Breaking Barriers: Challenging Patriarchal Norms and Female Genital Mutilation for Gender Equality in India and Sri Lanka

This study explores the cultural, religious, and socio-economic drivers that support the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) within specific communities in India and Sri Lanka, despite legal and health interventions. FGM, primarily practiced by the Dawoodi Bohra community in India and certain Muslim groups in Sri Lanka, is examined through the lens of tradition, social pressure, and misconceptions about religious obligations. FGM has devastating physical and psychological effects on women and girls, leading to chronic health issues, complications in childbirth, and mental health problems like anxiety, depression, and trauma. Additionally, it negatively affects women’s social mobility, limiting their access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. These impacts perpetuate gender inequality and cycles of poverty in affected communities. The study also identifies the barriers to eradicating FGM and what we as, vigilant citizens, can do about it. By focusing mostly on qualitative data, this research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the implications of FGM and to suggest culturally sensitive approaches for its total eradication. By involving the entire community, including men and boys, in the fight against FGM, we can challenge the deeply ingrained patriarchal norms that sustain this practice and protect the rights of women and girls for future generations.