Greetings,

Sorry to butt in again. Yes, Mr. Conteh and I did indeed have an amiable
phone conversation today. As for strategies for eliminating this practice
I have to again stress that our book merely REPORTS and does not exactly
PRESCRIBE various approaches.  Having said that, I think that the
Senegalese Tostan campaign (which is the topic of one of the chapters) is
working better than anything anyone would have dreamed about before. The
key is that it is community-run, bottoms-up, holistic (i.e. "FGM" is just
one of many topics addressed) and involves large groups of people.  With
other words, no one is forced to take the courageous step of being the one
to change and go against the rest of the community, but everyone quits all
at once, through public declaration. No one knows yet, however, whether
this model will work elsewhere.
Legislation has proven much more problematic.


Best, Ylva (who WISHES she were a "young lady" :))

On Thu, 29 Mar 2001, Lamine Conteh wrote:

> Mr. Sajaw:
>
> It is very funny that you would misinterpret
> my analogy of events with Ms. Hernlund.  For
> your info, I spoke to the young lady this
> afternoon.  It would have been appropriate if
> you had read my exchanges in detailed.  I never
> denounced, nor used any innuendos against Ms. Hernlund.
>
> The biggest problem with today's society is that one
> cannot ask questions or differ in methodology
> to a problem.  I am fortunate to let you know
> that critical reasoning will help us in how we
> perceive problems.
>
> With all the echoes on female circumcision, I
> have yet to read a solution to it.  As a rural
> child, I will tell you that female circumcision
> will greatly reduce as more women go to school.
> A child who goes to school and eventually has
> children will more than likely refuse to have
> her daughters circumcised.
>
> The approach to female circumcision must be
> clearly defined.  Those in lead must realize that
> the problem can only go away if they approach our
> elders in a proper way.  Condemnation will not
> solve the problem.  I ask, why not lobby the
> legislature and the executive to ban female
> circumcision?  I bet those politicians will be
> scared as hell because they may be booted out of
> office.  What other way do you have
> to stop this act?  I suggest that we sit and
> talk to our parents and make it a priority to
> discuss with them that female circumcision is
> not in the Koran.
>
> In Egypt the debate on female circumcision took
> a sudden change when the leaders opposed to it
> yielded trust with the community.  In sociology,
> you cannot change culture without building trust.
> I bet you my life that, though I have not read Ms.
> Hernlund's book, her approach in curbing female
> circumcision might be close to my scenario.
> Whether you are a victim, or an interested party
> in the anti-female circumcision debate, you must
> understand that your initiatives in banning a long
> held tradition cannot simply be accepted by the natives.
> If you leave attitude and emotion out of it, and
> approach the participants in a fashion identical
> to anthropology or sociology, you will be impressed
> in how you can build trust.
>
> The use of "FGM" in reality sounds negative in
> either tribal interpretation.  I understand clearly
> that the victims will loudly say to the affirmative
> that they were mutilated, but I beg to differ that
> a kinder and gentler approach in the name of
> diplomacy will heal the wound.  Please let is
> understand anthropology and sociology in getting
> our message across.  May I suggest that we read
> Ms. Hernlund's book?
>
> Naphiyo,
>
> Comrade ML Jassey-Conteh
>
>
>
> ------Original Message------
> From: [log in to unmask]
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: March 29, 2001 4:52:52 PM GMT
> Subject: Re: book(YLVA)
>
>
> Hello Ylva,
> I have always and will continue be an ardent opponent of FGM.
> Personally, I want to thank you and congratulate you for your grandiose
> efforts to fight this barbaric practice. YOU ROCKS!
> One thing is clear reading the exchanges on the list is that
> Gambians
> share a different paradigm when it comes to its application and
> contradictions.
> When educated people want to quantify the benefits of an openly proven
> theory
> that FGM has no medical significant to the millions of victims of this
> dehumanizing
> practice, it makes me wonder if it is the results of the research they are
> worried about or the fear of shifting paradigms.
> I have ordered your book to help support the brave cause you and
> your colleagues are doing to help end this form of abuse to particularly,
> young women who are the victims of this practice. If people like Mr. Conteh
> disagrees with the tools and methodologies used in your research, I advice
> him to conduct his own studies and brief us with his results.
> Finally, please continue your qualitative approach to this issue. I
> will send you my thoughts about the book once I read it.
>
> GO GIRL,
> Sincerely,
> Matarr Sajaw
>
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