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Critical Intersections

Overview 

In 2021, Sahiyo hosted the “Critical Intersections: Anti-Racism and Female Genital Cutting (FGC)“ webinar, which led to a multi-part research initiative exploring how FGM/C intersects with other social oppressions and social movements. 

The Critical Intersections Research Project resulted in a three-part series of reports examining how overlapping systems of oppression shape survivors’ experiences, influence prevention efforts, and impact progress toward ending FGM/C globally. The project also explored connections between the anti-FGM/C movement and broader movements focused on bodily autonomy, racial justice, and gender equity.

To carry out this research, Sahiyo:

  • Conducted a comprehensive scoping review of academic literature, media, and digital discourse
  • Surveyed more than 100 experts, advocates, and organizations working in FGM/C and related fields
  • Conducted 29 in-depth interviews with leaders and practitioners across disciplines

 

The research centered on seven core areas of intersection: religion; race and racism; feminism; law and policy; bodily autonomy; queer gender and sexuality; and climate change. 

These themes guided both the analysis and the recommendations presented across the three reports:
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Key Findings

The research revealed that the anti-FGM/C movement often operates in silos, limiting opportunities for cross-sector collaboration and broader social change.

Several systemic barriers continue to affect survivors and prevention efforts:

  • FGM/C is frequently racialized as an “African issue,” marginalizing non-African survivors and reinforcing harmful stereotypes
  • Racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia impact access to culturally competent care and support
  • Legal approaches alone are insufficient and may, in some contexts, push the practice underground
  • LGBTQIA+ and genderqueer individuals face compounded marginalization and limited institutional support
  • Religious and patriarchal structures continue to shape narratives around women’s bodies and sexuality

 

At the same time, participants identified key opportunities:

  • Collaborative community programming
  • Cross-movement partnerships
  • Shared public education campaigns
  • Greater inclusion of historically excluded voices

 

Trainings Available:

  • Introduction to Intersections with FGM/C– Exploring the overarching themes derived from our initial review on the state of intersectionality in regards to FGM/C: race/racism, religion, bodily autonomy, feminism, law and policy, Queer gender and sexuality, and climate change.
  • Examining Specific Intersections– How oppressive systems, such as racism, impact FGM/C survivors and advocates working to end FGM/C. This presentation includes examples derived from participants working in FGM/C and other related fields collected from throughout the research project. Recommendations are also discussed for how to build intersectional approaches to address FGM/C.
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Religion

“... religion is often misused in regards to FGM/C… as a weapon against survivors… and almost protecting those committing this harm” ~ Sameera Qureshi, Sahiyo’s Religion and FGC Panel

Race and Racism

“... in certain communities, there is an inherent, underlying racism that separates so-called ‘African FGM/C’ from ‘Asian’ or ‘other medicalized FGM/C’... we see that as a way to justify the ‘least severe forms’ of FGM/C…” ~ Mariya Taher, Law, Justice and Development Webinar, World Bank

Bodily Autonomy

“Not knowing what happened to my body at such a young age led to a dissonance between body and being. If I can't even understand what my body went through, how do I gain a sense of bodily autonomy?” ~ Saza Faradilla, personal communication, November 2022

Queer Gender and Sexuality

“I realized that female genital mutilation is not just about maintaining sexual abstinence but also ensuring that I conform to cis-heteronormative standards of femininity. ” ~ Dena Igusti, “She/They” – On Being a Non-Binary Survivor of Female Genital Mutilation

Feminism

” …rather than to begin with women’s sexual liberation, which played a prominent part in Western second-wave feminist agenda, African feminists have approached FGC by strengthening women’s social, economic, and political standing in society in order to give women themselves the weapons to fight FGC.” ~ Emmaleena Käkelä, Rethinking Female Genital Cutting: From a Culturalist to a Structuralist Framework for Challenging Violence Against Women

Law and Policy

“In a country with deep cultural ties to FGM and no ban on the practice, law enforcement has no place, and officers are afraid to intervene… they can’t enforce what does not exist. Critical attention must be given to raising awareness and engaging men and boys in the conversation around FGM” ~ -Dr. Nina Smart, personal communication, November 2022

Climate Change

“There's nothing that is being done at the moment. Very little, just a conversation at the global level, that is slightly prevalent at the national level, and there's nothing at the community level. It is still a theory. And these people are not yet connecting the dots between climate change and all the other impacts. And I am here as a front-line advocate, but I do not really understand the full degree of climate change and how we can mitigate it.” ~ Domtila Chesang, personal communication, December 2022