Abstract

Nowadays, most part of the world has considered the equality between men and women as a consensus. But to our surprise, there is a practice called Female genital mutilation existing in some part around the world. Women who accept this procedure suffer both physical and mental pains for the whole life.
Desert Flower is a film pointing out this brutal custom and the heroine, also original author of the film, Waris Dirie devoted her whole life in calling on people to abolish FGM.
This paper is to analyze Desert Flower in a feminism plane to let more people get access to the purpose of this film. At the same time, it helps publicize the serious harms of FGM and call an end of this brutal practice. Five chapters are contained in this thesis. Chapter one is an introduction to the current situation of female genital mutilation and its basic information. Chapter two looks briefly over some famous literature works relating to FGM, and gives this paper’s basic opinion towards FGM. Later, in the third chapter, the main plot of Desert Flower is given, followed by detail analysis of some important scenes. Causes of FGM are mainly talked about with the purpose of proving they are unreasonable. Then, the implication of this film comes next. Chapter four deals with the efforts have done and achievements of ending FGM. Another factor disturbing the action is taken into account which is called cultural self-determination. Finally, the conclusion part summarizes the whole paper and its main spirit.

Key Words: Desert Flower; Feminism; Female genital mutilation

摘 要

如今，男女平等已经成为世界大部分地区的一种共识，可令人吃惊的是，在某些地方竟存在着一种手术叫女性割礼。接受割礼的女性一生都受着肉体与精神上的折磨。
《沙漠之花》是一部讲述这个风俗的电影，女主角华莉丝迪里，即电影的原作者，用尽其一生精力号召人们废除女性割礼。
论文从女性主义角度分析《沙漠之花》，让更多的人明白它的用意。同时，帮助宣传女性割礼的害处并呼吁人们废除这个风俗。论文包括五个章节。第一章对女性割礼的现状以及它的基本信息进行了介绍。第二章回顾过去关于女性割礼的文学作品并给出该论文的主要观点。第三章给出了《沙漠之花》的情节介绍，紧跟其后的是重要镜头的分析。女性割礼形成的原因在这里着重讨论，为了证明其无理性。最后是该电影的涵义。第四章讲述了人们为了终结女性割礼做出的努力及成就。此处，文化自决性作为一个影响割礼废除的原因也被提及。论文最后总结了全篇内容及其精神。

关键词：沙漠之花；女性主义；女性割礼