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Review
. 2018;10(1):18-24.
doi: 10.1007/s11930-018-0139-4. Epub 2018 Feb 23.

The Impact of Migration on Attitudes to Female Genital Cutting and Experiences of Sexual Dysfunction Among Migrant Women with FGC

Sara Johnsdotter  1
Affiliations
Free PMC article
Review

The Impact of Migration on Attitudes to Female Genital Cutting and Experiences of Sexual Dysfunction Among Migrant Women with FGC

Sara Johnsdotter. Curr Sex Health Rep. 2018.
Free PMC article

Abstract

Purpose of review: The purpose of this review was to explore current research on the impact of migration on issues related to female genital cutting and sexuality.

Recent findings: There is growing evidence that migration results in a broad opposition to female genital cutting among concerned migrant groups in western countries. In addition, after migration, affected women live in the midst of a dominant discourse categorizing them as "mutilated" and sexually disfigured. There is also, in contrast to what is shown by most research, a public discourse saying that female genital cutting (FGC) leads to lost capacity to enjoy sex. Concurrently, a vast body of research demonstrates a strong correlation between a negative body image or body shame and sexual dysfunction.

Summary: Care for women with FGC needs to be holistic and, while offering medical care when needed, the health care providers should avoid feeding into self-depreciatory body images and notions about lost ability to enjoy sexual life.

Keywords: Discourse; Female genital cutting; Female genital mutilation; Migration; Sexual dysfunction; Sexual self-image.

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Conflict of interest statement

Compliance with Ethical StandardsThe author declares that she has no conflicts of interest.This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Model for a theoretical overview of sexuality (from Cleary and Hegarty [1])
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