Framing Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): A Critical Analysis of Representations in Danish Media
Author
Nikolopoulou, Eirini
Term
4. semester
Education
Publication year
2024
Submitted on
2024-10-15
Pages
41
Abstract
Kvindelig kønslemlæstelse (FGM) er en mangeårig praksis i nogle afrikanske samfund og er gennem migration også blevet synlig i vestlige lande. Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan et vestligt samfund som Danmark offentligt forholder sig til FGM, når kulturelle opfattelser og etiske hensyn kolliderer, og særligt hvordan danske medier reagerer på udtalelser fra nogle muslimske ledere om, at FGM er 'godt for pigerne'. For at belyse dette analyserer jeg tre lederartikler fra aviser med forskellige politiske profiler ved hjælp af kritisk diskursanalyse (CDA), en metode der undersøger, hvordan sprog former magt og betydning i den offentlige debat. Jeg anvender begreberne orientalisme (vestlige fremstillinger af Østen), postkolonial feminisme (hvordan køn og koloniale historiespor hænger sammen) og kønsperformativitet (hvordan køn skabes gennem gentagne sociale handlinger) til at afdække fortællingerne om FGM. Analysen viser, at danske medier ofte reproducerer velkendte Øst–Vest‑kontraster: Vestlige praksisser fremstilles som moderne og progressive, mens ikke‑vestlige beskrives som gammeldags. Sådanne mønstre forstærker stereotyper og kulturelle skel. Samtidig findes enkelte ansatser til modsigelse, hvor redaktionelle stemmer anerkender handlekraften hos kvinder, der er berørt af FGM. Studiet peger også på, hvad der mangler: få stemmer fra direkte berørte miljøer og begrænset plads til nuancerede drøftelser af kulturel kompleksitet. Disse fravær peger på et behov for en bredere, mere inkluderende dialog, der tager levede erfaringer alvorligt, og for videre forskning i, hvordan medier former den offentlige forståelse. Ved at tydeliggøre disse dynamikker bidrager afhandlingen til feministiske og postkoloniale diskussioner om samspillet mellem mediefortællinger, kulturelle praksisser og etik i en globaliseret kontekst.
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a long-standing practice in some African communities and has also appeared in Western countries through migration. This thesis examines how a Western society like Denmark publicly addresses FGM when cultural views and ethical concerns differ, and in particular how Danish media respond to statements by some Muslim leaders that FGM is 'good for the girls'. To answer this, I analyze three newspaper editorials with different political profiles using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), a method that studies how language shapes power and meaning in public debate. I draw on the concepts of Orientalism (Western portrayals of the East), postcolonial feminism (how gender and colonial histories intersect), and gender performativity (how gender is produced through repeated social acts) to unpack the narratives around FGM. The analysis shows that Danish media often reproduce familiar East–West contrasts: Western practices are framed as modern and progressive, while non-Western practices are described as outdated. These patterns reinforce stereotypes and cultural binaries. At the same time, there are a few moments of contestation in which editorial voices recognize the agency of women affected by FGM. The study also highlights what is missing: few voices from communities directly affected and limited space for nuanced discussion of cultural complexity. These gaps point to a need for broader, more inclusive dialogue that takes lived experiences seriously, and for further research into how media shape public understanding. By mapping these dynamics, the thesis contributes to feminist and postcolonial debates about the interplay between media narratives, cultural practices, and ethics in a globalized context.
[This summary has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
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