<![CDATA[This study explored the persistence of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) in Indonesia, focusing on the role of health communication barriers and social copying in sustaining the practice. Despite being recognized globally as a violation of human rights, FGM/C remains prevalent as a culturally normative practice in West Java, where it is intertwined with notions of purity, religion, and social acceptance. Using a qualitative case study with an ethnographic communication approach in Purwakarta Regency, this research involved in-depth interviews with 10 participants, consisting of two traditional birth attendants (paraji), three healthcare workers (doctors and midwives), two adult women, and 2 adolescents to understand how cultural meanings and weak health communication perpetuate the practice. The findings revealed that FGM/C was endured not because of religious obligation but through intergenerational social imitation and the absence of culturally sensitive health education. Ambiguous regulations and passive attitudes among healthcare providers further reinforce public reliance on traditional actors. Consequently, formal health messages fail to challenge deeply rooted social norms. The study concludes that effective eradication of FGM/C requires culturally grounded and integrated health communication strategies.]]>
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