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The Importation Of Female Genital Mutilation To The West: The Cruelest Cut Of All, Patricia A. Broussard

Journal Publications

THE RECENT WIDESPREAD IMMIGRATION of African and Middle Eastern people and the importation of their traditions and practices into Western societies have given Westerners a firsthand view of cultural practices once shielded by distance, silence, and a bit of disinterest. Such is the case with Female Genital Mutilation ("FGM"). Prior to its importation, most Westerners had not heard the term female genital mutilation and certainly did not know what its impact has been on girls and women in the countries that practice it.

This Article will explore the phenomenon of the importation of the practice of female genital mutilation to …

Penetrating The Silence In Sierra Leone: A Blueprint For The Eradication Of Female Genital Mutilation, Chi Adanna Mgbako, Meghna Saxena, Anna Cave, Nasim Farjad, Helen Shin

Faculty Scholarship

The African grassroots movement to eradicate female genital mutilation (also known as “female genital cutting” and “female circumcision,” hereinafter “FGM”) is widespread. While many African countries and grassroots organizations have made great strides in their efforts to eliminate FGM, Sierra Leone lags behind. In Sierra Leone, FGM is practiced within the bondo secret society, an ancient, all-female commune located in West Africa and also known as the sande. The bondo society’s traditional role was to direct girls’ rites of passage into adulthood. In order to become a member of the bondo, a girl or woman must undergo various rituals, the …