Preventive and supportive measures towards the abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting : A Minor Field Study in The Gambia

Abstract: The aim of the study was to examine how advocacy workers from different governmental and non-governmental organisations work with female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and gender equality in The Gambia. We further examined their experienced difficulties and the provided support to women exposed to FGM/C. The study was based on field observations of events, meetings and educational events, as well as semi-structured and open-ended interviews with ten participants. Through a thematic analysis, findings show that counselling were the main form of support, and the most experienced difficulties was the male dominance, the cultural belief and the culture of silence. Education, traditional forums and advocacy where therefore used as informative tools regarding gender roles, power positions and the harmfulness of FGM/C. Thus, findings confirm the importance of the continuous work with the gender roles, the social exclusion of the unmutilated women and the gatekeeping roles hindering the abandonment of the harmful practice.