Making the Mark

Explore the practice of female genital cutting and the cultural context surrounding it in Making the Mark. Miroslava Prazak presents a gritty ethnography that weaves together the perspectives of girls, boys, family members, circumcisers, political and religious leaders in a rural Kenyan farming society. Discover how gender, identity, and social status intersect with this controversial tradition, and learn about the evolving perspectives of practitioners amidst anti-cutting campaigns led by international NGOs, local activists, and donor organizations. Set against the backdrop of the rolling hills of southwestern Kenya, Making the Mark provides a rich mosaic of voices contributing to the debate over this life-altering ritual.