Female Genital Mutilation as a Cultural Practice Controlling Women's Sexuality: A Study of Alice Walker's Possessing the Secret of Joy

Communities frequently hold on to their traditional and cultural traditions for centuries. Some habits are good for everyone, but others are bad for some groups, including women. One such practice that serves to suppress women's sexuality and maintain patriarchal power is female genital mutilation (FGM). Societal standards that uphold gender-based violence and place a premium on male gratification give rise to this behavior. Cultural justifications for female genital mutilation (FGM) abound, but at its core, FGM is a patriarchal society's attempt to maintain control over women's bodies and sexuality—a practice that has broader implications for gender power politics and reinforces male domination. Some African American women authors rise to the forefront, bringing Black women's attention to the truths of their traditions and helping them realize their own self-worth and identity via literature. Black women's emancipation is made possible by these authors' drawing attention to issues confronting their community. Alice Walker is a well-known author and activist who has used her platform to fight for the equality and freedom of oppressed women. The horrific practice of female genital mutilation is examined in Alice Walker's Possessing the Secret of Joy in this article. The author demonstrates the anguish that African women endure as a result of engaging in ritual mutilation for the enjoyment of males in the name of tradition. Walker highlights the need of challenging and abandoning such practices in the name of tradition and culture via the character of Tashi, who undergoes female genital mutilation. Through an analysis of Alice Walker's Possessing the Secret of Joy, this article seeks to delve into the pain that African women have suffered for the sake of cultural preservation.