Discourses of change: The shift from infibulation to sunna circumcision among Somali and Sudanese migrants in Norway
Somali and Sudanese transnational discourses on female genital cutting (FGC) center on a shift from infibulation to sunna circumcision, a change perceived to reduce health risks and accommodate religious teaching, yet this shift is far less extensive and substantial than its typical portrayal sugges...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2022-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9205475/?tool=EBI |
| _version_ | 1811333905468358656 |
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| author | R. Elise B. Johansen |
| author_facet | R. Elise B. Johansen |
| author_sort | R. Elise B. Johansen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Somali and Sudanese transnational discourses on female genital cutting (FGC) center on a shift from infibulation to sunna circumcision, a change perceived to reduce health risks and accommodate religious teaching, yet this shift is far less extensive and substantial than its typical portrayal suggests. Based on data from interviews and focus group discussions with 95 migrants of Somali and Sudanese origin, in this paper, I explore these migrants’ discourses of change and how and why they seem blurred and contradictory. Most participants described the ongoing abandonment of infibulation and uptake of sunna circumcision in terms of civilization, modernization and transition toward a more correct Islam; however, their perceptions of the anatomical extents and religious and cultural meanings of sunna circumcision appeared blurred and contradictory. We suggest that these blurred and contradictory perceptions of sunna circumcision enable the study’s participants to maneuver in a context of opposing and changing social norms regarding FGC. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T16:59:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b832d0de177a4340b3102a8f0ce70f1d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T16:59:51Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-b832d0de177a4340b3102a8f0ce70f1d2022-12-22T02:38:43ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032022-01-01176Discourses of change: The shift from infibulation to sunna circumcision among Somali and Sudanese migrants in NorwayR. Elise B. JohansenSomali and Sudanese transnational discourses on female genital cutting (FGC) center on a shift from infibulation to sunna circumcision, a change perceived to reduce health risks and accommodate religious teaching, yet this shift is far less extensive and substantial than its typical portrayal suggests. Based on data from interviews and focus group discussions with 95 migrants of Somali and Sudanese origin, in this paper, I explore these migrants’ discourses of change and how and why they seem blurred and contradictory. Most participants described the ongoing abandonment of infibulation and uptake of sunna circumcision in terms of civilization, modernization and transition toward a more correct Islam; however, their perceptions of the anatomical extents and religious and cultural meanings of sunna circumcision appeared blurred and contradictory. We suggest that these blurred and contradictory perceptions of sunna circumcision enable the study’s participants to maneuver in a context of opposing and changing social norms regarding FGC.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9205475/?tool=EBI |
| spellingShingle | R. Elise B. Johansen Discourses of change: The shift from infibulation to sunna circumcision among Somali and Sudanese migrants in Norway PLoS ONE |
| title | Discourses of change: The shift from infibulation to sunna circumcision among Somali and Sudanese migrants in Norway |
| title_full | Discourses of change: The shift from infibulation to sunna circumcision among Somali and Sudanese migrants in Norway |
| title_fullStr | Discourses of change: The shift from infibulation to sunna circumcision among Somali and Sudanese migrants in Norway |
| title_full_unstemmed | Discourses of change: The shift from infibulation to sunna circumcision among Somali and Sudanese migrants in Norway |
| title_short | Discourses of change: The shift from infibulation to sunna circumcision among Somali and Sudanese migrants in Norway |
| title_sort | discourses of change the shift from infibulation to sunna circumcision among somali and sudanese migrants in norway |
| url | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9205475/?tool=EBI |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT relisebjohansen discoursesofchangetheshiftfrominfibulationtosunnacircumcisionamongsomaliandsudanesemigrantsinnorway |