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Increasing numbers of
economic refugees and asylum seekers from countries where
FGM is practiced now live in the UK. A study by Dorkenoo,
Morison and MacFarlane, 2007 estimated that in 2001 there
were 66,000 women with FGM in England and Wales. Recent
migration means the number would now be substantially
higher. Estimates of the number of women and girls
circumcised or at risk in England and Wales and the number
of births to women affected by FGM will be available when
the report is released later in 2007.
Reference:
Dorkenoo, E., Morison, L.,
MacFarlane, A. (2007) A study to estimate the prevalence of
FGM in England and Wales. FORWARD, London.
Possible research to add
under UK
A study was conducted by the
NGO Black Women’s Health and Family Support in collaboration
with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine to
examine the association between age on arrival in Britain
and experiences and attitudes relating to female
circumcision among young, single Somalis living in London.
The study population consisted of single male and female
Somalis aged 16 to 22 years living in the Greater London
area. Quantitative data were collected using a
cross-sectional survey based on snowball sampling aiming to
obtain data on 100 males and 100 females. Qualitative data
were collected from 10 males and 10 infibulated females.
Quantitative data were obtained for 94 females and 80 males.
Living in Britain from a younger age was associated with
increased assimilation in terms of language, dress and
socialising. 70% of the females reported being circumcised
with two-thirds of operations being infibulation. Those who
were living in Britain before the usual age-range for
circumcision (before age 6) were less likely to be
circumcised (42%) than those who arrived after the usual
age-range for circumcision (11 or older) (91%). During
in-depth interviews health and sexual problems due to female
circumcision were described with great emotion and
interviewees acknowledged the association between the
importance of virginity for marriage and circumcision. Half
of males who arrived aged 11 or older wanted a circumcised
wife compared with less than a quarter of those who arrived
at a younger age. 18% of female respondents and 43% of males
intended to circumcise any daughters. Females were less
likely than males to agree with the assumptions about
sexuality and religion that underpin the practice.
Substantial proportions of respondents perceived that their
parents expectations in terms of marriage and circumcision
were more traditional than their own. Living in Britain from
a younger age appeared to be associated with abandonment of
female circumcision and with changes in the underlying
beliefs on sexuality, marriage and religion that underpin
it. Groups identified with more traditional views towards
female circumcision included males, older generations, new
arrivals and those who show few signs of social
assimilation.
Reference:
L Morison, A Dirir, S Elmi, J
Warsame, S Dirir “How experiences and attitudes relating to
female circumcision vary according to age on arrival in
Britain: a study among young Somalis in London” Ethnicity
and Health (2004) 9(1), pp. 75-100. |
