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ANTHROPOLOGY

Origins of genital mutilation/cutting

Nature Human Behaviour volume 6, pages 618–619 (2022)Cite this article

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An enduring puzzle in evolution is the maintenance of costly traits. Šaffa et al.1 examine phylogenetic evidence for the origins of genital mutilation/cutting (GM/C) in human societies, and find that these practices probably emerged multiple times during the past 5,000–7,000 years, and that female GM/C arose only after male GM/C was present in a society.

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References

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  1. Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK

    Mhairi A. Gibson

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  1. Mhairi A. Gibson
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Correspondence to Mhairi A. Gibson.

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The author declares no competing interests.

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Gibson, M.A. Origins of genital mutilation/cutting. Nat Hum Behav 6, 618–619 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-022-01356-0

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