Changes in female circumcision among Kenyan Maasai

The study “At the intersection of place, gender and ethnicity: changes in female circumcision among Kenyan Maasai” by Hannelore van Bavel (published 2020 in Gender, Place & Culture 27 (8): 1071–1092, DOI: 10.1080/0966369X.2019.1615415) describes changes in the practice of female circumcision among the Maasai community of Loita Hills, Kenya.

It highlights the importance of place in shaping social relations, by showing the importance of paying attention to the intersection of gender, culture, ethnicity and place when negotiating change. By taking into account the effects of colonialism in Loita, as well as the Maasai’s position at the margins of decision-making, the NGO SAFE Maa was able to challenge the social norm of female circumcision.

The approach was non-judgemental and community-led. It addressed the fact that concerns around gender are bound up with concerns about social status, ethnic marginalisation and cultural survival. By showcasing change in the community, in Kenya and globally, it responded to local sentiment of wanting to be part of a changing world rather than remaining in the margins.

The study revealed that female circumcision is constantly contested in interaction with historical, local, national and international influences. It shows the transformative potential of approaches that empower people to have their own debates and make their own decisions about the future they want.

Posted on 1 October 2020 in Pastoralism, Gender & Youth