Myers Sarah, Gurmu Eshetu, Alvergne Alexandra, Redhead Daniel, Howard Janet A, Gibson Mhairi A
Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
BirthRites Lise Meitner Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany.
Nat Hum Behav. 2025 Jun 10. doi: 10.1038/s41562-025-02236-z.
Recent estimates indicate that half of Ethiopian girls aged 15-19 years have experienced female genital mutilation/cutting (FGMC). Establishing whether and how pro-FGMC norms are maintained through social transmission is a key priority for global eradication efforts. Here we present the first large-scale socio-centric social network study estimating social influence and social selection on preference for cutting female relatives using data from 5,163 Ethiopian Arsi Oromo adults. Statistical modelling, which accounts for network dependence in cross-sectional data, finds signals of 'contagion' within chatting, respect and money-borrowing networks. This indicates that social influence contributes to FGMC maintenance. We find no clear evidence of social selection within marriage-advice networks, suggesting these networks are not implicated in FGMC maintenance. Contrary to assumptions underpinning current eradication efforts, we find negligible evidence that FGMC is a social coordination norm (with only 6.3% endorsement) or an empirical or normative expectation. We conclude by making intervention design recommendations.
近期估计表明，埃塞俄比亚15至19岁的女孩中有一半经历过女性生殖器切割（FGMC）。确定支持FGMC的规范是否以及如何通过社会传播得以维持，是全球根除努力的一个关键优先事项。在此，我们展示了第一项以社会为中心的大规模社会网络研究，该研究利用来自5163名埃塞俄比亚阿尔西奥罗莫成年人的数据，估计了对切割女性亲属的偏好的社会影响和社会选择。考虑到横截面数据中的网络依赖性的统计建模，在聊天、尊重和借贷网络中发现了“传染”信号。这表明社会影响有助于FGMC的维持。我们在婚姻建议网络中没有发现明确的社会选择证据，这表明这些网络与FGMC的维持无关。与当前根除努力所依据的假设相反，我们发现几乎没有证据表明FGMC是一种社会协调规范（只有6.3%的人认可）或一种经验性或规范性期望。我们最后提出了干预设计建议。
