Circumcision

Circumcision seems to be one of the hottest debate topics among parents lately. One side is fighting for the rights of parents to decide what happens to their children while the other side is fighting for the rights of infants who cannot speak for themselves.

If you can put aside your preconceived notions for a few moments and just look at the facts surrounding this issue there can be no question. Circumcision is wrong. It is an unnecessary, potentially harmful, unquestionably painful, preventative procedure performed on newborns to help with problems that are quite likely to never happen. I’m all about treatment for problems that exist, but it makes far more sense to treat a problem if it arises and not “treat” a perfectly healthy body as a “just in case”. There are many reasons given for why you should circumcise but those reasons are all fairly easy to dismiss with a healthy dose of common sense.

Religion:

Should parents mutilate their child for a religious rite? No. The circumcision procedure that is performed now is not what was originally done as a religious rite, and no matter what the parents religion is it still doesn’t change the fact that it’s their religion being imposed on his body.

Aesthetics:

Should parents mutilate their child so that their sex organ is more visually appealing? No. Honestly that entire concept is incredibly disturbing as well as being something to promote more superficiality. Why teach children that their bodies are imperfect, in any way, the way that they are born?

Social/Cultural:

Should parents mutilate their child so that they fit in better? No. Instilling good self-confidence in them will be far more effective and this too is something that promotes more superficiality and parental laziness.

Health:

Should a parent mutilate their child just to make sure that there are no problems with that part later on? No. Amputation is not prevention which is why we do not have our teeth removed to prevent cavities or our toes cut off to prevent athlete’s foot.

Hygiene:

Should a parent mutilate their child so that they have better hygiene? No. A scalpel is no substitute for a bar of soap and good hygiene is perfectly possible without involving surgery. This reasoning promotes the idea that boys are incapable of learning to wash themselves properly.

I had some conflict with my son’s father about whether or not our son would be circumcised. He was completely for it while I was (obviously) against it. One of his biggest reasons to push for it was his concern for our son being picked on once he was in school. Now, after a year and a half of getting all the information (sometimes against his will :-P) he has switched standpoints entirely-the more you know the more you are against it. He now acknowledges that worrying about your kid being picked on if they’re intact is fairly ridiculous. For one, your kid is going to get picked on no matter what you do or don’t do. Other kids will find something, they always do. For two, where is this epidemic of boys in locker rooms all comparing their junk? That was one of the things that DH said, he wasn’t sure why he was so worried about him getting picked on because that’s just not something that’s a common topic of discussion. I mean, really, most other children who would be closed minded and cruel enough to think lesser of a boy who was intact are probably not secure enough in themselves to actually admit that they were looking at another boy’s penis.

But the number one reason I hear for circumcision to still happen is not fear of teasing it is hygiene. Come on folks, it just seems like the epitome of parental laziness to put your newborn through a surgical procedure with little to no painkillers just so that cleaning their winky is easier when they’re older. Time and again people have insisted to me that little boys just “aren’t capable of proper hygiene”. Yes they are!! Little boys are just as able to clean themselves as little girls are; the simple fact is that all kids are rather gross. We, as parents, have the responsibility to make sure we teach our children how to care for themselves and take the next step to make sure that they are actually doing it. It is our job. My five year old has a problem wiping properly, I don’t wish that she had been circumcised so that it would be easier to keep clean I simply make sure I help her clean herself until she is able to do it properly for herself. How incredibly selfish is it to make your son endure surgery with barely more than Tylenol followed by a recovery period involving an open wound being regularly soaked in feces and urine (sounds real hygienic) so that you don’t have to deal with some “extra” cleaning education in a few years? (extra in quotes here because I can’t call something “extra” truthfully when it’s nothing beyond what should normally be required).

Most of my life I thought circumcision was just what you did. It was at my mother’s encouragement that I decided to question this practice. I am eternally grateful to her for giving me the push to think. It is said so many time in circumcision debates, “the more you know, the more you are against it,” and with good reason. Asking myself what I should do, weighing the facts…there was no room for doubt. When you see your newborn son for the first time and you look into his eyes how could there be a thought in your mind of allowing him to be hurt? To have a perfect little being lying in your arms, completely reliant on you for protection, a little being that is completely innocent and unconditionally loving and trusting, that is the most amazing feeling you can ever experience. Our sons deserve to have their lives start out with love and amazement, not pain and fear.