Research Nina Van Eekert

Abstract

This research proposal addresses the evolving landscape of meanings and decision-making concerning Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) among the Maasai in Narok County, Kenya. Challenging prevailing assumptions in the existing literature, I delve deeper into the narratives of young women concerning their own genital cut and that of other women. I aim to explore the nuanced meanings of FGM/C in gender discourse, considering the conflicting perspectives of cut and uncut girls, and its impact on their gender identity (1). Additionally, I will investigate the implications of the medicalisation of FGM/C, as medical health practitioners increasingly perform the practice among the Maasai, examining how girls navigate, embrace, or resist aspects of medicalisation as they perceive acceptable within broader gender discourses (2). I intend to describe these girls' strategic reliance on their social networks for information and support, and to investigate the characteristics and circumstances of those whom they confide in during their decision-making process (3). Furthermore, the research delves into the meanings and motivations of traditional and medical practitioners, shedding light on their roles in perpetuating or challenging the practice (4). Through qualitative analysis of interview data, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the evolving nature of FGM/C practices and the agency exercised by young women within their communities.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van de Velde Sarah
• Co-promoter: Van Eekert Nina
• Fellow: Inghels Jolien

Research team(s)

• Centre for Population, Family and Health

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C), the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons, affects over 200 million girls and women across 31 countries, including Kenya. The practice varies in severity, from nicking the clitoris to the complete external genitalia removal, with no known health benefits and substantial threats to women's and girls' health. In Kenya, deep-rooted social expectations of the practice have ensured its persistence over time, even as its form and context have changed. Observed changes in Kenya include less severe cutting, cutting girls at a younger age, and choosing a medicalized form of the practice. Medicalization of FGM/C refers to the practice being increasingly performed by a medical professional rather than a traditional circumciser, whether in a health facility, at home, or elsewhere. Notably, Kenya has the third highest prevalence of FGM/C medicalization in Africa, at 15%, even though the practice, regardless of the performer, is legally prohibited in the country. While this medicalization trend may reduce the health risks related to the practice, it may serve to legitimize the practice as well. The goal of the proposed research project is to deepen the knowledge of the decision-making process regarding medicalized FGM/C by bringing in the perspective of health professionals and untangling their motives, while considering their social and professional background. By researching this supply side of medicalized FGM/C, the study will complement earlier research on the demand side of FGM/C medicalization within the Kenyan context, which provides a more complete and more correct picture of medicalization in Kenya, and which is necessary for understanding this newly emerging phenomenon of the medicalization of FGM/C.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Eekert Nina

Research team(s)

• Centre for Population, Family and Health

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The Research Council Prizes of the University of Antwerp are awarded every two years at the expense of the Special Research Fund University of Antwerp. They aim to honor a successful young postdoctoral researcher for a special contribution to his/her scientific field. N. Van Eekert is a laureate in the Social Sciences and Humanities (Prize Herman Deleeck).

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Eekert Nina

Research team(s)

• Centre for Population, Family and Health

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The choice of the contraceptive method that one prefers and is able to use is influenced by many different factors, including the potential effects on the user, which can be biological, financial, and psychological. With the rise of female contraception, these effects have often been seen as emancipatory: the reduction of unwanted pregnancies led to greater sexual freedom, and the ability to plan family formation contributed to the expansion of women's emancipation in various areas of society, including education and the labor market. Although female contraception has contributed to women's emancipation, its downside has received increasing attention and criticism in recent years. Because of the increase in female contraception, the responsibility and therefore the consequences of its use in heterosexual relationships fall mostly on women. However, there are also some options for male contraception (such as sterilization), and these options may expand to include hormonal agents in the future. This study examines what is known in the Belgian context about the contraceptive choice process, the psychological burden of planning and using female contraception, and the views of Belgians on male contraception.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Eekert Nina
• Co-promoter: Van de Velde Sarah

Research team(s)

• Centre for Population, Family and Health

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) refers to all procedures involving the partial or total removal of the external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. Numerous national and international initiatives have attempted to discourage the practice, emphasizing its adverse health consequences. The success of these initiatives was only partial; on the one hand, the prevalence of FGC has been decreasing slowly, but the number of girls and women circumcised will continue to rise due to population growth. On the other hand, these campaigns may have encouraged an unintended consequence, that is, FGM/C is increasingly performed by trained health professionals in clinical settings. While this medicalization trend may reduce the health risks related to the practice, it may serve to legitimize the practice as well. The goal of the proposed research project is to develop an in-depth understanding of the social dynamics behind both the declining prevalence trend in FGM/C which coexists with the increasing medicalization trend in FGM/C, applying both quantitative and qualitative research methods. We intend to explore how both trends vary across birth cohorts and how they relate to women's decision-making process concerning their daughter's cut. We deepen this knowledge by also bringing in the perspective of health professionals and to untangle how their motives relate to these co-existing trends in FGM/C.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van de Velde Sarah
• Co-promoter: Van Eekert Nina

Research team(s)

• Centre for Population, Family and Health

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

In Egypt, female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is increasingly medicalized (performed by trained health professionals rather than by traditional circumcisers). With the current research proposal, I intend to examine how this medicalization trend relates to overall changes in the practice. In doing so, I intend to develop knowledge on (1) how mothers weigh the different options concerning their daughter's FGM/C (traditional cut, medicalized cut, or no cut), and what meaning is given to these different options; (2) whether this decision varies by the social position that the mother occupies, and by the social composition of her network, and (3) whether this decision varies across younger and older birth cohorts, and why. Both quantitative and qualitative methods will be applied. As previous research shows that the implementation of FGM/C legislation alone is not enough to counteract the practice, the proposed research is relevant to the broader policy debate. The results of this research will thus extend the empirical bases for policy discussions on the medicalization of FGM/C and how to improve women's sexual and reproductive health as a whole. At the same time, this project will contribute to the sociological theorizing of medicalization practices, which, to date, is very limited in scope and mainly focuses on practices in high-income countries.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van de Velde Sarah
• Fellow: Van Eekert Nina

Research team(s)

• Centre for Population, Family and Health

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Quantitative research show that medicalization of FGC is associated with mother's having a higher social position. We intend to complement this quantitative research with a qualitative part making it a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design. The qualitative part aims to entangle why the associations between the social position that the mother occupies, as well as the existing social norms concerning FGC, influence the decision-making process of the mother. We aim to explore how mothers come to the decision to medicalize their daughter's cut, in order to understand the influence of their social position and of perceived social norms. We will explore believes and attitudes towards both FGC and the medicalization of the practice to gain insights into this decision-making process.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Eekert Nina

Research team(s)

• Centre for Population, Family and Health

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Female genital cutting (FGC) in one form or another is currently practiced in most African countries. In the current research proposal we intend to shed light on the practice by examining changes in the practice over time and across generations. We make use of two datasets; the Demographic Health Survey (DHS) data and the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) data. The most recent waves of the DHS and MICS surveys provide data regarding FGC prevalence for 27 countries, but have started to collected data in a number of countries since 1995. Both surveys are nationally representative, cross-sectional, household sample surveys with large sample sizes, typically between 5000 and 15,000 households. Based on the DHS and MICS data, the current research proposal intends to stipulate a macro-sociological approach to the study of FGC. We examine three research questions; (1) whether there are substantial differences between African countries, in the prevalence, type and level of medicalisation of FGC. In addition, we intend to establish trends across time and between generations; (2) whether the level of female empowerment is associated with FGC in both mother and daughter; and (3) how the implementation anti-FGC laws and norms, often imposed by the international community, impacts the local community and practices of FGC.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van de Velde Sarah
• Fellow: Van Eekert Nina

Research team(s)

• Centre for Population, Family and Health

Project type(s)

• Research Project