The Circumcision Decision
By Tine Reese
February 18, 2010
Before the birth of our first child, I don’t think my husband and I debated any baby-related topic more than the issue of whether to circumcise a boy or not. We went through the usual list of questions new parents ask when faced with this decision:
- Do we want him to look like his father?
- Do we have a religious or cultural reason to circumcise?
- Will he be teased by other boys for looking different?
- What are the health benefits and risks of being circumcised?
- What are the health benefits and risks of NOT being circumcised?
After thinking through all of these issues, and consulting our pediatrician (who said she didn’t recommend it for any health reasons), we came to the conclusion that we didn’t want to make this HUGE decision for our son. And I definitely didn’t want to think about my tiny, hours-old baby boy suffering an unnecessary surgical procedure when he could be cuddling in the safety of my arms.
As with all topics I discuss on this blog, I advocate that parents be informed so they can make the right decision for their families. It is your choice and not something that anyone else—much less the fashion of our times—should dictate for your son.
Here are a few things you might not previously have know about circumcision.
No national or international medical association recommends routine circumcision.
The Expectant Mother Guide says, “The American Academy of Pediatrics could offer no significant medical benefits to advocate routine circumcision. Their policy is against routine circumcision. Why, then, do the majority of American newborn boys get circumcised? The answer is because of social reasons. Most parents who choose to have their son circumcised do so because they ‘want him to look like his dad’ or brother.”
The circumcision rate is dropping in the U.S.
The National Health and Life Survey reports that “circumcision rates in the United States are now down to 57% among males born. That number is low compared to a whopping 90% circumcision rate in the 1960′s. Some states have an even lower amount of routine circumcisions done at the rate of less than 50% of males are circumcised after birth. California has the least amount of newborns circumcised and reported 21% in 2004.”
Medicalized circumcision began during the 1800s to prevent masturbation, which was believed to cause disease.
The History of Circumcision website says, “In the United States circumcision emerged at the same time as in Britain and for much the same reasons: hostility to masturbation, delusions about congenital phimosis, fear of diseases like syphilis and cancer. But it got its biggest boosts from the two world wars and from the medicalisation of childbirth. The importance of both the obstetricians/gynecologists and the the military in the promotion of circumcision in the USA cannot be overestimated.”
Circumcision denies a male’s right to genital integrity and choice for his own body.
The Peaceful Parenting website says it best. “Even if circumcision was entirely PAIN FREE — to amputate the prepuce would still be removing a healthy, vital, fully functioning organ from a non-consenting person. We forever change the sexuality of this future adult man and his partner. All human beings – male and female – have the basic human right of genital integrity. They have a right to ALL their functioning, healthy body parts. A man (even as a newborn) has a right to his whole, intact penis, to do with as he pleases.”
The practice of circumcision is beginning to be questioned by many in the Jewish community.
The Jewish Circumcision Resource Center website says, “Bound by this burden to comply with social expectations, most Jewish parents do not recognize that circumcision is a choice. Since open communication about circumcision is discouraged, there is virtually no awareness of others who feel similar conflicts and doubts around circumcision. Moreover, if a Jewish parent does decide not to circumcise a male child, it is not generally known to the rest of the community. As a result, many parents submit to the pressure and then discover only too late, perhaps after witnessing the circumcision of their son, that they wish they had chosen differently. Some parents report that if they could take back one decision, it would be their son’s circumcision.”
National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Centers
Doctors Opposing Circumcision
Circumcision Resource Center
Jewish Circumcision Resource Center
Mothering: The Case Against Circumcision
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Comments
Just heard that some of our family friends recently changed their mind about circumcising their newborn son after reading this Bloom Blog article…in fact, they canceled the surgery only hours before it was scheduled to happen.
Congratulations to your and your family friend’s son. Such lucky boys.
I think you’ve provided some pretty good information. The most important take away is there is no practical reason for circumcision, so why do it?
Thank you for information that every parents should given before they force this brutal procedure onto helpless infants for no rational reason.
We should become more civilized than to continue this barbarism.
In fact, every parent who has their son circumcised should be forced to watch one, so they can understand just what they are doing to their sons.. it is time we educate ourselves and not simply choose to remain ignorant and follow the herd!
Great article, and I am glad to hear about your family friends getting the important info JUST on time.
yay!
Here’s the million dollar question:
For doctors to perform any surgery, there must be some compelling medical reason. There must be some sort of medical condition to treat that cannot be treated otherwise, or the child’s life must be in danger.
Can doctors even PERFORM circumcisions in healthy newborns without any medical warrant, let alone let parents make any “decision?”
If there is no medical condition present, isn’t charging to perform non-medical procedures on non-consenting individuals constitute MEDICAL FRAUD?
Isn’t destroying perfectly healthy tissue genital mutilation? Why is the ethic of permanently altering the genitals of a boy for the rest of his life even considered? Why does nobody address the issue of human rights? Don’t those MATTER any more?
I enjoyed watching his video and I am glad to see this information available to new parents. I have two young boys and circumsicion was a non issue for us. It just never occured to us to cut our babies like that. I feel strongly on the subject and have spken openly about it on several ocassions. It is a very emotional topic and I have received some anger from those who have. And yet still the strongest argument they have is that baby should look like daddy. He may not have daddy’s eyes or daddy’s nose but he will have daddy’s penis. I even had one angry and tearful mother tell me I couldn’t speak on the subject regarding her adopted boy. Only other adopted parents would understand. Her son bein adopted looked nothing like his daddy so his penis must. So so sad. I will continue to voice my opinion on this heart breaking reality. It is good to know there are many people out here who feel the same way.
~M
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