“Never My Daughters”: A Qualitative Study Regarding Attitude Change Toward Female Genital Cutting Among Ethiopian and Eritrean Families in Sweden

Abstract

To explore attitudes toward female genital cutting (FGC) in a migration perspective, qualitative interviews were conducted with men and women from Ethiopia and Eritrea in Sweden. We found firm rejection of all forms of FGC and absence of a guiding motive. Informants failed to see any meaning in upholding the custom. We conclude that children of Ethiopian or Eritrean parents resident in Sweden run little risk of being subjected to FGC. A societal structure prepared to deal with suspected cases of FGC with a high level of alertness should be combined with a healthy sceptical attitude toward exaggerations of risk estimates.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the informants for their openness and willingness to participate in this study, and Save the Children Sweden; the Faculty of Medicine, Lund University; Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University; and EC-DAPHNE Programme JAI/DAP/02/163/WYC (Preventive measures combating violence against children, adolescents and women) for their financial support.