ABSTRACT
Mothers and fathers are undoubtedly faced with cruel options, which, while rendering parental decisions understandable, do not abrogate the responsibility of those in positions of power – governments, community leaders —– to rule out female genital mutilation as an existential life choice —– no matter the meaning or depth of cultural embeddedness. The issue of childhood en-soi is not scrutinized. African communities have braved centuries of oppression of which far too many outsiders remain unaware, yet seeking to eradicate the suffering of girls doesn’t mute this history even if, when required to choose between tradition and the individual, care for the individual is endorsed.
