The Question of Circumcision

Over 4,000 years ago God instructed the Hebrew men and their slaves and men whom they had bought to succumb to the practice of circumcision to identify each other as distinct from other tribes. As time went on the baby boys were to be circumcised on their 8th day of life. Is that practice relevant today for the modern feminist? Should a newborn be forced to undergo a horribly painful surgery without anesthesia and have soreness for days afterward because of a 4,000 year old middle east tribal custom?

As a young nursing student I had to observe several circumcisions. They strapped the baby to a board and without anesthesia cut off his foreskin. The babies screamed blood curdling screams and were sore for days afterward. When they urinated they screamed. It all seemed terribly barbaric. Why is it still done? Largely because insurance pays for it and the doctor gets paid for it. If women had to pay for this extra request out of pocket the practice would cease to exist. If the doctor fee was not be paid the practice would cease to exist, and I promise you circumcision would fall out of practice. Sometimes too much of the foreskin is removed preventing the penis from a complete or painfree erection. Many uncircumcised men claim that the foreskin has nerve endings and sensitivities and they are glad that they are not circumcised. Circumcision can lead to scaring and disfigurement. Why do we treat our infant boys this way based on a 4,000 year old jewish custom that has nothing to do with the modern day? We have no neeed to preserve tribal identifications or adhere to an old testament covenant and yet women blindly sign on the dotted line for a circumcision for their infant.

With this blog I hope to make women think about a lot of issues. As women, we are angry that females are mutilated by islam and african religions, but think nothing of subjecting our boys to an early brutality. I guarantee that if a mom had to watch a circumcision being done on her infant she would never circumcise another one of her son's. The health arguments for circumcision are not valid in a culture where men can wash themselves.

If you are a young woman who is pregnant with a boy I hope this blog has given you the courage to say no to the barbarism of circumcision. If they grow up and want to be circumcised...let them. I doubt very few would choose the procedure for themselves. Why choose it for them at one day old. Let them be the way they were created.