Perspectives on female genital cutting among immigrant women and men in Boston

This study documents the perceptions and experiences of immigrant women and men in the US related to female genital cutting (FGC). This paper examines the effects of migration on these perceptions, with the goal of optimizing health services and informing public policy to support women who have undergone FGC. This qualitative study consisted of individual interviews conducted from 2014 to 2015 with 42 women and men living in Boston, Massachusetts, who immigrated from a variety of communities where FGC has been practiced. Most participants felt strongly against the continuation of the practice, describing a change in their personal and community viewpoints over time, which they attributed to education, religion and immigration. The men in our study collectively took a stand against FGC and believed that they had a particular duty to raise awareness in their families and their communities about its physical and emotional harms. Our study provides strong support for the inclusion of men, religious leaders, and immigrants in FGC-related efforts. Our unique preliminary exploration of the role of members of the diaspora provides some support for initiatives that would involve emigrants in the effort to curb FGC in their home countries. Changing views in the diaspora could play a significant role in affecting opinions and practices in contexts where FGC is prevalent. Finally, our findings do not support the fear that "vacation cutting" might be common among US immigrants. We should therefore exercise caution in our promotion of legislation and clinical practices that target this fear.