The Changing Paradigms of FGM

The Changing Paradigms of FGM

The Changing Paradigms of FGM, by Kameel Ahmady and colleagues, follows research on female genital mutilation/cutting in Iran. It discusses reported changes in study communities, work on awareness and prevention, and a separate introduction to male circumcision.

The report should be read alongside In the Name of Tradition. The access section distinguishes a standalone report from a combined book-and-report file, helping readers identify which material they are consulting.

The original study and the follow-up

The research background concerns selected areas in West Azerbaijan, Kurdistan, Kermanshah and Hormozgan. The follow-up describes returning to some study areas and undertaking face-to-face education alongside further investigation.

Distinguish the original fieldwork locations, places revisited and communities receiving education. The introduction does not establish complete coverage of four provinces or a national sample.

Reported changes and educational impact

The report describes changes in the areas examined. To assess a decline, check how it was measured, the ages and composition of participants, the follow-up period and other changes affecting the communities.

Education occurring alongside a reported reduction does not by itself establish causation. Nor does a local change demonstrate an equivalent trend throughout Iran.

Tradition, pressure and prevention

The author examines the social expectations that sustain cutting and the responsibilities of those involved in prevention. The cultural setting is considered alongside consent, unequal power and protection.

WHO’s overview of FGM provides a separate source for its definition and health evidence. Those general findings should be distinguished from the report’s local observations.

The section on male circumcision

The report’s discussion of boys’ and men’s circumcision is a distinct subject. It should not be assumed that the same procedure, evidence base or findings apply across the two topics.

For the author’s later, book-length research on male circumcision, see Blade of Tradition in the Name of Religion.

Common questions

Is the report the same as In the Name of Tradition?

It is related follow-up material. Some downloads combine the original book and report, while others contain a standalone report.

Does the reported decline prove an educational programme caused it?

That conclusion requires an appropriate evaluation design. The timing of education and change alone does not establish causation.

Where can I find available editions?

Use the access links above, checking the language, format and imprint of the file you choose. The title and page numbers in your citation should match that edition.

Related reading

• In the Name of Tradition
• Female genital mutilation/cutting

Read the Farsi book introduction for the corresponding presentation and available material.

Further reading and downloads

• Female genital mutilation (FGM)