Exploring female genital mutilation (FGM) in Sierra Leone : a narrative inquiry into power dynamics and women's empowerment
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This dissertation explores how Sierra Leonean women interpret and make meaning of their experiences with female genital mutilation (FGM), with particular attention to how these experiences shape their perceptions of power. Using a narrative inquiry approach, the study centers on the voices of women historically marginalized in both global discourse and local decision-making processes, particularly those with limited formal education. Grounded in African feminist theory and informed by Lukes' (2005) three-dimensional power framework, this research reveals that for these women, power is deeply relational, culturally embedded, and shaped by resistance and compliance. Participants' narratives illuminate the layered ways power is exercised, through silence, secrecy, knowledge control, and community belonging, and how these dynamics operate within the Bondo Society, a traditional initiation institution in Sierra Leone. The study also interrogates how gender-specific policies interact with local practices and belief systems, often reproducing structural inequalities despite intentions to promote women's rights. Findings demonstrate that Sierra Leonean women engage with power not only as subjects of policy but as agents navigating complex social realities. Their narratives challenge simplistic victimhood narratives, instead highlighting forms of quiet resistance, adaptation, and agency. By amplifying these lived experiences, this dissertation contributes to a more nuanced understanding of FGM and power and calls for culturally grounded, community-informed approaches to policy and advocacy.
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