Not talking in riddles: How can factual documentary film change understanding and attitudes towards female genital mutilation in The Gambia?

Abstract

This research involved the making of a factual documentary film, My FGM Story (), in collaboration with grassroots activists and the journalist Halimatou Cessay. It evaluated the film using Participatory Ethnographic Evaluation and Research (PEER) methods in the Brikama region of The Gambia. In The Gambia, 75 per cent of girls and women have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM), where their clitoris and other parts of their genitalia are removed for no medical reason. The results of the research showed that factual documentary film could be an effective tool in changing perceptions about FGM. The key finding was that the most effective film should be made in a collaborative style considering the experience of the local NGOs and the nuances of the local culture and traditions.