N Her Own Words”: Meaning-Making Among Arab, African, and South Asian Diasporic Women with Lived Experience of Female Genital Cutting/Circumcision/Mutilation In the United States

Background and Purpose:
Female genital cutting/circumcision/mutilation (FGC/C/M) is a culturally embedded practice shaped by complex social, historical, and gendered dynamics. Existing research has largely focused on prevalence, health consequences, and eradication efforts, often through Western frameworks that risk homogenizing the experiences of affected women. Less attention has been given to how women themselves interpret and make meaning of their experiences, particularly within diasporic contexts. This study addresses this gap by centering the voices of Arab, African, and South Asian diasporic women living in the United States who have undergone FGC/C/M. Grounded in cultural relativism and Third World feminist frameworks, this study explores how women construct and reinterpret meaning in relation to their lived experiences.

Methods:
This qualitative study uses a phenomenological approach to examine the lived experiences of 26 Arab, African, and South Asian diasporic women who have undergone FGC/C/M. Participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling within community networks. In-depth, semi-structured interviews elicited narratives related to identity, culture, and meaning-making. Data were analyzed using iterative coding and thematic analysis to identify patterns across participants’ accounts while preserving the depth of individual experiences.

Results:
Meaning-making emerged as an evolving, context-dependent process shaped by cultural identity, migration, and exposure to competing narratives. Three themes were identified: (1) negotiating cultural belonging across contexts; (2) navigating tensions between dominant Western discourse and personal or community understandings of FGC/C/M; and (3) reinterpreting experiences through shifting perspectives on agency, embodiment, and gender. Participants’ narratives reflected the complexity of their experiences, challenging simplistic understandings. Women described reinterpreting their experiences over time, highlighting the evolving nature of meaning-making.

Conclusions and Implications:
This study challenges dominant, deficit-oriented narratives by centering the voices and lived realities of women directly impacted by FGC/C/M. Findings highlight the need for culturally responsive, trauma-informed approaches that move beyond universalizing frameworks. Implications include the use of critical reflexivity in clinical practice, the development of policies informed by the perspectives of affected communities, and the importance of amplifying marginalized voices in research. By centering women’s lived experiences, this study strengthens understanding in social work and supports more inclusive approaches to research, practice, and policy.