Female Genital Cutting in Senegal
2015
This multimedia case study explores how a combined strategy of public deliberation, community empowerment, and coordinated action resulted in the end of female genital cutting (FGC) in Senegal. The case is an 8-page website that uses video (including four video interviews), text, maps and timelines. Students learn the history of FGC, the theory behind the combined approach and its practical implementation, and the challenges community members, and particularly women, have faced in tackling this issue. The case helps instructor and students discuss the strengths and weaknesses of different ways to change deeply entrenched norms that raise ethical dilemmas in international development and aid.
The case is part of a series produced by the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) Case Program, hosted by the HKS Strengthening Learning and Teaching Excellence (SLATE) initiative, the world’s largest producer and repository of case studies designed for teaching about how government works and how public policy is made. Each case in the series is designed to train public leaders, and introduces actual policy dilemmas along with data to equip students to learn how to apply the rigor of quantitative analysis in the real world.
This case may be purchased for a nominal fee; registered educators may obtain a free review copy. Online supplemental resources include short free documents and videos on how to teach with the case method, as well as downloadable related tip sheets and questions for class discussion.
Female Genital Cutting in Senegal
Source:
Garcia-Rios P. Female Genital Cutting: Confronting the Power of Tradition in Senegal. HKS Case No. 2050.0. Harvard Kennedy School Case Program 2015. http://case.hks.harvard.edu/female-genital-cutting-confronting-the-power-of-tradition-in-senegal.