Saarrah Ray

Q&A with Saarrah Ray

Saarrah Ray is a DPhil Candidate in Law at Christ Church College, University of Oxford. Her research examines female genital cosmetic surgery (FGCS), its relationship with female genital mutilation (FGM), and the role of criminal law in addressing harmful practices against women.

 

  1. What is the title of your research, and what is it about?

My thesis title is "Radical Feminism on Reconceptualising the ‘Designer Vagina’ as Violence Against Women: An Argument Supporting the Criminalisation of Female Genital Cosmetic Surgery." Ultimately, I am arguing that female genital cosmetic surgery (FGCS) constitutes a serious harm analogous to female genital mutilation (FGM). Accordingly, I advocate for amendments to the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 to explicitly recognise FGCS as an unjust practice inflicted upon women's bodies, which should be subject to prevention.
 

  1. Who is your supervisor?

Prof. Imogen Goold and Prof. Jonathan Herring
 

  1. How did you come up with your research topic?

My doctoral research topic stemmed from my Master's dissertation, which examined the legal and ethical implications of virginity testing and hymenoplasty in the UK. This work was subsequently published in The Routledge International Handbook of Harmful Cultural Practices (2023), specifically in Chapter Six: The British Campaign to Ban Virginity Testing and Hymenoplasty. Hymenoplasty can be viewed as a form of FGCS bearing similarities to Type III FGM (infibulation). This prompted my inquiry into why hymenoplasty is not recognised as FGM and why the law fails to address it as such.
 

  1. Why did you choose Oxford to undertake research in Criminal Law?

I was privileged to be the inaugural recipient of the DPhil Law BAME Scholarship which was awarded by the Faculty of Law in conjunction with Christ Church. 
 

  1. How do you hope your research will contribute to law and society?

I aspire for my research to contribute to the radical feminist legal scholarship, challenging the legal and racist juxtaposition in the current treatment of FGCS and FGM, ultimately safeguarding all women from patriarchal violence.

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