A cut for a lifetime : the case of female genital mutilation among the community of Guinea Bissau in Lisbon

Abstract

After more than 25 years of efforts to delimit the traditional yet harmful practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) it continues to be a deeply rooted tradition in many countries. There are approximately 140 million girls and women who have undergone this operation. Approximately a further 4 million continue to be mutilated every day. Furthermore, FGM has also become an issue that is becoming increasingly relevant in Europe and other parts of the world, due to the arrival of immigrants and refugees from countries which practice this tradition. The main approach of this thesis is a legal- anthropological analysis of the practice of Female Genital Mutilation among the immigrant communities of Guinea Bissau in Portugal. As my research showed, FGM is still an important element and identity marker within the communities and therefore is even still practiced in Portugal. Working with both sides, the immigrants and the hosting society, my thesis has been an attempt to highlight the controversial points of view on this issue and to provide interpretations of legislative and preventative tools from which all stakeholders involved could benefit.