Do you think that infant male circumcision is a type of child abuse?
87Male circumcision --- Although this is a very controversial topic, but then also I will put some light on this issue. According to me when done medically by a professional doctor, it is right, whereas when done religiously by some unprofessional people, it is totally wrong and comes under child abuse. In order to learn it in a better way, read below:
What is male circumcision?
Medically, circumcision is a surgical procedure to remove excess skin from the penis known as prepuce. This procedure is done to prevent phimosis. Phimosis is contraction of the foreskin (prepuce) of the penis. With phimosis, sex can be very painful and painful sex or intercourse is termed as dyspareunia.
Problem happens when it is done by religious people with no anesthesia usually with a sharp knife and completely out of hygiene. In these cases, many times they cut along the glans penis, the 'head' of the penis, which is not safe.
Circumcision done through a proper anesthetic surgeon perhaps is safe rather than by an unprofessional who has no idea upon what he is slicing.
People who are circumcised with proper means share no sexual issues and felt much less pain during the process. In no way, it affects sexual pleasure, and some people who had their circumcision after adult age, say it increases pleasure, since there is less skin and more contact to the glans penis.
Why male circumcision was done?
There is one more concept why this procedure is done. Historically speaking, male circumcision was done in areas of water scarcity, as it was difficult to keep the penis clean with the foreskin. Without the foreskin, it would be easier to clean with just a cloth.
Male circumcision was also done in regions with water scarcity and hot weather and it was done to avoid difficulty in urination.
Female circumcision?
On the other hand, when this procedure is applied to women, known as female circumcision or clitoridectomy, then yes, it is 100% abusive. It is used to deprive women from sexual pleasure, usually accompanied by another abusive procedure called infibulation, which is the stitch of the vagina, leaving a small (read very small) opening to the passage of urine and menstrual blood.
Female circumcision is nothing but psychopathic, barbaric, and cheap, a totally degrading concept that could have only been conjured by the most evil and sick minds.
The reason behind female circumcision is to cut off the girl's sexual pleasure so that she does not go against her parents' wish to decide her husband and so that she does not fall in love during adolescence and so that she does not desire or even fantasize another man after being married because she would not know clitoral sexual pleasure in the first place.
In Africa, they even cut the labia leaving only a small hole, so there is greatly reduced sexual pleasure. It is not done by some remote communities, but it is very common in many communities in Africa.
They also do a stitching as well in outer labia to leave a permanent small hole for passage of urine and menstrual flow and it remains like that for life. There is so much inhumanity that humans inflict on other human beings.
Female circumcision is a horrifying and condemnable act, which was hardly talked in international arena even until a few years back.
Do you agree that female circumcision or genital cutting is a condemnable and barbaric act?
See results without votingSome good books to read and understand different aspects of circumcision
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Circumcision: A History of the World's Most Controversial Surgery
Price: $10.50
List Price: $18.00 |
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The Sacrificial Circumcision of the Bronx
Price: $5.91
List Price: $22.95 |
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Circumcision Exposed: Rethinking a Medical and Cultural Tradition
Price: $4.98
List Price: $14.95 |
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Circumcision, The Hidden Trauma : How an American Cultural Practice Affects Infants and Ultimately Us All
Price: $226.43
List Price: $26.95 |
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Female Circumcision: Multicultural Perspectives (Pennsylvania Studies in Human Rights)
Price: $15.96
List Price: $19.95 |
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The Female Circumcision Controversy: An Anthropological Perspective
Price: $19.00
List Price: $27.50 |
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Female Circumcision and the Politics of Knowledge: African Women in Imperialist Discourses
Price: $31.95
List Price: $31.95 |
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The Joy of Uncircumcising!: Exploring Circumcision : History, Myths, Psychology, Restoration, Sexual Pleasure, and Human Rights
Price: $25.00
List Price: $19.95 |
Dr. Annette Owens reviews scientific data about male circumcision
Male circumcision versus female circumcision
Some links toward awareness on this controversial topic
- Male Circumcision and the Rights of the Child
A report on the human rights violations inherent in male child circumcision - Is infant male circumcision child abuse? - Discussion - U.S. News Health Community - Inspire
Inspire connects patients, families, friends, caregivers and health professionals for health and wellness support. Inspire works with trusted health partners to build safe and secure health and wellness groups. - The Benefits of Male Circumcision
The Benefits of Male Circumcision - Circumcision: Male - Effects Upon Human Sexuality
An article about the role of the foreskin in human sexuality. - Female circumcision a barbaric form of child abuse
Police in the U.K. are offering £20,000 reward ($40,000 U.S.) for information that would bring to justice anyone involved in female
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Comments
thanks for the first comment hubber-2009.
We Jews used to think that God wanted us to do all kinds of stuff - kill, dismember, and burn animals on an altar, ostracize the sick - all kinds of stuff. But, in time, most of us realized that a lot of these rules and traditions were made up by old men and really don't have much to do with God at all. I believe the same will eventually happen to Jewish male circumcision. However, since male circumcision is the first Jewish tradition (it is written that Abraham circumcised himself at age 90 with a sharp rock) perhaps it may be the last to be set aside.
Having witnessed ritual male circumcision a few times, I do not believe that circumcision, properly done, traumatizes the infant at all. I mean, I had it done, and I'm perfectly normal. Hmm....
That's the main point Tom which I was talking about....to be done in a proper manner...I also agree if it is done under the guidance of a surgical doctor or an anesthetist.
Do you agree with the fact that the infants undergoing circumcision have severe pain while not doing it under the influence of anesthesia???
Do you think that it is right for the parents or religious people to force a circumcision on a severely crying infant??? It is you who have undergone the same trauma. Now, you do not remember the pain. But tell me keeping a hand on your heart that if it was your child, do you have the guts to see your child crying for help in front of people or rather you would go to a good doctor in your area to have it done under anesthesia.
not good idea
Thanks Lgali......
"According to me when done medically by a professional doctor, it is right, whereas when done religiously by some unprofessional people, it is totally wrong and comes under child abuse."
In the UK, it's common for a Mohel to be a doctor as well as Jewish.
Okay thanks for that really good information LondonGirl. At least now in UK, we know that a Mohel is mostly a doctor and same is for Jewish.
One more point. As little boys grow and start to take care of themselves, they will stay cleaner when circumcised because it is easier for them to wash well without the foreskin. On the other hand, unless a parent continues to bathe their young boys they are more susceptible to infections. Most parents don't want to have to bathe their growing boys and many people would find it a form of abuse to help make sure that a boys penis is clean once he starts to get older.
You have added a very nice point aidenofthetower. I wonder know if someone wants to debate on this comment also.
I'm of mixed emotions as far as this subject goes. I like my circumcision, partly because I dont remember it happening. Ha! Seriously though, I like the way it looks, i'm not a big fan of the whole windsock thing.
Thestreetwise, you like it how it is now but if you would have been in your senses at the time of your circumcision, you must have felt the severe pain it had given to you. Least but not last, it is an old saying that "you have to lose something in order to gain something", so you have lost the foreskin at that time and now you are happy with the way it looks. Thanks for putting in your nice thought on this subject.
Personally, I was clipped and I don't think a thing of it. My dad wasn't , nor was my older brother. I was never really concerned about why they looked different from me.
As an adult, well, the only wee wee I look at is my own. :)
If I ever have a son, I would get it done as an infant. My friends son was done when he was 9 years old. No way would I do that to a kid that old. As a baby, fine.
I don't think its child abuse, my son had his done right after he was born and once the forskin was cut off, it was easlier to clean him up after a diaper change,and it was easier to clean him when it was bath time too.I didn't have to pull back the forskin wash it and put the forskin back.if the procedure is done by professionals and when the boy is a newborn its ok cause in the long run its easier to make sure everything is clean and the baby wont get infections,
Yes Joe G. You got my point of writing out this hub request answer. My idea is the same as yours and I also do not agree with the fact on doing a circumcision on a 9-year-old boy as it is really painful. Why not the parents, especially fathers having their kids undergo circumcision at such an age like 7, 8, 9, 20 put themselves instead of their kids into this picture. I think then it will be a better view for them on how they are torturing thier kids. Again, I would say considering the hygenic purposes, infant male circumcision is fine but circumcision at an old age is not only an abuse but also is really painful for the kid.
Hello Crystal. Welcome to hubpages. I read your comment but I think you have took my words wrong. Actually, it was a question asked by one of our fellow members, read my answer first. The question is Do you think that infant male circumcision is a type of child abuse?
My answer is yes it is a child abuse if done on an elder kid and not on an infant , as babies do not remember the pain and afterall it is done for hygeine purposes. Please read the hub and please do not take me wrong. I am into medical transcription myself and I agree with the idea of infant male circumcision and in this hub I have also talked about female circumcision.
Hi soni2006!
In my opinion it doesn 't matter if male circumcision is done by professional doctor or unprofessional person, or it is done with an infant or grown up boy/man (without his will), still it is WRONG. How could you asume what the infant doesn 't feel or remember anything even if an anasthesia has been done? How could you be sure what this act wont leave any psyhological consequences? It is proven what our psyche is influenced by our childhood. Why we should cut something which belongs to the body and doesnt disturb? It is proven what circumcision doesn 't prevent from any disease. In my opinion evry one should decide by thenselves what to do with own body, not parents. How could you be sure what your kid wont hate you, what you did with him in childhood? Every one who is reading this web page, I am suggesting to read following home page as well - http://mgmbill.org/pressrelease4.htm
Actually, I found your home page, because I am interested in FGM(female genetal mutilation). I agree with you, it is cruel and barbaric act. I wish it would be stopped. And any woman experiences that kind pains never again, it is horrible and people who are making female circumcision should be punished by law!
Thank you very much Dr. Christina for opening up my eyes. I have gone through the press release link and read all the facts and amendments made in the laws over this issue. I strongly disagree now that male circumcision is not a child abuse when done by medical doctors. Your comment and the link and research I have done over it on some other sites has led me to this conclusion. I am going to edit this article on a whole in order to show the right information. I was also very skeptic about this idea but the comments following my publishing of the hub were pointing towards what I have written. Thanks for your advice.
Secondly, I am really against female genital mutilation but I am so much unhappy to see the poll of this hub which shows 17% votes in favor saying that female circumcision is not a barbaric act. I do not know who those visitors are who have clicked on the no button and do not know what is in their mind that they have not clicked on Yes button. I would be really happy if I had seen 100% VOTES against FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION.
Please comment..
My son was circumsized by a pediatrician under anesthesia at 3 months. I could not do it when he was first born because he was born in a catholic hospital and they did not perform the procedure. He is now 11 and we just recently had a discussion about what circumsizing means and what the procedure entails. He was quite shocked to realize we had done this to him. However, he does not hold it against us and he understands we did it for hygenic as well as religious reasons. We talked about it in great detail and he has no memory of the procedure or the pain or anything. He appreciates that he looks like his father and brother in that regard.
I totally agree with you on female circumsision. It is barbaric, has no medical benefit and should be against the law. For males, I believe it should be done as early as possible and only by a licensed physician with the aid of anestisizing the patient. If done in this manner, then no I do not consider it child abuse.
Circumcision helps prevent HIV and other STD's; nonsense. No condoms needed if your circumcised? Why not be uncircumsed and enjoy sex twice as much your entire life, not to mention how barbaric circumcision is, especailly for the female. Did god make a mistake doctors; or is there so much profit in autmatically performing this surgery all of you like to scare people who are otherwise intelligent. Leave the skin alone!
Thanks Sean for your comment.
Soni2006 some of the comments, especially regarding hygiene are not correct. Care of intact boys is very easy
http://www.cirp.org/library/normal/aap/
"Care of the uncircumcised boy is quite easy. ``Leave it alone'' is good advice. External washing and rinsing on a daily basis is all that is required. Do not retract the foreskin in an infant, as it is almost always attached to the glans. Forcing the foreskin back may harm the penis, causing pain, bleeding, and possibly adhesions. The natural separation of the foreskin from the glans may take many years. After puberty, the adult male learns to retract the foreskin and cleanse under it on a daily basis."
In a previous comment you criticized people who might circumcise a boy of 8 or 9 or 10 .... but seem to think it's ok to do to younger boys. If it is abuse at 8 why not 7 or 6 or 5? You see where I am going with this. Do you believe rights have gender and age restrictions?
A later comment seems to indicate you may have changed your mind is that the case?
Hi Joe. I read your comment and agree but not fully though, I am not talking about circumcision at the age of 5 or more. I am talking about it below the age of 1 as in infants. That would be easier for them. The baby will cry to extreme tears if done at a later age. I think you understand.
But I know you weren't asking that. I was asking you how could one logically think it's right for someone under the age of one but not older? Do our morals and ethics have age and gender limits?
Do you think that infant male circumcision is a type of child abuse?
of course it is.
If it isn't then what is?
Thanks for adding your view Bill.
Some researchers on infant pain say a lack of response does not mean they do not feel any pain.
Newborn babies may be exhausted and stressed and perhaps fearful after birth. Also newborns are very small and scream their heads off and they aren't they loud. A baby a few weeks old cries louder and a few months old they are even louder. It doesn't mean the otlder babies feel more pain, they are just bigger.
My view (and its supported by research) is that newborns feel more than older children. (And research suggests premmies are even more sensitive.)
Newborns feel everything. One book on this is "Birth without violence" by Leboyer.
Thank you very much Bill for explaining your really useful view on this matter. I agree that newborn babies also feel pain but what other people have commented in this hub is that they do not remember the pain that is why male circumcision is not a child abuse. I was confused as to these comments and the comment you have published above has made me think again over this burning issue.
That last picture at the bottom of the hub makes me sick. I was horrified when I stumbled on this subject several years ago, but at the same time glad that it was public enough to be found and raged against. Mothers who do this to their own daughters are worse than those that used to cripple their Chinese childrens' feet.
Hi sbeakr. God has made humans to behave like humans but it is really insane when humans turn into animals and experiment these cruel things on each other, just like female circumcision and Chinese crippling their kid's feet.
Thank you Soni for this article, I found if very interesting.
The female circumcision is not a religious act; it had been tracked to some African tribes and to Pharaohs as shown in the picture above. When Islam reached some African regions it didn't forbid it nor supported it. As a born and raised African Muslim female, I am not circumcised and none of my family members is
It is really good to read your post Fadela. Thanks for the update.
This is a very good hub! I am circumcised and cannot remember being done because it was done by a doctor when I was a baby.
Thanks Bard of Ely for your comment.
I think I have found the first person in my life who has said this. This is such a horrible thing to do Misogynist. How you can do that to a woman??? This is the work of barbarians I would say.
I think that circumcision (male and female) even when done properly in hospitals and clinics is a barbaric practice.
Thanks for your input Anath.
did any of you get circumcised as an adult?
i was circumcised as a baby but i always feel like their is something wrong with me, and my lack of pleasure sucks
Yes friend, that might be one of the reason for the lack of pleasure you are experiencing.
I was wondering if the author could quantify the meaning of "excess skin". Who determines when the normal, functional, sensitive, skin of the penis is "excess" for someone else? It is an absurd proposition that such a thing exists and can ethically be removed by parents without consent.
Thanks Fletch for expressing your concern on this.
I don't see what the big deal is. I was circumcised as an infant and I'm fine today. But, I guess I can't miss what I've never had.
Thanks for your comment Christian Q.
Unless there is a medical problem it should not be done as an infant and after that it should be the person's desicion once they are legally classed as an adult in the place which they live. UNDER NO GROUNDS should it be done religiously - you don't know what the child will choose. FMG is wrong (period).
Thanks a Dave for your comments. I myself visited this hub after around 2 weeks now and I have gone through my own hub once again plus all the comments and after reading all this stuff, I think there is a mix of emotions through varying comments which is expressed over here. There are many people who are against infant male circumcision and there are many who are in favor. I predicted this thing before writing out this hub and that's why I did not included a vote box for IM Circumcision and instead created it for FC.
I think now also there are a lot of people who want to debate on this topic and I welcome each of them in order to know their opinion...... Lets see what others have to say.
Circumcision is an abomination to mankind. It must be painful to be circumcised no doubt, but stop acting like this is the worst part about being circumcised..the worst part is loosing the power of choice. Unconsentual circumcision should be banned and it is quite absurd that it is not, shocking really...it was religious pricks that brought it into the US culture now we need to grow up and let it die, circumcision will decline with the decline of the religious population--now, I know infant circumcision isn't a part of Christianity, but as a general rule religious people are stupid and much more willing to infringe a person's human rights
Hi dethfan, I am Rajinder Soni, the author of this article and I agree with your comment. Do you know one thing that me and many of my friends, relatives, and brothers have not been circumscribed in their whole life or as an infant but then also we have not experienced any kind of infection or problem while performing sex. We all feel good without circumcision and we are happy of course. I do not know what is the need of circumcision then. Please comment.
Thank you for bringing up the subject of female circumsion. Very barbaric and cruel! as far as boys and circumcision, I have 2 boys that are not. I did my research and the rate of infection is very low. As infants, diaper changing is no different. You do not clean under the foreskin until it retracts on it's own. After that your son will wash himself, not a big deal. I couldn't watch the procedure, so i decided not to subject my child to it. At the time my boys were born the rates for circumcision were 60% yes and 40% no. So they will not be the only one in the locker room that "looks different". Just wanted to share the other side. Thanks again for an interesting hub.
Hi chellebelly, thanks a lot for your comment and expressing your views on female circumcision and infant male circumcision.
Performing genital cutting of a person without their informed consent is a violation of their bodily integrity rights. Females and males both deserve to keep what they were born with. Here is a good article on the ethics of infant circumcision:
http://genderacrossborders.com/2009/11/06/the-ethi
I was circumcised at birth and I wish my parents had not made that choice for me. It is my body and I would have preferred to have kept all of it.
I am restoring my foreskin. http://www.RestoringForeskin.org I feel the difference between being circumcised and having a foreskin, even if it a restored one. I feel more comfortable because my sensitive glans is protected by my foreskin and is not rubbing against my shorts. With a foreskin, sex is much more pleasurable for me and my wife.
Do you know Restoring Tally that your comment has changed the whole outlook of this hub. I have been wondering for this comment for my whole life and now I know I have a reason to smile. Out of around many comments written below this hub, I found your hub outstanding and what I was looking for. My search and research on this issue is now complete and without you, it would not have been possible. Your statement " with a foreskin, sex is much more pleasurable for me and my wife." has taken this hub and my thinking to a different aspect. I agree. I have not been circumscribed and I am not the victim of that and I feel really well by not doing that.
Soni2006, glad I was able to offer some insight. Until I restored, I was unaware of the difference between circumcised and intact. Now, at more than 50 years of age, I found out what I had been missing. I am glad to hear that you have your whole body still.
Here is a link to a study that explains that some women have problems with sex because the man is circumcised:
http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/116-1181/595/
Here is a link illustrating the difference in sexual function between intact and circumcised men (Warning: Graphic images - not safe for work):
Thanks for two useful links Restoring Tally. After going through them, I agree that some women have problems with sex because of the male partner being circumcised.
Soni, your comment that circumcision of an infant less than 1 year old is not abuse as the infant cannot remember the pain is so primitive that I do not think that any rational argument with you is possible. Ever heard of the unconscious mind or repressed memories? It is in the face of willing ignorance such as yours that child abuse continues.
But Erik, I think you must read the whole article and the comments and the things which all people have said and what I have said. Reading your comment and the very good point about unconscious mind or repressed memories has led me to think again over this matter and I am now thinking with a different point of view. Actually, as you can see on this article people are expressing their own point of views, some of them are totally different and some of them are same. My views are changing as are other people's views. I am not adamant about my views and I am considering different viewpoints here. Whatever you want to say and would like to change will be entertained just like other's point of views and this hub is open to any type of argument.
hubber-2009 says:
11 months ago
I prefer intact but it wouldn't be important in a relationship.