Female Genital Mutilation: Fundamentals, Social Expectations and Change

Type	Working Paper
Title	Female Genital Mutilation: Fundamentals, Social Expectations and Change
Author(s)	Cristina Bicchieri Annalisa Marini
Publication (Day/Month/Year)	2015
URL	https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/67523/1/MPRA_paper_67523.pdf
Abstract	The paper studies the relationship between female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) dynamics, social expectations and fundamentals across African countries. We show that socioeconomic conditions are overall worse in countries where FGM/C is practiced. Yet when we consider the dynamics of FGM/C within countries that perform it, there is no clear link between fundamentals and the decline of the practice. We find instead that FGM/C dynamics are strongly related to social expectations and social capital. Our findings have implications for policy interventions aimed at reducing FGM/C.

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