Embodied resistance: Personal narrative and cultural critique of FGM/C in Sunni Muslim communities of Kerala

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