Women's Empowerment: Ending FGM

FGM is very much encouraged in the Pokot culture, especially in west and south Pokot, where educational facilities are still lacking. FGM is often considered a necessary part of raising a girl properly and a way to prepare her for adulthood and marriage. It is often motivated by beliefs about what is considered proper sexual behavior, linking the procedure to pre-marital virginity and marital fidelity. FGM is practiced in communities that believe it helps reduce a girl's libido, and is therefore believed to help her resist premature sexual activity. It is associated with cultural ideals of femininity and modesty, including the notion that girls are "clean" and "beautiful" after the removal of body parts considered unclean. Whatever the reasons might be, research shows that it is Pokot men who promote FGM practices — women are subject to the men, and are always taught to be submissive to them and passive, within a culture that is so oppressive, always seeking to malign and minimize women.

Research shows that training and empowering women on the negative aspects of FGM, without directly attacking the relevant community, has a positive outcome. An empowered woman will try to educate the community on the negative aspects of FGM. The best strategy is to help disciple women — teaching them the word of God and teaching them about God's plan for their lives. The community should understand that God created them in His own image, and that all of us are beautiful the way we are and therefore don't need any modification.

In the last two to three years, YWAM Athi River and WMK volunteers and staff have been working closely with Pokot women, trying to understand more about their struggles and the positive resolve in the midst of all their challenges. God has put forth an "open door" in these women. The team discovered how graciously God has planted the desire and determination for change in the hearts of women — maybe because they are the first-hand victims of the oppressive culture. Many women who have gone through the practice carry the zeal to be agents of change in the community. What is needed is proper training and empowerment, to equip them with the necessary knowledge, information, and resources to help build their capacity as change agents. Trained women are always motivated to end the procedure in their community, so that their daughters and other young girls will not have to go through the pain and violation as they did.

In addition to persuading the community to put an end to FGM, the women go further and become proactive — together, as one, they will go to the woman who will be performing the circumcision, and come up with a plan to help the girl. The trained women will also work with the government and other stakeholders to help stop the practice completely, and ultimately save the Pokot girl child. Such a girl will finish her schooling, get a job, and also help educate many other women and the community at large about the dangers of FGM.

The FGM culture is a sensitive issue in Pokot. WMK doesn't want to be seen as if it is pushing its own agenda and forcing change. We know the results that might come from such an effort, and therefore seek more guidance from community leaders. We trust God that our own contribution will help, and that the community will begin to embrace our initiative.