Discussion Qs

1) In a couple of the readings this week, Chinese foot binding is compared to FGM. These are both gendered phenomenon which bear similar cultural value. I wonder if there are any examples of male body modification and how this would affect gender roles, marriage rites, etc.

2) In Half the Sky, Kristof highlight's Molly's urge that changing the law alone is not enough. She essentially jumpstarted the grassroots movement against FGM in Senegal. Therefore, Kristof seems to present a dichotomy between top-down and bottom-up efforts with regard to the effort against this practice. Molly insists that both strategies are needed.Do you agree? Should changing a cultural norm a top-down or bottom-up issue?

3) Education is consistently brought up in these readings as a major tool in the fight against FGM. We discussed this also with regard to prostitution. Do you think that education stands as the diametric opposite to FGM (and other hotly debated female practices, such as prostitution)? For instance, if women were educated, do you think that they would still choose to be "cut?" Can it simply be an aspect of the solution? Is it the end-all, be-all?