A new study published in PLOS Global Public Health sheds light on Somali women’s views about female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), revealing a tradition that is both deeply rooted and slowly evolving.

Somalia has the highest rate of FGM/C in the world, with 98% of women aged 15-49 affected. The practice, which offers no health benefits and is linked to serious psychological, obstetric, and reproductive health complications, remains a major human rights issue. Global organizations like the UN have called for its complete abandonment.

Listening to Somali Women

Researchers, led by Zamzam I.A. Ali, interviewed 20 Somali women aged 18 to 80 from various backgrounds in 2022. Most participants described FGM/C as a “stage all girls go through,” highlighting how ingrained the practice is in Somali society.

Women discussed two main types of FGM/C:

• Gudniinka fircooniga (“pharaonic circumcision”): Involves surgically narrowing the vaginal opening.

• Gudniinka sunnah (“religiously sanctioned” or “good” circumcision): Ranges from a small prick to the removal of the external clitoris.

The Forces Behind FGM/C

Participants linked FGM/C to:

• Religious and cultural identity: “The whole culture in Somalia, whether it’s in politics or government, they still believe in [FGM/C].”

• Patriarchal and social pressure: “We went through this, and our girls will take the same path.”

• Fear of social exclusion: “I just wanted to be like everyone else, like just not to feel like I’m the odd one out.”

Call for a Change

All women in the study supported abandoning the “pharaonic” form of FGM/C, citing its many harms. However, many—especially those with less education—felt that “gudniinka sunnah” was less problematic. As one woman put it, “The Sunnah you hear is not something problematic. It is just bleeding the girl a little bit. No problem in that.”

University-educated women, on the other hand, were more likely to reject all forms of FGM/C: “I don’t support it at all because you know Allah made us whole [..]. It’s not a mistake and we deserve to be whole and so I don’t support it at all.”

Participants noted that attitudes are slowly changing, especially with the spread of education: “In the past, many Somalis did it, but recently people lost interest in it, and they are becoming better. Not like in the past. People started to understand and change.”

The researchers caution, however, that education alone may not be enough to end FGM/C. Real change will require the involvement of a wide range of community members.

Lead author Zamzam Ali reflected on the impact of the project: “This project impacted me deeply and helped me understand the 'why'—the driving force that kept this practice alive from one generation to another in Somalia. Women were the main victims, yet they were also the promoters and champions for the continuation of FGM in the community. Any intervention targeting this issue should start with a deep understanding and involve them in the conversation. I hope this work becomes the start of more open, vulnerable, and honest conversations in our community about FGM and a step closer toward its elimination.”