Female Genital Mutilation in Tanzania: Re-examining Women’s Position in Society

Much discussion has been raised worldwide on Female Genital Mutilation and/or Cutting FGM/C , however, there is a need to understand the impact of FGM/C for girls and women. This paper focuses on the practice, and experiences, of FGM/C in Tanzania. This paper uses Tanzania’s 2016 Demographic and Health Survey to analyse two key objectives: 1 who is at risk of FGM and potentially why; and 2 what are the future outcomes if one conducts FGM: what relationships do they enter into and what socio-economic status is obtained? The results show 10.48% of women interviewed had experienced FGM/C. The majority of these cases are conducted at a young age 51% below eight years old ; and by traditional circumcisers 65% . Secondly, the experience of FGM was highest for women residing in rural areas; with no education; from the poorest socio-economic group; and from the Central-Northern regions including Manyara, Arusha, Singida, Dodoma and Mara. A key contribution made by this paper is identifying the associations to future life outcomes: FGM/C experience was associated to particular relationships later in life, and with particular partners. The findings raise the need for engagement of practitioners, policy makers and community members, of different levels to engage in the movement to stopping FGM.