Voices of Resistance A Study of Select FGM Narratives of Bohra Community

Abstract

Female genital mutilation is known as the practice of causing harm to the female genitalia in the name of religion, tradition or culture. The practice is a ritual that has existed for centuries and is seen as a violation of bodily rights for girls and women. The WHO has divided FGM into four types. In India the Type 1 of FGM is practiced by a community called as the Dawoodi Bohras. Over the years, many works, including studies and statistics of the Dawoodi Bohra community, a sub- sect of Shia Muslims and the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) that they follow have come out. These works conventionally look into the basic aspects of FGM from a sociological and statistical perspective. This thesis attempts to analyse personal narratives of FGM, as practiced by the Bohra community in India. A qualitative analysis of FGM narratives is attempted to probe into the issues of gender and sexuality. These narratives are compiled from the online website of a Mumbai based organisation named Sahiyo. The thesis has also taken up two essays written by Bohra members and published by Café Dissensus, a New York based online magazine dealing with art, culture and politics, for its special issue (5 May, 2016) on FGM, especially concerning the Bohra community. The thesis analyses online personal narratives as primary texts and so the study focuses on narratology and writings of the self. This thesis also studies how these narratives help to create an identity and voice for the Bohra women. The thesis attempts to looks into the narratives of FGM and studies the practice of khatna using the lenses of self writing, gender studies and bio politics. The thesis also aims at a comprehensive study of khatna among the Bohra community by analysing the practice in association with patriarchy, trauma studies, ecriture feminine, bio politics and constructed femininity. newline