PurposeThis study aims to identify the determinants of customers' green purchasing behaviors. First, the study examines the relationship between green self-identity (GSI) and green peer influence (GPI) on green purchase behavior (GPB). Second, it examines the relationships between both GSI and GPI, and purchasing behavior mediated by green consumption values (functional value (FV) and social value (SV)). Third, it investigates the moderating effect of customer disidentification (CDI) on the relationships between GSI and both green consumption values. Finally, it investigates the indirect relationships between GSI and purchasing behavior moderated by CDI.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative study is conducted using a survey of 204 Egyptian buyers of organic food products. AMOS and Hayes's PROCESS macro are used to test the hypotheses under investigation.FindingsThe customer's peer influence and GSI are found to have a positive impact on green purchasing behavior. Additionally, the mediating impact of values and the moderating impact of CDI are also confirmed.Practical implicationsThis study helps organic food companies in identifying the determinants of customers' green purchasing behavior. The results of the study will guide the efforts of green marketing professionals in promoting green products in the Egyptian market.Originality/valueSince the notion of green consumption is still in its infancy, there is a need for further exploration on the green consumption concept to better understand customers' predictors of that type of consumption; accordingly, the current research was conducted.

Innocenti Working Papers UNICEF Innocenti Working Papers are intended to disseminate initial research contributions within the Centre's programme of work, addressing social, economic and institutional aspects of the realisation of the human rights of children. The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed in this paper are entirely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the policies or the views of UNICEF. The Special Series on Social Norms and Harmful Practices is a joint initiative of UNICEF Headquarters in New York, UNICEF Country Offices (Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Senegal), academic partners, development partners and the UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre. Extracts from this publication may be freely reproduced with due acknowledgement.

Male and female genital cutting are often similar social and moral undertakings in those societies where both are practised. Yet, they both vary widely in meanings and ritual practices in their many social contexts, and there are many societies where only males are circumcised or where neither gender is. Modifications to genitalia range widely in their risks of harm, which has recently begun to be seriously examined for males but that has been well known for females. In this article, we compare female and male genital cutting practices in Sudan, including questions about culture and religion, gender equality, health, rights and laws, and strategies for change to end female genital cutting. In contrast to Shweder’s view that both male and female genital circumcisions might be tolerated by the logic of cultural relativism and logical consistency, which serves to defend the practices of the Islamic sect known as the Dawoodi Bohra in their home country (India) and in the diaspora, we argue that it is important, and useful, to separate the issues of male and female genital cutting in the situation of predominantly Muslim Sudan. Since male genital cutting is well defended in Sudanese Islamic opinion, and since efforts to end the very serious female cutting – predominantly Type 3 – are advancing, we find Shweder’s ‘goose and gander’ moral equivalency argument unhelpful.<br /><br />Key messages<br /><ul><li>Sudanese female genital mutilation or cutting is far more severe than the Dawoodi Bohra female circumcision cases discussed in Shweder’s article and should be ended urgently.</li><br /><li>Social norms and cultural and religious justifications for female genital mutilation or cutting in Sudan are weakening.</li><br /><li>The goal must be to end female genital mutilation or cutting completely, rather than to modify it to a lesser ‘sunna’ type, because the slippery labelling could end up preserving and reinforcing damaging practices.</li><br /><li>Sudanese male circumcision is no more severe than in other countries and remains strongly supported ideologically, making it unlikely to be challenged soon.</li><br /><li>Reformers are justified in pursuing urgent action against all forms of the female practice, while incongruence with policies on the male practice is acceptable for Sudan at this time.</li></ul>