Dismantling the man-made myths upholding female genital mutilation.
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is internationally considered an affront to human rights and an act of violence against women and young girls. Furthermore, it hierarchizes and perpetuates inequality and denies women and girls the right to physical and psychosexual integrity. The aim of this study is to detect the weak points and false premises underlying male justification of FGM and to present demythologization as a health education tool. We used a qualitative methodology with an ethonursing focus via semistructured individual and group interviews in 25 men associated with FGM. Our results found that nine myths and their mythologization are presented through the masculine voices of those associated with this tradition. These myths are used as justification by men and women in order to uphold the practice of FGM. Demythologization as a nursing intervention based on reorienting or restructuring models of cultural care allows us to work against the false premises making up the myths which act to protect this tradition.
a Department of Nursing , Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Alicante , Alicante , Spain.
Ismael
I
Jiménez Ruiz
b Faculty of Nursing, University of Murcia , Murcia , Spain.
Pilar
P
Almansa Martínez
b Faculty of Nursing, University of Murcia , Murcia , Spain.
Carolina
C
Alcón Belchí
D000328:Adult; D019093:Circumcision, Female / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009229:Mythology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012067:Religion; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain; D055815:Young Adult