FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION(FGM) AND ITS FUTURE AMONG SOMALI WOMEN IN FINLAND
MATSUUKE, EEVA (2011)
2011
International Health, HES
Lääketieteen yksikkö - School of Medicine
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2011-06-10
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:uta-1-21547
https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:uta-1-21547
Tiivistelmä
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is largely practiced in Somalia and it forms an essential part of a Somali girl’s life. Ending FGM under Siad Barre’s regime was encouraged even if there was no law specifically prohibiting FGM. However, still 98% of Somali women undergo FGM in Somalia.
With global mobility in terms of refugees, asylum seekers, workers, immigrants and tourism, different cultures are coming together and absorbing aspects from each other. New acculturation modes are emerging with changed perceptions of old traditions. According to some studies the change in traditions takes at least two generations. This was one of the interesting points to verify in this study. In Finland FGM is prohibited. Thus young Somali generation in Finland is growing up in Finnish cultural environment and with Finnish cultural values.
This study wanted to find out how important the female genital mutilation is in Somali women’s identity in today’s Finland, change in the attitude and how FGM’s future in Finland is evolving. The study was based on thematic interviews that were conducted on a basis of prepared set of questions by the author. The interviewed group was identified through previous connections on a voluntary basis and consisted of five Somali women living in Finland. The study results showed that the continuation of FGM tradition in new generations was not seen necessary and the overall result of the study was very straight forward: FGM should be abolished from the tradition. FGM had left marks on those of the interviewees, who had had it done, but the significance of FGM in their female identity was insignificant. Best ways to eradicate the tradition, according to the interviewees were massive, community based education and awareness raising programs to be accessed by everybody.
Asiasanat:Female genital mutilation Somali women in Finland
With global mobility in terms of refugees, asylum seekers, workers, immigrants and tourism, different cultures are coming together and absorbing aspects from each other. New acculturation modes are emerging with changed perceptions of old traditions. According to some studies the change in traditions takes at least two generations. This was one of the interesting points to verify in this study. In Finland FGM is prohibited. Thus young Somali generation in Finland is growing up in Finnish cultural environment and with Finnish cultural values.
This study wanted to find out how important the female genital mutilation is in Somali women’s identity in today’s Finland, change in the attitude and how FGM’s future in Finland is evolving. The study was based on thematic interviews that were conducted on a basis of prepared set of questions by the author. The interviewed group was identified through previous connections on a voluntary basis and consisted of five Somali women living in Finland. The study results showed that the continuation of FGM tradition in new generations was not seen necessary and the overall result of the study was very straight forward: FGM should be abolished from the tradition. FGM had left marks on those of the interviewees, who had had it done, but the significance of FGM in their female identity was insignificant. Best ways to eradicate the tradition, according to the interviewees were massive, community based education and awareness raising programs to be accessed by everybody.
Asiasanat:Female genital mutilation Somali women in Finland