Your view on circumcision.

[Tasha]

So I should put my son through a unnecessary surgery that he could die from, so someone can sell his foreskin to a burn victim? No thank you.

I dont think Whit illuded to that at all. I think she was just saying that to her that is a positive regardless of her beliefs about circumcision. Not everyone rush out to get your sons circumcised to help burn victims.

I didnt even no they were used in that way before this thread, its pretty amazing to me.

 

[Natsku]

I think its good that they get put to good use rather than just being thrown away!

 

[fannyadams]

Just curious - I'm not a man and so I don't know how this works, but do fathers and their sons compare penises? Does it have something to do with potty training? My hubby makes the argument that boys should look like their fathers, but I don't understand why. My mother and I never compared vaginas.

I've wondered this too x

 

[Dragonfly]

Have you seen a picture about with a tattooed baby? says in it " I wanted him to look like his dad".

 

[RedRose]

It's not something I would choose. To me, there is nothing compelling enough to suggest he'd be better off without a foreskin, and my overriding feeling as a mum of a newborn is to protect them from as much pain or harm as possible, and not, in my opinion, unnecessarily slice any bits off.

Although I can't relate to any religious reasons why the procedure is done, I have to say I appreciate the mum's conviction that she is doing the right thing and understand her decision much more than those who choose to do it because it's a social norm and they want the males to have 'matching' penises, or are worried about bullying etc. To me, it's just nowhere near reason enough to have my newborn baby have something permanently and painfully removed.

Like, circumcised or not, lentils (typo instead of genitals but it's staying ) are all so different anyway, and I can't say I've come across two people comparing them anyway

 

[MommyJogger]

Just curious - I'm not a man and so I don't know how this works, but do fathers and their sons compare penises? Does it have something to do with potty training? My hubby makes the argument that boys should look like their fathers, but I don't understand why. My mother and I never compared vaginas.

I've wondered this too x

Vaginas are a little more hidden than penis tips. My DH didn't look like his father and he still remembers growing up for a while (maybe age 3-6) not wanting ANYONE to see his penis because he didn't know he looked perfectly normal. I think as long as the father realizes the son notices a difference and explains it, all will be fine, but if fob is thoughtless, it can cause some body confusion/shame during potty training/tandem showering/skinny dipping. It would be like your mother having no nipples and you thinking your nipples shouldn't be there. Wouldn't that make you feel "different" during a time you're just beginning to notice your body and what it looks like? Not that I support the "boys should look like their fathers" argument, but I can totally see where they're coming from.

 

[MommyJogger]

Like, circumcised or not, lentils (typo instead of genitals but it's staying ) are all so different anyway, and I can't say I've come across two people comparing them anyway

Really? because I can't make it through a day without comparing lentils. Best typo ever!

 

[Dragonfly]

I asked my partner there what it was like in school changing rooms, and all the men are uncirc here and he said they dont look at each others penises like that. If you did someone would think you where gay. As a female we never looked at each others parts either ?To put a baby through something like that for something so vain dosnt seem right at all.

 

[MommyJogger]

I asked my partner there what it was like in school changing rooms, and all the men are uncirc here and he said they dont look at each others penises like that. If you did someone would think you where gay. As a female we never looked at each others parts either ?To put a baby through something like that for something so vain dosnt seem right at all.

Agreed, but at least here when/where I was growing up there was a lot less body shame. According to DH, penis shower comparisons were par for the course. Girls in my locker room weren't shy about it either, whether it was "Oh my God, you're so thin!" or "Do you think my breasts will ever get bigger?" or "Should I lose a few pounds or do I look okay?" But we never did vagina comparisons. I do remember one weird morning where everyone was comparing nipple color... I never knew there was such variance. Frankly it was a lot healthier way of learning about real women's bodies and body image than in today's youth where everyone's ashamed and scared to be labeled "gay", where everyone learns what they know from secretly watching internet porn that makes them feel ugly and inadequate for being perfectly normal and beautiful.

 

[Dragonfly]

We all got dressed under our clothes. was talent and we had separate showers for privacy to. I never seen a fully naked girl in my life in a changing room here. I think we are all modest or shy. Men from what other half said dont care, they have it all out.

 

[MommyJogger]

we had separate showers for privacy to.

You went somewhere classy, lol! We had to share shower heads for everyone to get done in time for the next class.

 

[Dragonfly]

No actually not classy, was all girls school and just a high school. I am sure in the grammar ones they where the same. I think as they are run by nuns or something they where like that. You got an awful scolding if your skirt was to short or to much of a heal on your shoe.

 

[Natsku]

We never even showered so nobody got naked in the changing rooms at school so no comparing body parts there. But I think your experience sounds good MommyJogger - a good way for teenagers to see what normal bodies look like and how they are different and the same.

 

[louandivy]

No, absolutely not. I PERSONALLY (note the use of this word!!!!!) think the procedure is absolutely barbaric, and is unecessarily harming your brand new baby who's just been having sweet sweet cuddles then THAT to happen. No way.

Same goes for females - disgusting, and same goes for anything related like piercing ears. It's wrong (IMO!!).

There is absoutely no medical benefit to having it done, and is definitely not on my to do list if I have a boy.

I will reiterate - once again - these are my personal opinions!

I am not interested in getting into an endless debate about circumcision which never goes anywhere for the millionth time but I would just like to say that comparing female circumcision to ear piercing is fucking GROTESQUE and you obviously have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.

Thanks for your input, albeit uncessary.

My use then of the word 'related' probably was not the right one. And I fully understand the process of female circumcision, which is a disgusting process.

But my personal opinion on ear piercing of babies, is that too is disgusting as should not be carried out.....I didn't want my post to be just about cutting boys skin off is wrong.....anything that you do that knowingly harms your baby is wrong - MY OPINION!!

p.s the swearing - really grown up. Good job.


Also, I am not saying people choosing this choice are barbarians, the procedure is barbaric.......and completely unecessary, however if you choose to put your child through this, fine - that's your choice. I have got mine, and I am fully entitled to it.

Well OBVIOUSLY its your personal opinion, who's else would it be? That is such a redundant thing to say - its the debates section therefore opinions are allowed to be questioned and criticised.

I still think that to say that an almost completely safe and only slightly painful procedure like ear piercing is even remotely on the same level as a life-threatening procedure that is steeped in misogyny and oppression.

I say this as someone who has never even considered piercing my daughter's ears. I understand disagreeing with it but to call ear piercing barbaric? I mean SERIOUSLY?

 

[Jaylynne]

SS has compared his to DHs. He was very curious when potty training and when noticing the differences between boys and girls.

 

[Tasha]

I think its quite an individual thing because my son has never compared.

The thing is dont all penis' look different any way, especially if you compare a child and an adult so of that is the sole reason, then mabe explaining would be better?

 

[Jaylynne]

A lot keep citing AAP, I wrote this before, but I guess it got over looked...


The AAP, despite its high-sounding academic name, actually is a trade association of pediatric doctors. Its primary duty is to advance the business and professional interests of its 60,000 members who are called “fellows”. The interests of its child-patients are a distant second to their primary interest.

Its position statements are not legal or medical imperatives and do not have the force of law or public policy. Also, the AAP’s pro-circumcision policy is not supported by any foreign medical associations.

So it's basically just some American doctors, educators, and other medical professionals that want to benefit financially from circumcising infant males.

Also, ever wonder what they do with the foreskins they cut off? Some hospitals actually sell the foreskins to be used elsewhere, like in oral surgeries and growing skin for temporary bandages on burn victims. A hospital in San Diego gets $36 for every foreskin they package and sell. Multiply this by the number of male babies born there each year and the push to have parents do so because it is healthier and that's a huge income on foreskins alone.


Just food for thought.

Jesus, this is ridiculous. Just some American doctors looking to make more money? Forget that the AAP is the leading source for continuing education for drs on current processes and procedures.

Which do you think is more profitable (if you think that's all circumcision is) $36 for a foreskin kit or several dr visits at more than $75 each if there's the potential for foreskin issues as the boy grows then if recommended later in life a much more expensive surgery. So saying the drs are recommending circumcision merely for money is stupid. $36 in the f'ed up American version of healthcare is nothing. They charge more than that for a damn Tylenol in the hospital. Go fish.

 

[Tasha]

Devils advocate here cos I know zero about the American system but surely $75 only comes into play IF there is foreskin issues. I am in the UK and none of the people I would know about (cos I dont just ask random men ) have had foreskin issues.

 

[Jess137]

Exactly.

 

[Jaylynne]

Of course it is "if". But saying they're advocating for that piddly amout of money is ridiculous. The whole American health system is ridiculous.