By Derrick Simiyu

“Female genital cutting is practiced to control women's sexuality.”

This statement was one of the first things I learned as I read through materials on Sahiyo’s website when I began my internship, as an Events and Programs Intern. This inspired me to think about how harmful female genital cutting or FGC is, and how it is still being practiced even with the advancement in education and knowledge. I find it concerning how patriarchy can restrain a woman's sexual desires, rather than celebrate them.

I decided to do some research about FGC and the outcomes of the practice, particularly in relation to sexual pleasure, as well as how survivors can heal sexual traumas as a result of FGC. 

How does FGC affect sexuality?

A study by the National Library of Medicine explores this complexity in women, and how FGC may or may not affect their pleasure and orgasm.Every woman is uniquely different; there are many women who have undergone FGC but who don’t report experiencingsexual challenges. 

Women's sexuality is a complex integration of biological, physiological, psychological, social-cultural, and interpersonal factors. All these factors contribute to achieving sexual satisfaction. Orgasm is, in my opinion, the pleasure that people should experience during sexual engagement; it is one part of a woman’s sexual satisfaction.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "removal of, or damage to, highly sensitive genital tissue, especially the clitoris, may affect sexual sensitivity and lead to sexual problems.” The underlying effects on women who are affected by FGC in terms of their sexuality in regards to orgasm specifically can include pelvic inflammatory diseases, which contributes to the absence or reduction of orgasms. The disorder in a woman's failed orgasm is called Female Orgasmic Disorder.  

Considering that sexual pleasure should be a human right, I think it is important for survivors to be supported in their healing after the trauma and pain of FGC, which often removes the ability for sexual pleasure.

Healing Process

In learning about all the experiences that FGC survivors can undergo related to sexual challenges, I thought it important to consider the healing process as well, and found that it can include:

• Mindfulness which involves pausing and reflecting during sexual activity to study your body’s behavior which can be key to the healing process. Mindfulness may allow the survivor to understand their body better and study ways of experiencing pleasure while still healing from physical and emotional scars. 

• Somatic therapy involves the psychological process of healing the brain from traumatic experiences. It helps to release stress, tension, and trauma from the body.

• Physical and mental preparation before sex allows your brain and body to adjust from the activity so that pleasure can be achieved. 

• Learning the erogenous zones and additional ways that one may feel pleasure/arousal.

• For Pelvic floor dysfunction, where either muscles in the pelvic floor are too weak or too tight, physical therapy can bring out the restoration process. Through exercises, pelvic pain can also be reduced. For survivors experiencing this condition, Sahiyo has been a key player in spreading information on pelvic pain. 

Sahiyo also hosts our Dear Maasi column, an anonymous advice column for all questions about FGC, sex, and relationships that can be a great resource for survivors and those supporting survivors.

Sexual healing is not a destination; it is a process that does not involve a linear path, but rather a winding path with many possible forms of healing. For survivors, support is key, and we all can find ways to support those in our lives who have undergone this experience. 

Sahiyo U.S. would like to thank our friends at the South Asian Bar Association (SABA) of North America Foundation for a core support grant award of $6,500. The SABA Foundation supports access to justice for South Asian communities in North America and advances causes important to the communities they serve. They fund work related to domestic violence intervention; immigration rights; prevention of and support for victims of hate crimes, discrimination and racial profiling; and other community access to justice issues.

These funds will help Sahiyo specifically by expanding our Community Outreach and Education program, which trains health care providers, government officials, law enforcement, social services, and other community based organizations on ways to support female genital cutting (FGC) survivors; planning for our next annual Activists Retreat, where we train advocates to continue their work raising awareness against FGC; providing organizing power to FGC survivors in states that don’t yet have policy against FGC; and conducting valuable research investigating the needs of FGC survivors and the intersections of FGC and other oppressions, such as discrimination based on race, gender, religion, sexuality, and diverse migrant experiences.

A research study titled Clitoral Reconstructive Surgery in Canada is currently looking for interview participants who are survivors of female genital cutting and have undergone clitoral reconstructive surgery and/or those who have not yet undergone this procedure but are interested in doing so. Active recruitment for this study will remain open until May 2024.

Who is this study for?

• Survivors interested in clitoral reconstructive surgery
• Survivors who have been referred for clitoral reconstructive surgery
• Survivors who have previously undergone clitoral reconstructive surgery

What are the goals of this study?

• To develop a greater understanding of survivor’s interests, motivations, and/or expectations in electing to undergo clitoral reconstructive surgery
• To identify how well survivor’s surgical outcomes meet their initial expectations
• To improve the referral process for survivors who wish to undergo clitoral reconstructive surgery
• To highlight the importance of quality care for survivors of FGM/C

All interviews will be strictly confidential. To learn more about this study and how to participate, please contact the principal investigator, Kiah Leone, from the School of Health Sciences at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Kigali, Rwanda — On July 16th, the Catalyzing Global Action to End FGM/C Women Deliver Pre-Conference (of which Sahiyo as a part of the Global Platform for Action to End FGM/C was a co-host) saw the launch of the Kigali Declaration which called on funders to  close the funding gap needed to end FGM/C amongst future generations. This declaration serves as an exercise of collective power from hundreds of activists, grassroots organizations, international NGOs, and academics, to highlight the urgent resourcing need for the End Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting sector. 

Specifically, this calls for accelerated investments and actions, with women-led organizations and the feminist movement at the center, for women and girls’ bodily autonomy and sexual and reproductive health and rights. It also includes a call for a global summit dedicated to funding the end of this harmful practice. 

The Declaration emphasizes the need to shift funding to grassroots organizations, and aims to mobilize donors and stakeholders to invest in the movement and bridge the funding gap: where only $4 available to avert each case of FGM/C, when $95 is required. By galvanizing support and resources, we can make significant strides in our efforts to end FGM/C. Read the 2023 Kigali Declaration here.

Cover photo: Nabeela Iqbal reads out the Kigali Declaration on July 18th at a Women Delivery Plenary event

In its 18^th year, the program recognizes 10 women and their commitment to addressing the nation's biggest issues through their non-profit work

NEW YORK, Aug. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, #1 global beauty brand L'Oréal Paris USA announces its 2023 L'Oréal Paris Women of Worth, recognizing the charitable achievements of 10 extraordinary non-profit leaders working to address the nation's biggest issues.

In its 18^th year, the 2023 L'Oréal Paris Women of Worth class will join an incredible network of 170 previous honorees who champion a diverse range of causes and beautifully embody the brand's iconic tagline, "Because You're Worth It." To help alleviate some of the challenges female non-profit leaders face, L'Oréal Paris will facilitate a grant of $25,000 for each honoree through its intermediary grantmaking partner, GlobalGiving. In addition, the brand will provide business mentorship and increased visibility through the brand's national platforms.

For the first time, L'Oréal Paris, in partnership with GlobalGiving, has established the L'Oréal Paris Women of Worth Fund, which will allow consumers to make a donation that benefits all 10 of this year's honorees. Visit GlobalGiving.org to learn more.

"It is with great pride that we welcome 10 more incredible changemakers into the L'Oréal Paris Women of Worth family, now 180 women strong," said L'Oréal Paris USA President, Ali Goldstein. "By championing female non-profit leaders and their selfless work, we hope to inspire people to tap into their own sense of worth to create positive change."

In collaboration with Points of Light, the world's largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, L'Oréal Paris has selected: high school student and Founder of Rise N Shine Foundation, Shrusti Amula (Clarksburg, MD), Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Tools & Tiaras, Judaline Cassidy (New York, NY), Founder & Chairwoman of Twilight Wish Foundation, Cass Forkin (Jamison, PA), Activist, Founder and Executive Director of Climate Cardinals, Sophia Kianni (McLean, VA), Co-Founder and Executive Director of Yes We Can World Foundation, Estefanía Rebellón (Burbank, CA), Co-Founder and President of Possibilities of Free2Luv®, Tonya Sandis (Seattle, WA), Founder and Executive Director of Kits to Heart, Sonia Su (Columbia, MD), Founder and Director of Sahiyo U.S., Mariya Taher (Cambridge, MA), Co-Founder and President of 16 Strong Project, Samantha Wettje (Bardonia, NY), and Co-Founder and Executive Director of Disability EmpowHer Network, Stephanie Woodward (Rochester, NY).

"I am honored and humbled to be recognized as a 2023 L'Oréal Paris USA Women of Worth honoree! In 2015, Sahiyo started as a team of five individuals who wanted to do something to end female genital cutting (FGC) in our communities; it has expanded to include hundreds of voices over the years, and worked to build a movement. Silence is never the answer to creating change, and we've created a platform that allows community members to share their stories, speak up, and be the changemakers in their own lives. I am beyond thankful for this honor and am so hopeful that our work will continue to grow and that we will provide the healing survivors need and end FGC for future generations," says honoree Mariya Taher. 

To further raise awareness for the honorees' exemplary initiatives, L'Oréal Paris joined forces with Warner Bros. Discovery's Courageous brand studio to produce a storytelling campaign highlighting each woman's extraordinary journey and philanthropic achievements. These branded vignettes will be distributed through new interactive units across the ad-supported tier of Max as well as through high impact, targeted ads on Warner Bros. Discovery's digital sites and apps. The content will direct audiences to WomenofWorth.com to learn more.

This November, the brand will host its annual private celebration event during National Philanthropy Month in Los Angeles. The event will feature appearances from a handful of L'Oréal Paris celebrity spokeswomen and more. To watch and experience last year's event from home, visit WomenofWorth.com.

"I'm honored to have played a part in selecting this year's honoree class and am so happy to know there are so many inspiring women out there doing extraordinary work on the grassroots level, in their community, trying to help people," said actress and brand spokeswoman, Aja Naomi King.

“Women of Worth is close to my heart,” said singer, songwriter and activist Camila Cabello. “These women are awe inspiring. They are taking action in their communities and affecting real change.”

For more information about the philanthropic program, this year's honoree class and more, visit www.WomenofWorth.com, and L'Oréal Paris Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Pinterest. Join the conversation and follow along by using hashtag #LOrealWomenofWorth.

About GlobalGiving
GlobalGiving is a top-rated nonprofit that makes it easy and safe to give to local projects around the world, while providing fellow nonprofits with the tools, training, and support they need to thrive. Since 2002, GlobalGiving has raised more than $826 million from 1.7+ million donors for 34,000 projects in 175+ countries. To learn more, visit www.globalgiving.org.

About L'Oréal Paris Women of Worth
For the last 18 years, L'Oréal Paris' signature philanthropic program, Women of Worth has brought to life the brand's iconic tagline, "Because You're Worth It," by championing women whose unwavering resilience, bravery and courage show the power of owning one's worth.

Each year, ten founders and leaders of grassroot non-profits are recognized for their work across a breadth of charitable causes to receive charitable funding, mentorship through the L'Oréal Paris network to build their organizations and a national platform to share their story.

About L'Oréal Paris USA
The L'Oréal Paris division of L'Oréal USA, Inc. is a total beauty care brand dedicated to empowering women by offering luxurious and innovative products and services available in the mass market. The brand's signature tagline, "Because I'm Worth It," was born in the United States in 1973 to celebrate the beauty and intrinsic self-worth of women, and for more than 100 years, L'Oréal Paris has been providing women around the world with products in four major beauty categories: hair color, haircare, skincare and cosmetics. With L'Oréal's invention of hair color in 1909, the brand continues to serve as a leading innovator of hair products across color, care, and styling with brands such as Superior Preference, Féria, Colorista, Elvive, the Ever Collection, and Elnett Satin Hairspray. L'Oréal Paris provides scientifically-advanced skincare products that are tested to address individual skin concerns through its renowned brands Revitalift, Pure-Sugar, Pure-Clay, Age Perfect, and Sublime Bronze. L'Oréal Paris' iconic cosmetics include best-seller Voluminous Lash Paradise, as well as the Infallible, True Match, Colour Riche, Voluminous, and Visible Lift collections. For more information about L'Oréal Paris and to receive personalized advice, expert tips, and exclusive content, please www.LOrealParisUSA.com or follow on Instagram (@LOrealParis), Twitter (@LOrealParisUSA), Facebook (@LOrealParisUSA) TikTok (@LOrealParisUSA) and Pinterest (@LOrealParisUSA).

Read the official press release here. 

Megan Seaver is an undergraduate student at Emmanuel College, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in writing, editing, and publishing, as well as minors in political science and gender studies. Throughout college she has been a part of student organizations, Her Campus and WGS, that help women to speak their truth and to support one another. She believes that being open to hearing the stories and experiences of all women will make it easier to create a safer and more accepting world for all people.

What was your experience of learning about female genital cutting (FGC) for the first time like?

It was primarily an educational experience, as I had little knowledge about FGC when I first started at Sahiyo. I had to look at the practice with an open mind and heart if I was to truly understand why FGC occurs, and therefore better serve the needs of survivors that work with Sahiyo. 

When and how did you first get involved with Sahiyo?

I first became involved as an editorial intern back in April. I had seen the position posting on my school's internship board and was attracted to the ways in which Sahiyo uses storytelling as a form of activism. 

What does your work with Sahiyo involve?

My work involves editing blog posts for publication, reaching out to Sahiyo’s network with requests, like providing research for a blog or being  part of an upcoming campaign. It also involves promoting  Sahiyo’s blog and providing volunteers with prompts and topics to write about in posts. I have recently begun sending out weekly writing prompts to our volunteers to help encourage folks with the writing process. 

How has your involvement with Sahiyo impacted your life?

It’s encouraged me to be more conscious of my privilege from a feminist perspective, and it’s also caused me to realize that the work I most enjoy doing is work that positively impacts people and their communities. 

What words of wisdom would you like to share with others who may be interested in supporting Sahiyo and the movement against FGC?

Just because you are not directly affected by a problem does not mean you cannot be a part of the solution. Suffering and inequality against women and girls is something that affects all people, and therefore a woman's problem is also everyone's problem; that includes FGC.