title: The mothering experience of women with FGM/C raising 'uncut' daughters, in Ivory Coast and in Canada.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While Female Genital Cutting (FGM/C) is a deeply entrenched cultural practice, there is now mounting evidence for a gradual decline in prevalence in a number of geographical areas in Africa and following migration to non-practicing countries. Consequently, there is now a growing number of women with FGM/C who are raising 'uncut' daughters. This study used a qualitative methodology to investigate the experience of women with FGM/C raising daughters who have not been subjected to the ritual. The aim of this study was to shed light on mothers' perception of the meaning and cultural significance of the practice and to gain insight into their mothering experience of 'uncut' girls.
  
  
  METHODS
  To this end, in-depth interviews were conducted with fifteen mothers living in Abidjan, Ivory Coast and in Montreal, Canada (8 and 7, respectively).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen mothers intrinsically refused to perpetuate FGM/C onto their daughters and two diasporic mothers were in favour of FGM/C but forewent the practice for fear of legal repercussions. Whether the eschewing of FGM/C was deliberate or legally imposed, raising 'uncut' daughters had significant consequences in terms of women's mothering experiences. Mothers faced specific challenges pertaining to community and family pressure to have daughters undergo FGM/C, and expressed concerns regarding their daughters' sexuality. Conversely, women's narratives were also infused with pride and hope for their daughters, and revealed an accrued dialogue between the mother-daughter dyad about cultural norms and sexuality. Interestingly, women's mothering experience was also bolstered by the existence of informal networks of support between mothers with FGM/C whose daughters were 'uncut'. These communities of mothers engaged in open dialogue about the consequences of FGM/C and offered reciprocal solidarity and support in their decision to forego FGM/C for their children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with FGM/C who are raising 'uncut' daughters in their homeland and in their country of immigration vastly report a positive experience. However, they also face specific challenges related to immigration, psychosocial, and psychosexual considerations, which must be tackled from a multidisciplinary perspective.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Department, Transcultural Research and Intervention Team, McGill University, 7085 Hutchison, room 204.2.1, Montreal, QC, H3N 1Y9, Canada. sophia.koukoui@mail.mcgill.ca.|Transcultural Research and Intervention Team, C.P. 8888 Succ. Centre-Ville. DS- 4797, Montréal, QC, H3C3P8, Canada. sophia.koukoui@mail.mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4285-4173
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koukoui
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Quebec at Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.|Transcultural Research and Intervention Team, C.P. 8888 Succ. Centre-Ville. DS- 4797, Montréal, QC, H3C3P8, Canada.
authors.forename: Ghayda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: McGill Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Center for Child Development and Mental Health, Institute of Community and Family Psychiatry, 4335 Cote St Catherine Rd., Montreal, QC, H3T 1E4, Canada.
authors.forename: Jaswant
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guzder
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019093:Circumcision, Female / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007560:Cote d'Ivoire / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009679:Nuclear Family / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D016487:Parenting / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Abandonment of FGM/C; Female genital mutilation/cutting; Migration; Mothers; Qualitative research