1378: Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) | Skeptical Sunday

**Female genital mutilation (FGM) is happening right now to girls worldwide. Jessica Wynn explains why — and what stops it — on Skeptical Sunday.** Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of *The Jordan Harbinger Show* where **Jordan** and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we’re joined by writer and researcher Jessica Wynn**!** **Full show notes and resources can be found here:** jordanharbinger.com/1378 **On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:** - **Female Genital Mutilation isn't a fringe practice — an estimated 230 million women and girls alive today have undergone FGM, and the number is climbing, up 15 percent in eight years.** More than two million girls are cut each year, most before their fifth birthday, some within days of being born. - **FGM isn't Islamic — it predates Islam and appears among Christian and non-religious communities alike**; the common thread is culture, not theology. "God requires this" is used as control, which is also why trusted religious leaders are among the strongest voices for ending it. - **The decision is overwhelmingly made by women — mothers, grandmothers, aunts — not fathers.** But they act inside a system where marriage, status, and inheritance hinge on being cut, so it isn't simply men oppressing women. FGM and child marriage are two gears in one machine. - **The fastest-growing myth is that cutting is safer in a clinic — about one in four recent cases were done by healthcare workers, up to 75 percent in Egypt. There is no safe version.** Medicalizing FGM doesn't reduce harm; it lends the practice a veil of legitimacy that helps it survive. - **Here's what actually works: change from the inside out. When communities talk their own way to abandoning FGM, as in Somaliland and Tostan's villages, it sticks. You can help: fund survivor-led groups, check whether your state bans FGM, back healthcare training, and keep the conversation alive.** - **Connect with Jordan** on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at [jordan@jordanharbinger.com](mailto:jordan@jordanharbinger.com) and let him know! - **Connect with Jessica Wynn** at Instagram (and Instagram!), and subscribe to her newsletters: *Between the Lines* **and** *Where the Shadows Linger***!** And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here **— even one sentence helps!** - **Sign up for** Six-Minute Networking **— our free networking and relationship development mini course — at** jordanharbinger.com/course**!** - **Subscribe to our once-a-week** *Wee Bit Wiser* **newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!** - **Do you even Reddit, bro?** Join us at r/JordanHarbinger**!** **This Episode Is Brought To You By** Our Fine Sponsors**:** - **Xero:** One month of Xero for free: xero.com - **The Cybersecurity Tapes:** Listen here: thecybersecuritytapes.com - **Quince:** Free shipping & 365-day returns: quince.com/jordan - **ConciergeMD:** 20% off all services/memberships: conciergemdla.com/jordan, code JORDAN - **Progressive Insurance:** Free online quote: progressive.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.