Female genital mutilation (FGM) involves the partial or complete excision of external femalegenitalia and other damage to the female genital organs. This paper develops the identityeconomics of FGM as a complement to the agency-cost explanation provided by previousrational choice theorists. We analyze how identity influences the costs and benefits associatedwith participation in FGM, offering insight into the persistence of the practice, as well as whatchanging the practice entails. Our analysis also explains some of the counterintuitive phenomenaassociated with FGM, such as older circumcised females being the main gatekeepers whoperpetuate the practice