Can we please talk about Male Circumcision?

[KaseyM]

It seems to be an undeniable truth that whenever there is a thread about, well anything to do with the inustices that women face in the world, it will usually turn back into a conversation about the injustices that men face in the world, one of them being male circumcision.

I get the impression that those coming on here saying "well what about male circumcision" in that lovely WATM way actually believe that feminists either a) invented male circumcision or b) approve of it.

So, just for the record and so that in future we can direct any further derailings to this can we state categorically once and for all each of our individual positions on Male Circumcision.

So I'll start: I disagree with it 100%.

Anyone else?

[Onesleeptillwembley]

Wow. Touched a nerve? Maybe it's guilt. Hopefully.

[FloraFox]

"If we are going to say that the genital mutilation of a child is unacceptable then we need to apply this across all instances, male or female."

This is the problem with this false equivalence.

[Onesleeptillwembley]

When it comes to caring for, protecting and not purposely, needlessly injuring my children, yes, there's only black and white. As there would be for any normal, caring parent.

[Onesleeptillwembley]

No considerations justify mutilation of a child needlessly. I'm not stupid. Just normal.

[Sunflower49]

I think It's pretty much barbaric that this is routinely done to defenceless babies and children who cannot control it. For medical reasons yes I agree with it, of course, but then that's kind of a daft thing to say really because I compare it to saying 'Is it okay to chop somebody's finger off?' No.'But what if for medical reasons say if the finger is infected or badly broken?'
Well of course yes!!

Circumcision done to babies with no medical reason, is wrong-why would you do that to your child? Foreskins are part of your baby, there because they're meant to be there. How a Mother can send their baby off to 'routinely' be put in so much pain, is something I just cannot get my head around at all.
DH is circumcised and happy with it-fair enough but he could just as easily not have been.
My Father was pinned to a kitchen table aged 7 whilst he was circumcised-NOT okay at all, I remembered everything at that age how his Mother could look on to that?Sick. Just sick.

Comparing to female circumcision as it is incorrectly called, strikes me as just a product of the thought that incorrectly, these procedures share a name. They're totally different. It's worse to cut off someone's leg than one of their toes. Come off it.
Female 'circumcision' is worse because of the after effects. This does not mean that male circumcision is okay.

[ThunderbumsMum]

Well that's the point, isn't it. Obviously it is not done needlessly.

[Onesleeptillwembley]

Unless its medical, it's needless.

[ThunderbumsMum]

That is just not true. A lot of people see it as a fundamental necessity of their religion and a covenant with God

[Onesleeptillwembley]

Anyway, surely the basic tenet of religion is free will. This goes against that. If they want to have it done when older, fine. But to inflict your beliefs on a child in the form of abuse is against any parental instinct. Actually any human instinct.

[wetaugust]

There was an interesting programme about male circumcision last Sunday on the radio (can't remember if it was Radio 4 or 5).

They interviewed an NHS doctor who had performed a private circumcision at the child's home and there had been major complications. The doctor was supposed to stop doing them pebding a GMC hearing but the radio researcher mangedcto book an appointment for a curcumcision with him. The programme later said that he had resigned his NHS post so he could focus on private circumcisions.

It seems that if you are a registered doctor or nurse and are performing this procedure, you are subject to inspections however, if you are not registered there are no such inspections. Anyone could it .

What I found very shocking was the acceptance amongst the medics they interviewed that circumcision was justified, either on cultural or religious grounds. one went as far as to argue that the procedure should be carried out on the NHS.

There are now 'circumcision camps' where up to 30 children are circumcised over a weekend.

I listened with mounting horror.

[Onesleeptillwembley]

Sorry abide should read abuse.

[ThunderbumsMum]

I'm not trying to be an advertisement, which is why I have not discussed what my religious beliefs are. Maybe if you thought about things a bit more you might make some relevant posts.

[wetaugust]

There are no considerations.

~Unless it's a medical need it's unnescessary mutilation.

It's ironic really that all those who claim to be doing it for religious reasons obviously believe in a god -

but in this case their god must have screwed up design-wise, otherwise there would be no need for those mere humans to correct their god's mistake - by modifying their child's genitals.

[Onesleeptillwembley]

If you condone it then you are part of the problem. Having children or not And I have thought about it. A lot. It bothers me. A lot. I've seen the aftermath of a bodged job.
My children are very open minded, they have been brought up to think for themselves and respect other people that don't abuse children. Don't feel sorry for them - they're fine young men, and weren't abused as children because as parents we put them first. That includes my circumcised for medical reasons middle son and my oldest who is sans appendix. They have grown up safe, happy, loved nurtured and protected. As should be. Not ripped and torn for my selfish choices.

[ThunderbumsMum]

Or differentiating themselves to show a covenant with God?

[ThunderbumsMum]

You clearly haven't thought about it enough because you still lack a basic understanding of why parents circumcise their children. And I really don't think your smugness at how you must be a good parent because you only circumcised your son for medical reasons is justified.

[wetaugust]

I find it quite incredible and deeply depressing that some peope still attempt to defend non-medical male circumcision.