Genital Cutting: How Migration Reshapes Somali Views on Circumcision
"Exploring the shifting perceptions of female and male circumcision among Swedish Somalis after migrating from Somalia."
In societies where female circumcision (FC) exists, male circumcision (MC) is also typically practiced. However, in Euro-American cultures, a distinction has emerged: FC is often banned, while MC is condoned or even encouraged. This creates a unique situation for migrants coming from countries where both practices are common. How do their views evolve when they move to a new cultural context?
A recent study explores the perceptions of Somali migrants in Sweden regarding FC and MC. The research considers that Somalis once lived in a society where both practices were widely accepted, but now reside in a country with a legal ban on FC and acceptance of MC. This transition raises crucial questions about how cultural and religious beliefs adapt to new environments and legal frameworks.
This article will unpack the key findings of this study, examining how Somalis in Sweden navigate these complex issues, the factors that influence their evolving views, and the implications for cultural understanding and healthcare practices. We'll explore the renegotiation of values, the impact of Swedish society, and the significance of these shifts for the Somali community.
Prevalence and Ongoing Impact
The UNICEF statistical overview describes prevalence trends by age cohort, treating girls aged 15–19 as the most recent assessment because they have most recently been exposed to the risk of FGM. Historical levels are calculated from all available surveys. Somalia’s 2020 Health and Demographic Survey showed no indication that the practice was abating, according to Landinfo; it also reported some movement away from infibulation toward less intrusive procedures. UNICEF Data reports that more than 230 million girls and women worldwide have undergone FGM, including over 144 million in Africa.
Definitions and Limits of Current Guidance
The European Union Agency for Asylum’s Somalia guidance includes a dedicated section on female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C), within its analysis of women and girls and refugee status. The supplied guidance excerpt establishes that FGM/C is addressed in country-specific protection analysis, but does not detail particular procedures or their limitations. A 2024 study identifies a gap in in-depth knowledge about how immigrants from countries where FGM/C has historically been practiced perceive it after migrating to Europe. UNICEF’s Somalia case study describes FGM as altering or injuring the external genitalia for non-medical reasons and recognizes health and wellbeing risks and human-rights concerns.
The Core Values: Continuity and Change
The study involved in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with Somali men and women in three Swedish cities. The findings revealed a fascinating interplay of continuity and change in their core values. The values of being a good Muslim, avoiding harm, and upholding respectability remained central. However, the way these values were applied to FC and MC underwent a significant transformation.
- Integration into Swedish Society: Exposure to Swedish norms and values played a significant role. The legal ban on FC, coupled with discussions about women's rights and bodily autonomy, led many Somalis to question the practice.
- Influence of Other Muslim Groups: Interactions with other Muslim communities in Sweden, some of whom do not practice FC, also influenced perceptions. This sometimes led to Somalis feeling scrutinized or "looked down upon" for continuing the practice.
- Perceptions of Harm: A growing awareness of the potential health risks associated with FC, contrasted with the perception of MC as relatively harmless (or even beneficial), further solidified the divergence in views.
Migration, Discourse, and Changing Attitudes
Research on Swedish-Somali girls and women reports that negative attitudes toward female genital cutting are also informed by dominant condemnatory discourse in Sweden’s migration context, which presents the practice as violent and harmful. A 2025 article, citing studies of Somali attitudes in Sweden, describes rapid changes linked to new material, religious, and social conditions, prompting reconsideration of cultural practices. A separate analysis of genital cutting discourse notes that ritual male circumcision is also present in societies where girls are circumcised, including Somalia. Together, these sources highlight how migration-related social conditions and public discourse shape debates about cutting.
Opposition and Transnational Negotiation
A 2018 review finds growing evidence that migration is associated with broad opposition to female genital cutting among affected migrant groups in Western countries. It also describes affected women as living amid changed social circumstances after migration. Research on Somali and Sudanese women examines decision-making in a transnational setting where women navigate contradictory social norms. A 2024 study focuses on immigrants and descendants in Europe, exploring attitudes toward FGM/C and the health consequences of living with it.
Navigating Tradition and Modernity
The study underscores the dynamic nature of cultural and religious beliefs in the context of migration. As Somalis navigate their identities in a new cultural landscape, they actively renegotiate their values and adapt their practices. This process involves complex considerations of religious obligation, health concerns, and social integration.
Changing Meanings After Migration
A study of Somali and Sudanese migrants in Norway examines how migration changes the meaning-making around female genital cutting. Its summary reports that the practice is almost universal in both countries and that most women are subjected to infibulation, described as physical closure of the vulva. The focus on perceptions and experiences of infibulation, defibulation, and virginity frames change as involving meanings and lived experience, not only whether cutting continues.
Community Efforts and Emerging Challenges
A 2026 paper examines a decade of community-driven efforts to end FGM/C in Somalia, describing Norwegian Church Aid’s integrated approach of community dialogue, survivor support, faith-based engagement, and policy advocacy. Its abstract reports measurable reductions in severe forms such as Pharaonic cutting, while also identifying medicalisation and growing… as emerging trends; the supplied excerpt does not complete the latter trend. A 2025 Humanium article says FGM remains widespread in Somalia, affecting nearly all women and girls. These accounts point to the importance of sustained community work alongside attention to emerging forms of the practice.
The findings highlight the importance of understanding the nuances within migrant communities. While some Somalis reinforce traditional views on MC, others actively question and challenge practices like FC. These diverse perspectives reflect the ongoing negotiation between "old" and "new" cultures.
Ultimately, this research provides valuable insights into the evolving perceptions of genital cutting among Somali migrants in Sweden. By understanding the factors that influence these shifts, we can promote more effective and culturally sensitive healthcare practices, fostering open dialogue and supporting the well-being of migrant communities.