Circumcision

[SouthAfricanmuminUK]

I was thoroughly abused by several English mums of my acquaintance for having my sons circumcised at birth. Although I did my research and found it to be better from a number of perspectives, nothing would convince them it was reasonable. I am wondering if they will retract their accusations now that it has been revealed that Diana, saintliest of all mothers, had both her boys circumcised ...

Actually I was kind of thinking a similar thing. I am massively for or against circumcision, but I do know it is a religious or cultural obligation for some, and that it only happens to males. Watching western women being super derisive and absolutist as if men and people of other faiths need to shut their mouths and obey, reeks of cultural imperialism. If we want that kind of atmosphere Twitter does it to a tee, besides which nobody ever persuaded anyone around to their way of thinking with that kind of discourse.

I think it is arguably the other side of the coin to FGM, and when you think about it that way, does that make it difficult to reconcile, @SouthAfricanmuminUK ?

I am not massively for or against*

I think a lot of the Western women on this thread either have sons (and so have a stake in this), or husbands who have experienced circumcision.
On the flipside of the accusation of cultural imperialism we do also need to listen to the voices of men who have been harmed by infant circumcision. They should not be dismissed - and how many men who grow up to experience pain, sexual dysfunction or psychological issues per 1000 non-medical circumcisions do we think is acceptable? Especially since these men did not consent to the procedure?

In medicine, we know that nothing is without risk - and so we balance risk and benefit. Where a procedure is not done for medical reasons, that should weigh heavily on the risk side. 'God says we have to do it' is not a valid argument.

I am Jewish. My DS is not circumcised and nor is my DN. Why? Because it’s barbaric. Many Jews, like Muslims and Christians and every other religion, are more than capable of saying “this action was recommended in my faith at a time when it made sense but does not make sense now”. In the same way that I support homosexuality and support sex outside of marriage and support gender equality, despite what religious texts say, I am able to apply critical thinking to this situation and establish that it’s not a good thing to do. In a time when bacteria was not a known concept, where access to clean water was intermittent and where healthcare and contraception were bare (at best), circumcision was an acceptable choice. In the 21st century, especially in nations like the UK, non-medical circumcision is abuse. No ifs, no butts. It’s abuse. It meets every descriptor and every determiner for abuse.

I cannot understand how OP is genuinely shocked to have received this kind of response to an open admission of abusing her DS just because she’s justified it to herself.

Lols. I think Facebook is the best place for you tbh.

You shouldn't cut bits off babies for any reason other than urgent medical necessity. Religion is a particularly silly justification - "I have made you in my image EXCEPT THAT BIT GET RID OF IT"

Ha! What a further crock of shit. Hmm, next up, Women! Know your place.

Please do post the WHO information on inflicting a painful, unnecessary Old Testament procedure on an innocent child that can't discuss their pain, so it's acceptable?

I don't believe you for one second!

@dogdaydown here's the most recent relevant article I could find on the WHO position

Not that it recommends voluntary circumcision of adolescent and adult males, NOT infant circumcision for all! Not quite what OP would like to read, I imagine.

*note

Actually it's you @SouthAfricanmuminUK who are being racist.
Islam does not force cutting boys penises and leaves it up to the parents. I also know of many Jews who do not harm their boys penises.

Citing WHO recommendationsfor developing countries is moot in the west and if you do it you do it for selfish and absurd reasons. Shame on you! Seriously fucking shame admitting happily to hurting your male children!!

Why would God give boys a foreskin if his literature tells parents to cut it off at birth? A painful procedure, sometimes dangerous, sometimes at the cost of the baby’s life.
No God would want that. In fact, if you do have a God and decide to mutilate your newborn male child, then surely that’s the biggest insult to God because you’re tampering with his perfection.

Just no.
It is barbaric and abusive. Everything any Hod would despise.

EXACTLY!!!

So WHO recommends circumcision to (some of) those who are able to consent about their own penises.

Funny how that bit got left out by the person who brought WHO into it isn't it.

Nobody here, literally nobody is saying consenting adults shouldn't be able to make their own choices about their own foreskin.

The majority of us are simply saying that nobody should be chopping the foreskin off a baby boy unless it is a medical necessity.

This

Hypothetically; if circumcision wasn’t a thing, would the WHO be recommending it for anybody ever? I’m guessing not, or if they were, there’d be very few takers.

Bet your son won't be!

Vile