Families Going Against the Norm to Keep Girls from THE CUT - New Research from Save The Children Sierra Leone
In Sierra Leone 13% of Girls are uncircumcised. Their families have chosen to opt out of Bondo women’s society to protect them from female genital cutting (FGC) and female genital mutilation (FGM). New research from Save The Children Sierra Leone highlights “positive deviants” - individuals who break away from social convention by using uncommon practices which are beneficial to them and their families".
Top Reasons families give for opting out of Bondo
Fear of Negative Health Consequences
The harm of the practice
Religious conviction
Cost of joining Bondo
Moral Reasons
Who was most likely to take the decision to opt out of Bondo
An elderly woman, with at least primary school education, who was employed full time
How they took the decision
First they spoke to their daughters about the negative aspect of circumcision and encouraged them to keep away from the Bondo society’s meetings, and members
Decision makers who were also members of the society stopped participating in Bondo activities once they decided they would not circumcise their own daughters
Decision maker then announced their decision to other family members
Key Lessons learned from the Save the Children Positive Deviant FGM/C qualitative research in Sierra Leone
While current interventions against FGC/M target girls the positive deviant research findings suggests that family decision makers have a key role to play in safeguarding girls from circumcision
Uncircumcised Girls are victims of verbal abuse, threats, and peer pressure in rural communities after their families makes decision to abstain from Bondo
Chiefs and traditional leaders offer no protection or support to families and girls who choose to opt out of Bondo
For the full findings, and recommendations download the full Save The Children Sierra Leone Report here: Qualitative Study to Identity Positive Deviants for Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting In Selected Districts in Sierra Leone .
