Underliv och överordning – En diskursanalys om motståndsaktivisternas tal om kvinnlig könsstympning/omskärelse i Tanzania

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze the discourses of activists who work against female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in Tanzania. The study focus on the discourses that arise during interviews about FGM/C with five activists. To examine this we asked the following questions: What discourses are presented in the interviews? How do these discourses interact together – are there any discourse conflicts? How do the activists talk about FGM/C in comparison to our western view? The study is based on discourse theory. We also use feminism and postcolonialism as theories in our analyze. Four discourses are found in the interviews: the health/hygiene discourse, the education/empowerment discourse, the law/human rights discourse and the feminism discourse. The result of the study shows how these four discourses are used by themselves. And also how the discources are used together to form strong arguments againts FGM/C. We found that these discourses are based on a modern perspective that are developed through globalization and western thoughts. These modern based discourses are in a constant conflict with the traditional discourse. The traditional discource are used when arguments why FGM/C exists are argued. This conflict reflects the struggle that activists meet during their work with FGM/C.