This presentation provides a basic overview of FGC in the United States and around the world. Participants will be given a general overview of FGC, the forms of FGC and their impacts, the reasons and justifications given for the continuation of the practice, and how the overall movement of speaking up against FGC began.

This presentation is aimed at groups who are interested in learning about FGC but may not be directly impacted by it. It offers an overview of the practice of FGC, the generational movement against it and the obstacles faced by those in the movement. This opens a window to several other discussions relevant to the audience in question: discussions about anatomy, bodily integrity, consent, female sexual pleasure, social norms, gender stereotypes, and how anyone can spark a movement and become an agent of change in their community.

Female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C) is a reality for many women and girls across different communities in the United States. Yet, for centuries, FGM/C has remained a hidden tradition. It’s often practiced by women to women, and girls are raised to believe they must remain silent about what they underwent. Silence is an inherent part of this type of gender-based violence (GBV) that can lead to lifelong physical and emotional health consequences. At the core of providing better prevention, protection, health, and social support services for women and girls is stronger data, enhanced research, and community engagement. These trainings explore how FGC relates to other forms of GBV and how healthcare and other social service providers (law enforcement, social workers, mental health professionals, etc) can address the needs of their constituents who may be impacted by FGC.

This presentation will provide information on how Sahiyo’s FGC storytelling programs have helped spark discussions on gender-based violence through use of digital platforms, magazines, theater work, film, and art. We use storytelling as a vehicle for social change, to amplify the voices of women worldwide who have undergone FGC.

This training teaches journalists how to sensitively and effectively report on the practice of female genital cutting (FGC). FGC, is a very complex and controversial issue that requires well-informed and nuanced reporting that is sensitive to the survivors and communities involved. News coverage on FGC has been well-intentioned but often, journalists unwittingly misunderstand and misrepresent facts about the practice, and/or portray the issue in a sensational manner that can end up harming FGC survivors, girls at risk and the movement at large. The training teaches all those engaged in media work how to: act as social agents of change, ensure the safety of gender-based violence survivors, and consider the retribution survivors could face if their safety is compromised.

This presentation provides a behind-the-scenes look into how Sahiyo created our successful online survey tool to gain prevalent statistics on FGC as practiced within the Dawoodi Bohra Community. In June 2015, Sahiyo introduced an online survey to gather data on and insight into the prevalence of FGC amongst the Dawoodi Bohra communities in India and around the world. This study attempted to understand the perceptions, beliefs, and rationales of FGC among the global Dawoodi Bohras population. Understanding the complex social norms and cultural value systems that shape the practice’s meaning and significance within this community is critical to the work of anti-FGC advocates. As a result of our survey design, Sahiyo was able to also initiate dialogue within the community on the topic. Throughout the presentation, Sahiyo discusses the challenges and successes in creating this project.

In 2012, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that over half a million women and girls had undergone or were at risk for undergoing female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) procedures in the United States. That number was projected to rise in the decades ahead. Despite this alarming trend, many mental health providers are not familiar with FGM/C procedures or their outcomes. This training will provide a firm knowledge base around what FGM/C procedures entail, and will address the physical, psychological, and psychosocial consequences of those procedures. We will also explore cultural perspectives on FGM/C, and will discuss culturally responsive and trauma-informed approaches to treating clients who have undergone FGM/C procedures.