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The identity economics of female genital mutilation

Author

Listed:
  • Christopher J. Coyne*
  • Rachel L. Coyne

    (George Mason University, USA)

Abstract

Female genital mutilation (FGM) involves the partial or complete excision of external female genitalia and other damage to the female genital organs. This paper develops the identity economics of FGM as a complement to the agency-cost explanation provided by previous rational choice theorists. We analyze how identity influences the costs and benefits associated with participation in FGM, offering insight into the persistence of the practice, as well as what changing the practice entails. Our analysis also explains some of the counterintuitive phenomena associated with FGM, such as older circumcised females being the main gatekeepers who perpetuate the practice.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher J. Coyne* & Rachel L. Coyne, 2014. "The identity economics of female genital mutilation," Journal of Developing Areas, Tennessee State University, College of Business, vol. 48(2), pages 137-152, April-Jun.
    • Handle: RePEc:jda:journl:vol.48:year:2014:issue2:pp137-152
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Idrissa Diabate & Sandrine Mesplé-Somps, 2019. "Female genital mutilation and migration in Mali: do return migrants transfer social norms?," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 32(4), pages 1125-1170, October.
    2. Paola A. Suarez, 2018. "Child-bride marriage and female welfare," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 45(1), pages 1-28, February.
    3. Elisabetta de Cao & Clemens Lutz, 2015. "Measuring attitudes regarding female genital mutilation through a list experiment," CSAE Working Paper Series 2015-20, Centre for the Study of African Economies, University of Oxford.
    4. Andrés Marroquín & Colleen Haight, 2017. "Twin-killing in some traditional societies: an economic perspective," Journal of Bioeconomics, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 261-279, October.
    5. Gibson, Mhairi A. & Gurmu, Eshetu & Chua, Regina & Van Bavel, Hannelore & Myers, Sarah, 2023. "Abandoning female genital mutilation/cutting (FGMC) is an emerging but costly parental investment strategy in rural Ethiopia," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 335(C).
    6. Sandrine Mesplé-Somps, 2016. "Migration and female genital mutilation," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 282-282, August.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Capabilities Approach; Female Genital Mutilation; and Identity Economics;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B52 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Historical; Institutional; Evolutionary; Modern Monetary Theory;
    • D70 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - General
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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