Journal of Human Development and Capabilities
2019

Transforming Vulnerability into Power: Exploring Empowerment among Women with Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) in the Context of Migration in Belgium (Article)

Agboli A.* , Botbol M. , O’Neill S. , Richard F. , Aujoulat I.
  • a Faculty of Public Health, Universite Catholique de Louvain - Ecole Sante Public, Brussels, Belgium, Institut de Recherche Santé et Société, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Brussels, Belgium
  • b Institut de Recherche Santé et Société, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Brussels, Belgium, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, Health Ethics Law Economy and Social Issues, Catholic University of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
  • c Institut de Sociologie, Université libre de Bruxelles - Campus du Solbosch, Brussels, Belgium, School of Public Health, Centre de Recherche d'Approches Sociales de la Santé (CRISS), Brussels, Belgium, Institut de Sociologie, Laboratoire d'Anthropologie des Mondes Contemporains (LAMC), ULB, Brussels, Belgium
  • d School of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium, GAMS Belgium, Brussels, Belgium, FGM Unit CEMAVIE, St-Pierre University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
  • e Faculty of Public Health, Universite Catholique de Louvain - Ecole Sante Public, Brussels, Belgium, Institut de Recherche Sante et Societe, Universite Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Brussels, Belgium

Abstract

This paper discusses an aspect of empowerment in relation to the central human capabilities for women with FGM/C in the diaspora. Many women who have undergone the practice of FGM/C come from societies where gender inequalities and gender-based discrimination between men and women persist, which compromises their capabilities, and many find themselves in vulnerable positions in their relationships with men, at work and in their everyday-life. The participants in this study however appeared somehow to have been empowered through certain health-promoting activities where they exercised agency in the western social context, they reside in. This paper examines the empowerment gained by the migrant women with FGM/C after participating in health-promoting activities. We compared this form of empowerment to the reinforcement of their capabilities according to Nussbaum's central human capabilities. Drawing on Nussbaum's list as a starting point we explore the relationship between capabilities and empowerment. We found that some central human capabilities appeared to be reinforced through health-promoting activities, whereas issues relating to asylum seeking became a determinant of empowerment in the women's own terms. Although the activities aimed to empower women, the participants themselves felt that they would only truly be empowered if they obtained full citizenship. © 2019, © 2019 Human Development and Capability Association.

Author Keywords

Female genital mutilation Freedom migrant women empowerment capabilities approach Keywords: Asylum

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85072041834&doi=10.1080%2f19452829.2019.1661981&partnerID=40&md5=716956fcbfe0a3285d16f08cb790107b
DOI: 10.1080/19452829.2019.1661981
ISSN: 19452829
Original Language: English