| dc.description.abstract | This study sought to investigate the attitudes of Maasai parents towards the alternative rites
of passage (ARP) of young girls as opposed to female genital cutting. The study had three
objectives: To establish the influence of cultural practices on attitudes among parents about
alternative rites of passage of young Maasai girls; to investigate the impact of the formal
education of parents on alternative rites of passage and also to establish the influence of the
community on the attitudes of parents on alternative rites of passage of young Maasai girls.
The objectives were guided by the social bond theory which attempts to explain why
individuals choose to conform to conventional norms.
Data were collected using unstructured interviews, key informant interviews and focus group
discussions. A total of 50 individuals were drawn from three sub-locations, namely, Siabei,
Ilmashariani and Olopito, and were subjected to unstructured questionnaires. The research
also conducted three Focus Group Discussions consisiting of 10 participants each (with men,
women and girls) and conducted indepth interviews with 10 key informants. The Statistical
Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used in the analysis of the quantitative data
generated from the questionnaires while the qualitative information was analysed
thematically along the lines of the study objectives. The information has been presented in
the form of tables and percentages in relation to the research objectives and in verbatim
quotes where necessary to amplify the voices of the informants and focus group discussions
participants.
The study found that firstly, parents are well versed with the alternative rites of passage but
they feel that the program is too formal and that the spearheaders have not involved them
actively. Secondly, the community has extensive attachment to the cultural values in which
FGM/C find acceptance and processes of instituting ARPs are not easily acceptable. In terms
of the distinction between the educated and uneducated parents, the study reveals that
educated parents have a positive attitude towards alternative rites of passage compared to
their uneducated counterparts.
The study concluded that members of the Maasai community are key in the fight against
female genital cutting since their input is significant in the abandonment of the practice.
According to the research, parents are not being engaged actively in the alternative rites of
passage programmes by both the government and other agencies. The government together
with the non-governmental organizations need to be friendlier in their alternative rites of
passage outreach programmes. | en_US |
