Publications / Papers / 2007 / 2007:016 Public debate on female genital mutilation: Participation, knowledge, argumentation
Public debate on female genital mutilation: Participation, knowledge, argumentation
In this paper, we inquire the heated debate on FGM that followed a shocking story aired by NRK (the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation) in June 2007, stating that 185 Norwegian-Somali girls have been mutilated in Somalia. In the first part we inquire what characterizes the patterns of participation in the media debate. Who participate on their own initiative and who are invited to utter their opinion (interviews, news stories etc)? And to what degree do representatives from “affected groups” participate, compared to experts, politicians and others talking on “behalf of others”? In the second part, we direct attention to the central positions in the following intense newspaper debate concerning the extent of FGM and the measures proposed to combat girls being mutilated in Norway or in their/their parents’ country of origin. In order to better grasp the basis for different positions, descriptions and views in the debate, we have carried out interviews with some of the central actors, in addition to analyzing newspaper statements.