and other forms of domestic abuse. This has made her a controversial figure in France and in Africa, with critics arguing that banning FGM is interfering with another culture.
“I hate that! Not everything in a culture is right – abuse is abuse. You cannot mutilate a woman’s body and justify it by talking about traditions. It’s like doing nothing about child marriage. It’s just wrong.”

A brilliant contribution to the thread, thank you -
Not everything in a culture is right – abuse is abuse. You cannot mutilate a woman’s body and justify it by talking about traditions. It’s like doing nothing about child marriage. It’s just wrong.”
is such a perfect response to the 'contextualisation' of FGM.

Hadn't seen the turn this thread has taken, but in line with more positive voices, came across this by chance today. Why aren't women like this being listened to?

Cecily Mwaniki, founder of the award-winning charity Utulivu Women's Group, received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters in a ceremony on Friday 12 December.

During her career, Mwaniki has worked with many vulnerable communities including survivors of domestic abuse and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), people experiencing mental ill health, the elderly, the homeless, refugees and those living with drug and alcohol issues.

After leaving her teaching career in Kenya, she moved to Reading with her husband to pursue higher education, graduating with a degree in Women's Studies in 2001 and later a BSc in Substance Use and Misuse.

In 2004, Mwaniki founded Utulivu Women's Group. The Reading-based charity aims to tackle inequalities faced by women and girls from Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, and Refugee communities.

https://www.reading.ac.uk/news/2025/University-News/Community-champion-honoured-by-University

I think this has been posted before, but FORWARD is a long establised women's group which has been campaigning on FGM and VAM issues for decades.

https://www.forwarduk.org.uk/

Would love to see a collective response from a lot of these organizations/activists on the publication of this paper. Is anyone sending is to them? Should we?

Quite honestly I think groups like this are so busy and so committed to their work, that they probably dont care what people like this say.

To them these are just part of the usual elite who dont do anything but think they are competent to comment on issues they know nothing about.

Obviously if it became clear that say a funder or whatever started quoting a paper like this at an actual grass roots group providing services and support, would certainly stand up for the group and tell them to eff off, and the funder to check their reality.

It came up on another thread that really on FWR we should have at least one thread thay listed women's groups that are having the funding cuts. (3 women's refuges in the Highlands are having the funding cut just because the local council says it is earier and cheaper to fund all purpose ie inclusive services)

But equally, even though it gives us hours of entertainment pulling apart papers like this, on one level they are just a self indulgent elite, and just like having a thread about women's groups that are being defunded, we should maybe make an effort to instead start threads about what women's groups and service providers are saying.

What a strange coincidence I was about to give this link to a list of recent press releases from women's groups and the first one on the list is from FORWARD https://www.womensgrid.org.uk/?cat=140

I will post the link to the survey they are carrying out to get more on the forum to see it!

I was thinking exactly this. How exactly does @Squishedpassenger know that there are not hundreds of women in her area who are unable to access maternity care or any heathcare at all due to abusive situations? She can't know any such thing.

Infant male circumcision

And genital surgeries - castrations hysterectomies plus plastic surgery, and unnecessary mastectomies - to make people appear in a rough sort of way to be the opposite sex. This is the end pathway of most children given puberty blockers.

I hope that you have received help and support for what was done to you. The writers of this article should meet women who have had FGM and who fight against it. @💐

Nimco Ali has an article in the Telegraph

https://archive.ph/bAJLu

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2025/12/15/female-genital-mutilation-is-abuse-progressive-racist/

She must...actually I can't imagine how she must feel seeing again and again apparently intelligent, influential people, women defending this evil.

I would criticise this

Their pain must be contextualised, diluted, or endlessly debated in ways we would never tolerate if the victims were white British girls.

But we all have our blindspots. That she can get any coherent words out is a credit to her. In her shoes I think I'd just be screaming and breaking stuff.