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Articles

Vol. 13 No. 1 & 2 (2019)

"I would be married now if I had cut it...": the lived experiences of women with no genital modifications among the Pokot on the Uganda-Kenya border

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70060/mak-mawazo-2019-326
Submitted
April 22, 2026
Published
December 31, 2019

Abstract

This article explores the lived experiences of  women who have not undergone female genital modifications (traditionally known as “Mutat) as a symbol of marriage worthiness among the Pokot of  the North-eastern part of  the Uganda Kenya border. Using inductive and content analysis, the article coalesces its synthesis around the dilemma of  mama Chemket, a woman in her twenties who lamented her earlier decision not to undergo female genital modifications (FGM) in one of  the ethnographic group discussions (EGDs). This synthesis is reinforced by corroboratory evidence from another EGD with FGM surgeons, seven ethnographic interviews (Ethno-Ints) and hermeneutics conducted at the same border. Evidence explored associates the lived experiences of  women that have not undergone “mutat” in Pokot with rare marriage prospects, great pain from lack of  trust on their fidelity by spouses and ridicule and ostracism they
are subjected to by their co-wives, if  married. The article locates the source of  these experiences on the Pokot notion of  “mutat” as a symbol of  marriage worthiness and it’s supporting beliefs that leave non-“mutat” women with no or rare prospects for marriage.