Female genital modification: Untangling visual attractiveness of female genitalia from an Afrocentric perspective of male sexual partners

Genital modification in the form of labia minora elongation is a common practice in Sub Saharan Africa. The practice happens at the onset of puberty or at a request from a sexual partner. The practice is done for both functional and cosmetic purposes. It is the visual attractiveness of the later purpose that this study seeks to evaluate. The study sought to determine the levels of visual attractiveness of female genitalia based on the assessment of sexual partners. Eight hundred and thirty men were surveyed in the city of Harare, Zimbabwe. An analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with age, marital status, and multiplicity of previous sexual partners as covariates was used to test the hypotheses. The results indicated that elongated labia minora were more visually attractive than natural one. The genitalia attractiveness was moderated by pubic hair depilation. The attractiveness of elongated labia minora was higher under shaved conditions than under bushy conditions. The implications of these results in the African context are that perhaps social campaigns meant to dissuade women from practicing labia elongation under the guise of calling it female genital mutilation may not be heeded to since most men were noted to be attracted to women who had undergone elongated labia minora, and so women find the practice to be of cosmetic nature that enhances their sexual appeal. Moreover, the sexual appeal of women was found to be high when their pubic patch was shaved; thus, women are encouraged to regularly practice pubic hair depilation.

Automated summary

Genital modification in the form of labia minora elongation is prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to evaluate the visual attractiveness of elongated labia minora based on the assessment of sexual partners. It found that men were more attracted to women with elongated labia minora, especially when their pubic hair was shaved. These results suggest that social campaigns discouraging the practice of labia elongation as female genital mutilation may be ineffective, as women view it as a cosmetic enhancement for their sexual appeal.