Female Genital Cutting (FGC) remains a pervasive practice in many sub-Saharan African countries. Using cross-sectional data from 13 African countries, the deter- minants of FGC as well as the social outcomes associated with this practice in terms of marriageability and health risks are studied. The novelty of this approach lies in grouping DHS surveys and thus taking a community-based sample, which yields results that are representative of the population at large. In a game-theoretic approach, I develop possible channels for FGC to work, namely by increasing reputation and strengthening identity while causing health problems. Employing conditional logistic regressions, I demonstrate that by far the main determinant of FGC is ethnic identity. Reputation and peer pressure as measured by ethnic density are not decisive factors, whereas adherence to Islam fosters the continuation of FGC. In addition, being cut increases marriage prospects by almost 50 %. Negative health consequences are often used as an argument against FGC. However, I do not nd a general impairment or decreased fertility. Yet, cut women are more likely to have sexually transmitted diseases, vaginal discharge and/or genital ulcers/sores. Although cut women have up to 25 % increased odds of having an STD, the health impairments related to FGC seem too moderate to serve as single case for the abolition of a practice that denes ethnic identity to a considerable degree. The more recently advocated human rights based campaigning against FGC that in- cludes aspects of ethnic identity seems a promising complement to the traditional health-related campaignin