Table 2 Statements and factor scores
From: Women’s perspectives of female genital cutting: Q-methodology
# | Statement | Factor | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||
1 | There are necessary laws against FGC in Kurdistan | 0 | 0 | -1 | 3** |
2 | Women with FGC are less likely to catch sexually transmitted infections | -2 | -2 | 0** | -4* |
3 | FGC improves fertility | -4 | -1** | -2* | -4 |
4* | One is not a proper woman until she undergo FGC | -4 | -4 | -3 | -3 |
5 | The removal of the clitoris promotes cleanliness | -3 | -1 | -1 | -3 |
6 | People who subject their daughters to FGC should be prosecuted | 1 | 2 | 4* | 2 |
7 | I am not in favor of FGC and think this practice should stop | 0** | 2 | 4 | 4 |
8 | I haven’t seen any religious book that prescribes FGC | 1* | 2 | 3 | 4 |
9 | Males prefer females who have undergone FGC | -1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
10 | The decision to get girls to undergo FGC is usually taken by grandmother | 1* | -2** | 3 | 3 |
11 | I think FGC will soon be history among Kurdish | 3* | 0 | 0 | 1 |
12* | Without FGC a woman is unable to fulfill her intended role in marriage | -2 | -2 | -3 | -3 |
13 | If someone in Kurdistan doesn’t perform FGC to their daughter, it may become an embarrassment to the entire family | 3** | -1 | -1 | -2 |
14 | Women being cut is prestigious in Kurdistan | 1** | -4 | -3 | -2 |
15 | The majority of Kurds don’t support FGC, but the surrounding environment is pushing them to subject their daughters to FGC | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
16 | In Kurdistan, the majority of girls have not undergone FGC | -2 | 3** | -1 | 1* |
17 | FGC practitioners should be prosecuted | -3** | 3 | 3 | 2 |
18** | I think that the majority of the people I know are against FGC | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
19 | Many people in Kurdistan do not subject their daughters to FGC only because they are scared of the law | -1 | -1 | 1* | -2 |
20 | FGC should be voluntary and each family should decide if they want to perform FGC or not | 0* | 2 | 2 | -2* |
21 | The girls without FGC are healthier | -2 | 0 | 0 | 2** |
22 | Sometimes, health provider perform FGC for the sake of doing well for the woman | 0 | 0 | 2** | 1 |
23** | FGC is a form of discrimination against girls and women | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
24 | FGC ensures a girl’s virginity | 0* | -2 | -2 | -2 |
25 | FGC is a positive cultural aspect and is an essential part of our culture | 2** | -3 | -2 | -1* |
26** | FGC makes a girl more beautiful | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
27* | FGC prevents promiscuity in girls | -2 | -2 | -1 | 0 |
28 | FGC is a religious obligation | 0* | -3 | -2 | -1 |
29 | FGC in its mild form (cutting only the clitoris) does not lead to any complications; it is therefore acceptable | 2 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
30 | FGC is a violation of human rights | 1 | 3* | 2 | 0 |
31 | I would object if family members intended to subject their daughters to FGC | 2 | 4* | 1 | -1* |
32 | FGC can cause psychosocial complications | 4** | 1 | 1 | 1 |
33** | For physicians or nurses, performing FGC violates their professional ethics | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
34 | FGC can cause long-term complications | 0 | 2 | -1 | 2 |
35 | If the clitoris is not removed, a woman cannot please a man | -1 | -3** | 0 | -1 |
36** | FGC can lead to serious complications | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
37 | FGC is usually carried out by health professionals | -3 | 1 | -2 | 0 |
38 | Father has an important role on deciding to perform FGC on the girls | -1 | -1 | -4** | 1 |
39 | Woman without FGC does not have clean hands | -1 | -1 | -4** | -1 |