FGM, cultural silence, and women’s rights in Britain today.

In this feedwarmer - and our very first Rigour & Flow On The Go - we take our podcast out of the studio and into community spaces. Live from Climb25 in Leeds, Aiwan reflects on the intimacy of podcasting, how deep conversations can cut through even in a noisy public space, and the art of capturing sound in the moment. From the clang of a circus game in the background to the warmth of our signature African textile on the table, this is Rigour & Flow out in the real world.

At the centre of this episode is Dorcas, founder of Peacemaker International and Women in Safe Hands. Dorcas shares her experience as a survivor of female genital mutilation (FGM), the cultural superstitions that sustain the practice - including the belief that a newborn could be harmed by touching a woman’s clitoris - and her fight to protect other women and girls. She speaks about underfunding, being surveilled in the building her organisation carries out its work, and the “quiet sacrifices” she has made to keep her work going, from personally funding Christmas gifts for families to running culturally-sensitive food banks stocked with African produce.

We close with reflections on what Dorcas’ story reveals about women’s rights, cultural taboos, and the resilience of grassroots activists working against the odds.

In this episode:

• FGM in the UK: why it persists, and the silence surrounding it.
• “A lifetime sentence”: the long-term impact of female circumcision.
• Superstition and taboo: harmful beliefs that put women at risk.
• Survivor to campaigner: Dorcas’ journey and the founding of Peacemaker International.
• Quiet sacrifices: personally funding food banks and Christmas presents for struggling families.
• Grassroots struggle: underfunding, systemic racism, and the cost of advocacy.
• Sound & intimacy: podcasting in noisy public spaces and the art of listening deeply.

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🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mWTOfcjwnvs 

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⚠️ Content note: This episode contains discussion of female genital mutilation (FGM) and violence against women and girls (VAWG).

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