Twilight of Cutting - African Activism and Life After Ngos

“In this bold, compelling book, Hodžic shows why female genital cutting has served as the test case for claims regarding humane imperialism and human rights, and for debates about cultural relativism, liberal tolerance, and feminist activism. North–South collaboration to end the practice might serve as a tool of governance, but it also yields unforeseen awareness, questioning, and the unmasking of fetishism. An original, erudite, and important work.”—Jean Comaroff, Harvard University

“A tour-de-force feminist analysis of ‘the problem of cutting.’ Without passing judgment, yet with critical eye intact, Hodžic’s ethnography explores how Ghanaian NGOs changed lifeworlds and laws about female genital mutilation (FGM) in their efforts to end the practice.”—Erica Bornstein, author of Disquieting Gifts: Humanitarianism in New Delhi

List of contents

Preface: Coming to Questions
Introduction: Governmentality against Itself

1 • Colonial Reason, Sensibility, and the Ethnographic Style
2 • Making Harmful Traditional Practices
3 • When Cutting Did and Did Not End
4 • Mistaken by Design: Biopolitics in Practice
5 • Blood Loss and Slow Harm in Times of Scarcity
6 • Th e Feminist Fetish: Legal Advocacy
7 • Against Sovereign Violence

Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Acronyms
Notes
References
Index

About the author

Saida Hodžic is Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Cornell University. 
 

Summary

What does it mean to say that while genital cutting is ending, the Western discourse surrounding it is on the rise? And what kind of a feminist anthropology is needed in such a moment? This book examines these questions from the vantage point of Ghanaian feminist and reproductive health NGOs that have organized campaigns against genital cutting.

Additional text

"A timely contribution to pan-African scholarship."

Product details

• Authors: Hod&, Saida Hodeziac, Saida Hodzic, Hodzic Saida
• Publisher: University Of California Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 30.11.2016
• EAN: 9780520291980
• ISBN: 978-0-520-29198-0
• No. of pages: 416
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Medicine > General; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political theories and the history of ideas; POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Process / Political Advocacy, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Philanthropy & Charity, Africa, POLITICAL SCIENCE / World / African, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Anthropology / Cultural & Social, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Volunteer Work, Social & cultural anthropology, ethnography, Political activism, Social and cultural anthropology, Charities, Voluntary Services & Philanthropy, Charities, voluntary services and philanthropy, Political activism / Political engagement