Female genital mutilation: experiences of migrant women and implications for nursing
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29352/mill0223e.43284Keywords:
female genital mutilation; harmful traditional practices; women’s health; human rights; transcultural nursingAbstract
Introduction: Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a harmful traditional practice recognized as a serious violation of human rights, with physical, psychological, sexual, and social implications. It is estimated that more than 200 million women have undergone FGM, which continues to be perpetuated in the name of tradition, the preservation of honor, and the control of female sexuality.
Objective: To explore the lived experiences of migrant women subjected to FGM, understanding the meanings attributed to this experience and reflecting on its implications for nursing practice.
Methods: A qualitative study grounded in Max van Manen’s hermeneutic phenomenology was conducted within the scope of the Intercultural Approach to Prevent Harmful Practices (IAPHP) project. Phenomenological interviews were carried out with seven migrant women originating from countries with high prevalence of FGM. Data analysis followed an interpretive phenomenological approach focused on identifying experiential meanings emerging from the women’s narratives.
Results: Women described FGM as a practice deeply embedded in cultural traditions, social belonging, and gender expectations, often associated with silence, coercion, and lack of consent. The experience emerged as profoundly embodied, marked by pain, fear, obstetric and genitourinary complications, psychological suffering, and sexual difficulties. Migration and contact with different sociocultural realities contributed to greater awareness regarding women’s rights, bodily autonomy, and the harmful nature of the practice. Participants also expressed resistance strategies and a strong desire to protect future generations from similar experiences.
Conclusion: FGM reflects structural gender inequalities and compromises women’s dignity, health, and bodily integrity. Nurses play a central role in prevention, early identification, culturally competent care, psychosocial support, and human rights advocacy. Educational, community-based, and empowerment-focused interventions are essential for the prevention and elimination of FGM.
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