Obstacles

Many countries have been able to cut down on the rate of practiced circumcision. Unfortunately, for many areas there is simply not enough being done to combat this horrendous ritual. In order to understand why female mutilation still exists it is important to look at these countries individually. For this I would like to compare and contrast two African countries: Sudan and Kenya.
Attempts to teach people about the harmful effects of female circumcision can only be met if those in the surrounding area can afford to go to school. In Sudan, there are much lower education rates therefore fewer can be well-informed. Within Kenya, where the economic and political structure is more stable, many more can attend school. So within Kenya we see a smaller percentage of young girls undergoing these procedures. However it must be mentioned that in the case of the Abagusii of Kenya the age at which this ritual is performed is actually declining. Girls as young as 6-8 undergo this procedure, whereas at the beginning of the 19th century they were circumcised at 10-11 years of age. This decline in age when the practice is performed, could be attributed to the demand for female labor and men’s desires to start families without any delays.
Aside from this anomaly it is pivotal that we understand that education in key in eradicating this dangerous practice. Specifically, it is essential that for change to be made, this education must come from those who are or have once been within these communities. It has been proven that outsiders, unfamiliar with the specific inner workings of these cultures, are not nearly as effective as those with first hand knowledge. Mostly, it is important young girls are understood on an equal level, something only someone who has been there can offer. Still there remains the issue of who is going to reach that one individual who will spread the word in the first place?