Table 1 is a genuine case showing how women in Egypt are willing to discontinue the practice of FGM. This is due to the influence of other individual factors and characteristics affecting behavior towards FGM (Dalal et al. 2010, pp. 43-44). From table 1, is it seen that women with high level of education, high literacy level and living in urban areas are willing to discontinue the practice personally. This decision doesn’t depend on a critical mass to adopt a change. It should be noted that these variables are significant to the dependent variable FGM. The change of attitude towards the practice is done on an individual level. Again I can conclude that women between the ages of 20-49 years are youthful and hence they understand this direction …show more content…
Theories to propagate or abandon FGM There are several theories that propagate or help to extinct FGM from societies. Below I discuss some common concepts that illustrate the discussion for a better understanding for readers. 4.1Social Convention Theory The theory of Social Convention was first introduced by Mackie (2000, pp.254-256). This was a development on the game-theoretic model proposed from earlier work by Schelling (1960, pp. 4-5). This game- theoretic model is also mentioned in Insight Innocenti (2010, pp. 4-7). (UNICEF, 2013) argued that human beings are rational but irrational when women and girls follow wrong practices. FGM is perpetuated not only by the social convention theory but also by social norms. Social convention theories illustrate that individual decision-making is interdependent. Other reasons supporting the perpetuity of FGM include social approval, conformity and respect. This theory can explain why mothers in particular continue to support the practice even though they know the consequences of the practice. Let to them alone, they will like to stop the …show more content…
This provides a critical mass in favor of the practice to influence others in doing same (UNICEF,2010,P.10). It is possible for this same analogy to work for a total abandonment of the practice. Nevertheless, it will be impossible for an individual girl, woman or family to resist the practice alone. The above illustrates why the practice may be classified as self-enforcing where individuals conform with social norms to avoid being sanctioned. This self-enforcing argument brings into the discussion the importance of other factors that influence the maintenance of