Dissertation Defence: Kiah Leone (Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences)
You are encouraged to attend the defence. The details of the defence and attendance information is included below:
Date: March 17, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM (PT)
Defence mode: Remote
Virtual Attendance: via Zoom
LINK TO JOIN: Please contact the Office of Graduate Administration for information regarding remote attendance for online defences.
To ensure the defence proceeds with no interruptions, please mute your audio and video on entry and do not inadvertently share your screen. The meeting will be locked to entry 5 minutes after it begins: please ensure you are on time.
Dissertation entitled: ROADS OF RESTORATION AND RESILIENCE: A JOURNEY INTO CLITORAL RESTORATION SURGERY IN CANADA
Abstract: Female genital cutting (FGC) has a profound impact on the physical, mental, and sexual health of survivors - leading to various long-term health complications overtime. Clitoral restoration surgery (CRS) has emerged as a potential solution to these complications through the surgery’s acclaimed ability to alleviate pain, restore sexual function, and improve survivors’ sense of self. However, these claims have been challenged, highlighting insufficient evidence and lack of consideration for the psychosexual and cultural contexts that influence patients’ surgical outcomes. Therefore, understanding FGC as an ongoing experience rather than a one-time event emphasizes the complexity of its effects on survivors. In order to account for this complexity, this study employs a combination of theoretical perspectives, including complexity theory, intersectionality theory, and multi-system resilience. These frameworks help to investigate questions of Canadian survivors’ motivations in electing to undergo CRS, the specific complications they must present with in order to qualify for this surgical procedure, and physicians’ decision-making when it comes to identifying potential candidates. Through survivors, care providers, and FGC-related organizations, this study explores these questions.
By examining the decision-making process between physician and patient, this study emphasizes the importance of individualized care that accounts for survivors’ unique physical, social, and cultural contexts. Additionally, this research underscores the importance of more holistic treatment options, such as psychosexual therapy and sexual education, as potential alternatives to CRS. These approaches may help to address survivors’ health concerns without the need for surgical intervention. By promoting awareness of these alternatives, the study encourages a more comprehensive understanding of healing that moves beyond physical health to also emphasize survivors’ mental and emotional well-being along their healing journeys. Lastly, by contributing to the limited body of knowledge on CRS and FGC-related care more broadly in Canada, this research helps to raise awareness of the challenges faced by survivors, combat stigma in health-care settings, and support the development of relevant health policies. Insights gained from survivors, care providers, and FGC-related organizations in this study highlight the interconnectedness of these groups - fostering collaborative efforts to improve survivor care and support services in both Canada and abroad.
Defence Committee:
Chair: Dr. Catharine Schiller, University of Northern British Columbia
Supervisor: Dr. Angele Smith, University of Northern British Columbia
Co-Supervisor: Dr. Shannon Wagner, Thompson Rivers University
Committee Member: Dr. Annie Duchesne, University of Northern British Columbia
Committee Member: Dr. Bettina Shell-Duncan, University of Washington
External Examiner: Dr. Bilkis Vissandjee, University of Montreal
Contact Information
Graduate Administration in the Office of the Registrar, University of Northern British Columbia