The Female Circumcision Controversy: An Anthropological Perspective

by Ellen Gruenbaum

After five years of fieldwork in Sudan, where the most severe forms of genital surgery are common, Gruenbaum (anthropology, California State U.-Fresno) argues that western outrage and criticism of the practice are frequently simplistic and fail to appreciate the diversity of cultural contexts, the complex meanings, and the conflicting responses to

Genres: Anthropology, Politics, Gender

256 pages, Paperback

First published December 28, 2000

Reviews

[Lidia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gruenbaum addresses in this book the issue of female circumcision, emphasizing the need to understand more thoroughly the controversies surrounding this phenomenon. Unlike Fran Hosken and others, who advocate for the elimination of the practice, she presents it in a different way, using narrative and example with aim to improve understanding and reduce simplistic denunciations.
The book is well written, although at times it seems unclear which position the author takes. Sometimes she criticises authors like Hosken, and sympathises with Geertz: „Look, I think clitoridectomy is a horrible business. But what are we going to do? Invade the Horn of Africa an arrest everybody? If you are serious about addressing this, you ask people there about the practice. [If] you want to change things, you don’t start by proclaiming that you process is the truth. That is not very helpful “. While at other times she proposes similar strategies to those of Hosken to help stopping the practice.
All in all, it was a pleasant and interesting read with a lot of nice and entertaining ethnographic field stories (although in my opinion some of this accounts had nothing in common with the topic, while others should have been better elaborated).

[Jeannette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, it was overdue and I had to return it. So I cannot say I read the whole thing. Even so, I skimmed and read my way and found it mostly well written and some of it useful. Alas, for me, it didnt have enough anthropological breadth; I wanted someone to tell me how the rituals developed, where, when, maybe even why. Maybe you have to be deeply into FGM or better, female genital cutting, to rate this with four or more.

[Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

book 3/8 for my demography internship. definitely the most engagingly written one so far. anthropology is such a mystery to me it's so similar to all the things i study but i know nothing about it. mixed feelings i think

[Dave Pier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid, balanced book on a hot topic, useful for undergrad classes. Marred only by a couple of long ethnographic digressions which do nothing to enhance the discussion of female circumcision in Sudan.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not the most popular of subjects, to be sure, but a really impressive and much-needed perspective on one of the most controversial issues facing women's health and human rights on a global scale. Gruenbaum is an anthropologist with a perspective on female circumsision (notice she does not refer to it as female genital mutilation)that is not popular. This book inspired me to write a paper on legal approaches to the problems of female circumcision and Gruenbaum has come to be the modern-day anthropologist that I most respect. I highly recommend this book for anyone; whether you know something or nothing about the subject matter. All I ask is that you keep an open mind. I have read this book three times cover to cover and learned new things each time.

[Alexa · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author was nuanced and well-spoken. I will give her that. However, she will not denounce the practice of FGM, following up with foolish statements about "arresting everyone" in areas that practice. I can understand what she means about the difficulty of implementing bans and enforcing laws... but this is child abuse, torture, dangerous, attempted murder, life destroying practice. We don't say "stopping things is hard we don't tackle such hard things... find an easier goal?!?!??" WTF lady