Concept information
Preferred term
female genital mutilation
Definition
- Female genital mutilation (FGM) is the name commonly used for an ensemble of ritual practices affecting the sexual organs of girls ranging in ages from a few weeks old to puberty. FGM is practiced in twenty-eight countries of sub-Saharan Africa: its incidence varies widely, from 98 percent of women in Somalia and Egypt, to 50 percent in Benin and Kenya, and 5 percent in Congo and Uganda, according to the Female Genital Cutting Education and Networking Project.Though commonly used, the label FGM is nevertheless disputed because it implies a negative evaluation of the practice. [Source: Encyclopedia of Law & Society: American and Global Perspectives; Female Genital Mutilation]
Broader concept
Entry terms
- female circumcision
Belongs to group
URI
https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/female_genital_mutilation
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