Despite the Western media attention and the critique of female circumcision in sub-Saharan Africa, few studies consider the local populations' traditions, values, and ideologies. Through the Yoruba Lens: A Postcolonial Discourse of Female Circumcision investigates female circumcision practices from a philosophical, Yoruba traditionalist perspective. African philosophy and religion provides an ideological foundation and helps reveal the postcolonial and feminist theoretical framework that continues the academic debate. Framed by LeCompte and Schensul's notion that \"ethnography emphasized discovery; it does not assume answers\" (2010: 33), my research draws from literature reviews, quantitative data, and interviews. I will present and investigate three hypotheses regarding the impacts of modernity and culture. Being of Yoruba, Nigerian ancestry I am in an ideal position to both, understand the emic perspective as well as contribute to the etic conversation. Empathy and cultural relativism are vital tools in understanding ancient practices and taboos.
","abstract_html":"<p>Despite the Western media attention and the critique of female circumcision in sub-Saharan Africa, few studies consider the local populations' traditions, values, and ideologies.<em> Through the Yoruba Lens: A Postcolonial Discourse of Female Circumcision</em> investigates female circumcision practices from a philosophical, Yoruba traditionalist perspective. African philosophy and religion provides an ideological foundation and helps reveal the postcolonial and feminist theoretical framework that continues the academic debate. Framed by LeCompte and Schensul's notion that "ethnography emphasized discovery; it does not assume answers" (2010: 33), my research draws from literature reviews, quantitative data, and interviews. I will present and investigate three hypotheses regarding the impacts of modernity and culture. Being of Yoruba, Nigerian ancestry I am in an ideal position to both, understand the emic perspective as well as contribute to the etic conversation. Empathy and cultural relativism are vital tools in understanding ancient practices and taboos.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Quichocho, Jennifer"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"M.A.","degree_level":"Masters Thesis","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Richard Clemmer-Smith, Ph.D.","Alejandro Cerón-Valdes","Maik Nwosu"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2018,"date_issued":"2018-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2018-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:02:53Z","subjects":["Anthropology","Circumcision","Female circumcision","Female genital mutilation","Nigeria","Yoruba","African Languages and Societies","Social and Cultural Anthropology","Women's Studies"],"languages":["en"],"rights":["Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
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