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Original poster

Cultural circumcision in babies/young boys

608 replies

junipermarten · 13/01/2023 14:46

1 of my DS's is circumcised due to a medical issue, he was 3 at the time and it was bloody horrific.

When he was going through it, a good friend gave me tips on after care and offered the number of a private doctor. She has sons who were circumcised shortly after birth for religious reasons.

I personally don't agree with circumcision unless medically required however I respect others choices for religious reasons.

It got me thinking about the high % of boys in the US who are circumcised for cultural reasons, just over 2/3rds. Why is it so prevalent there?

I was having a look at % of male pop per country and the highest were mainly Islamic, but also Samoa was almost 100% which surprised me but apparently its cultural as opposed to religious (I think).

OP posts:
TooBigForMyBoots · 23/01/2023 22:20

And as I have said, the legislation banning FGM is ineffective. It is not enforced or it is used to target individual women that men in the community see as "difficult". The amazing strides we see in the elimination of FGM come from the women in those communities, not bad laws that criminalise women and make them more vulnerable than they already are.

@Kabalagala, what information do you have that leads you to believe that circumcised British people will be good with a ban, will stay and give up the practice?

TooBigForMyBoots · 23/01/2023 23:03

FGM is directly comparable..

No it isn't. The two are incomparable which is why the terminology change from "female circumcision" to Female Genital Mutilation.

samG76 · 24/01/2023 09:29

Interesting to see this isn't a new issue. In the paper today www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jan/24/digital-scan-unwraps-secrets-of-mummy-from-2300-years-ago
it says they've scanned a mummy, but they don't think he's Egyptian because he is wealthy and isn't circ'd, so he's probably foreign. Alternatively, of course, they'll find some hieroglyphic equivalent of MN from the time (mummy-net?) where his parents say that they are completely against it, mutilation, blah blah, and if the Israelites don't like it they should leave the country....

OnlyDon · 10/10/2023 07:04

ForgetBarbie · 14/01/2023 06:08

*Male circumcision is the cultural/religious norm for billions of men all over the planet. Not all of them have access to clean water for washing and it is recommended for health reasons.

If there is to be movement towards a ban, it needs to be led by circumcised men.*

Exactly! This is exactly what I mean when I say a lot of people from the Western world believe their way is the best way because that’s their norm. Not everyone around the world has running water and access to clean water. Circumcision is the best thing for young boys in these circumstances.

Seeing as most people who have circumcision as apart of their culture, are not always born here. It’s really not difficult to understand why the practice continues.

I also can’t take people seriously on MN. One person attached a random link and multiple posters are jumping on the bandwagon saying to other posters, ‘how do you feel about the wine thing?’ when they’ve probably never even heard of that before! Some of you read one thing and think that applies to every circumstance.

When DS was circumcised there was no wine involved. He was circumcised at 4 months old and had anaesthetic involved so he couldn’t feel a thing. He cried because they had to hold his legs down (he’s quite a kicker so didn’t like to be restricted) not because he was in any pain. Apply olive oil to it everyday for a 10 days and give him a bath in salt water daily and the ring eventually falls off.

People commenting saying that it’s barbaric, inhumane etc is really just another chance to look down upon one’s religion/culture. You can absolutely disagree with something because you wouldn’t do it to your own child, but there’s no need to have a sense of ‘I’m so much better than you because I’d never do that.’ Anyway, discussions like this are pointless really. Circumcision will always be allowed and unless men who have been circumcised, want to protest for change. No amount of discussion on MN will change that

Adding to the inconsistency issues: If it is a 'mutilation' as some suggest, then even if performed for medical reasons, it is also (still) a 'mutilation'.

In order to compare two (or more) options, one needs to objectively assess each. Wouldn't it be better to do that first, rather than casually jump to a dogmatic opinion without much forethought.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 10/10/2023 08:41

I once read that it was supposed to prevent ‘self abuse’, i.e. masturbation. This was ages ago.

Abhannmor · 10/10/2023 10:31

I was once in a FB discussion on male circumcision. An American woman made the argument about hygiene and health. European men are at great risk of getting/ spreading cancer and STDs apparently, being uncircumcised. This argument was shot down by several medically qualified posters.

But she was adamant. Her last reply being - ' I don't care what you say I think it looks gross. If I didn't circumcise him he'd never get a girlfriend. '

Vanillafave · 10/10/2023 14:30

@Abhannmor my Son is circumcised and the health/hygiene argument is often brought up. My problem is though is the fact that its so personal and the child or baby hasn't consented. I had a lot of pressure from my Sons dad but I actually don't agree with it at all. I think people's privates should be left alone! Unless they want to ha e it done as an adult fair enough!

Kendodd · 10/10/2023 16:24

Vanillafave · 10/10/2023 14:30

@Abhannmor my Son is circumcised and the health/hygiene argument is often brought up. My problem is though is the fact that its so personal and the child or baby hasn't consented. I had a lot of pressure from my Sons dad but I actually don't agree with it at all. I think people's privates should be left alone! Unless they want to ha e it done as an adult fair enough!

I agree. Not my body to mess with. I feel the same about ear piecing. I predict a future court case, somebody will sue parents/whoever for circumcision. I wonder how it would go?

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