Embodied resistance
Personal narrative and cultural critique of FGM/C in Sunni Muslim communities of Kerala
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 7514366 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Nevin Sulthan S N (University of Delhi, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 25 |
| Publication date | 2026-02-28 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Feminist Encounters A Journal of Critical Studies in Culture and Politics (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2468-4414 • E-ISSN: 2468-4414 |
| Publisher | Lectito Publications (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.20897/femenc/18000 |
| OpenAlex | W7132856665 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 34 |
Through a feminist cultural analysis, this paper examines Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) in the Sunni Muslim communities of Kerala through the author's personal narrative and cultural critique. Drawing from feminist theories of bodily autonomy, cultural hegemony, and resistance, it interrogates how FGM/C functions as a mechanism of patriarchal control while exploring pathways for cultural transformation. FGM/C is analyzed as an embodied cultural practice of sexual control rather than an essential religious practice. In some Sunni Muslim communities of Kerala, Type 1 FGM/C is practiced in secrecy on infants. This study rejects the arguments of FGM/C as a “rational choice,” as infants cannot consent. With the taboo around conversations on the body and sexuality, and without the memory of the "cut," many are unaware of the practice. This paper traces the researcher's journey as a survivor in discovering her experience. The study is a tapestry of personal experiences and cultural narratives, informed by feminist theoretical understandings. It examines how communities negotiate between solidarity and activism. The paper emphasizes the need for conversations and story-sharing to break this selective obliviousness and generational silence, as well as for feminist consciousness and community engagement to challenge this practice
Consciousness · Embodied cognition · Narrative · Negotiation · Personal narrative · Solidarity · Taboo · Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies · Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Issues · Genital Health and Disease
Disability Theory
Volatile Bodies
Sharīʿa
Harms of the current global anti-FGM campaign
Wombs and Alien Spirits
Breast ironing
The progressiveness of Quranic interpretation in the fatwa of Muhammadiyah on female circumcision
Sensing pain
Hegemony and crisis
What is Holding Back Full Feminist Solidarity with Muslim Women? The Epistemic Failures of White Liberal Feminism
Situated Knowledges
The Romance of Resistance
Bargaining With Patriarchy
Foucault's 1960s Lectures on Sexuality
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |