I recently read Half the Sky, by Nick Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn. To be quite honest, I wasn’t a huge fan of the book. But I think that the organizations he highlighted were impressive and innovative, and were able to tackle big challenges through their own innovative approaches. He was able to highlight some effective organizations and thus provide some hope that age-old problems affecting women such as sexism, FGM/FGC, sexual violence, and honor killings can actually be ended.
One of the organizations he mentioned is Tostan, a community based organization with a mission to empower African communities to bring about sustainable development and positive social transformation based on respect for human rights. Since 1991, Tostan has brought its holistic 30-month education program to thousands of communities in ten African countries: Burkina Faso, Djibouti, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, Somalia, and Sudan.
Tostan’s innovative “Community Empowerment Program” (CEP) has been able to empower some communities to together agree to abandon the practice of female genital cutting, which is still considered a rite of passage for women in many African and Middle Eastern countries, despite the health risks and incredible pain that the process entails. Dealing with an issue like FGC is incredibly tricky because it is so deeply tied to culture and social relations. Western approaches don’t necessarily work in such a context; going into a community and telling them that an ubiquitous practice is “bad” or “against human rights” simply wouldn’t make sense. The women would respond stating that they need to get their girls married — and a man would never marry a woman who has not been cut.
Tostan instead focuses on community-led development to eradicate this practice. Tostan enrolls about 30 adults and 30 adolescents in two different classes. The program educates community members on democracy, human rights, problem solving, health, hygiene, literacy, and management skills. The teaching includes interactive exercises, such as small-group work, case studies, and action research projects. These methods draw on African oral techniques, including theater, storytelling, dance, artwork, song, debate, and the sharing of personal experience.
Tostan does not explicitly call on communities to abandon FGC; instead, as communities become better educated about health and human rights, they are empowered with knowledge that helps them make better decisions for the lives of their children. By encouraging dialogue and openness about important issues, Tostan empowers communities to create positive change.
Tostan has also implemented a similar model for prisoners in Senegal, which is incredibly important as most prisoners lack rehabilitation or any concrete skills that help them re-enter society; this leads to a high rate of recidivism. The Prison Project provides prisoners with training in income-generating activities, microcredit loans, as well as the educational component.
Tostan’s model shows that community-based empowerment is the best way to tackle big challenges, and that if individuals are better educated, they will be able to make better decisions. It’s a very impressive outcome from a seemingly simple idea.
I also want to point out the concept of cultural relativism here. To be quite honest, when I first heard about FGC, I was certainly horrified – but then, I was afraid to look at the issue through the lens of Western culture. I was confused: perhaps there is legitimacy to this practice, as viewed through a different culture? Am I right to pass a value judgment on this practice? I wasn’t sure until I watched this incredible TED video:
In the video, Sam Harris argues that there are concrete answers to moral questions. That we do know clearly what is right and wrong — and that pretending to ignore a problem because of cultural relativism is wrong. Indeed, it is foolish to ignore what we know is right and wrong simply because of the fear of overstepping boundaries or offending others. We underestimate ourselves. And there are answers to these questions.
Therefore, I can now say that there is nothing right about FGC. It is incredibly painful to girls, reflects sexist beliefs in these communities, and creates lifelong health problems. No practice that endangers the health of an individual can be a beneficial one — even if viewed through the lens of culture.
That’s what I believe. And I encourage you to find your own answer.
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