Why the Voices Project?

For centuries, individuals have been afraid to talk openly about female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), for fear of being ostracized by their communities, labeled as victims, or jeopardizing their relationships with loved ones implicated in the practice. More recently, decades of feminist activism and research shows that bringing small groups of people together to share and witness each other’s stories can enhance individual wellbeing, support relationship-building, and motivate involvement in social justice work.

The courageous storytellers of Voices to End FGM/C reflect the diverse and global communities and cultural contexts where FGM/C occurs. Each has developed a unique personal story addressing the enduring impact of FGM/C on their life. As a collection, the stories explore the physical and emotional consequences of the practice; policy and advocacy efforts toward criminalizing FGM/C; the creation of educational programs for prevention; opportunities for health providers to support survivors; and more.

Communication research indicates that real people’s stories can have greater reach when they are shared widely, both in local community settings and through social media (websites, Facebook, YouTube, etc.), which has been the case with our Voices work. The Voices stories are being shown in legislative hearings, trainings for healthcare and other front-line professionals, and community engagement screenings (online and in-person), to increase awareness of and shift social norms around FGM/C, as well as galvanize people to take action towards ending this form of gender-based violence once and for all.