What is "intact" called elsewhere?

[tammylsmith]

This is just a silly, inconsequential question--mostly me pondering aloud-- but can anyone from or familiar with a culture where circ isn't the norm enlighten me as to how the categorization of "intact" is handled there? I think it is odd that it ever came to be known as "uncircumcised" here.... like an "unopened" soda can that's about to be opened (or an unopened door... which has such a different meaning than a closed door). Not having a particular surgery doesn't define us in any other way, as far as I can tell... So are there just penises and circumcised penises if the culture doesn't support circumcision? Natural vs. cut? Just me being curious

[philomom]

Hmm, I don't know the answer to your question.

However on the other side of such things.. I have a friend who spent two years teaching in Barcelona.. she said the word for circumcised literally means "the strange one".

[outlier]

My guess is it would be the same in those cultures as how we refer to "intact" females here in the US.  I've never been referred to as intact, natural, or uncircumcised, but I guess all are correct.  If I was in the company of a group of females who had had that particular surgery, I would probably be referred to as "uncircumcised" since the altered state would be the norm for them.

I would think there would simply not be a need to have a special term for uncut genitals in those cultures.

[A&A]

Originally Posted by outlier 

I would think there would simply not be a need to have a special term for uncut genitals in those cultures.

Right, like there isn't exactly a word used frequently for "normal-sized foot" in our culture, since we don't practice foot-binding. 

[~Adorkable~]

Normal?

[erin23kate]

Originally Posted by tammylsmith 

This is just a silly, inconsequential question--mostly me pondering aloud-- but can anyone from or familiar with a culture where circ isn't the norm enlighten me as to how the categorization of "intact" is handled there? I think it is odd that it ever came to be known as "uncircumcised" here.... like an "unopened" soda can that's about to be opened (or an unopened door... which has such a different meaning than a closed door). Not having a particular surgery doesn't define us in any other way, as far as I can tell... So are there just penises and circumcised penises if the culture doesn't support circumcision? Natural vs. cut? Just me being curious

"Normal" penis.

It isn't referred to at all.  Circumcised penises are called that, but penises with foreskins are just called penises. 

(in Scotland and France anyway)
 

[AislinCarys]

Not really called anything. In Sweden definitely not, circumcision is a word, "omskärelse", but to be circumcised isn't really said much, it is like if you would say someone is c-sectioned or appendisized or something. I never knew that people actually did this without religious reason (even as that it is rare in Sweden, we were taught it in religion classes at school) until I first read Mothering, as an adult. Sweden never did circumcise.

Here in New Zealand I recently read an article about it (Australian article, but re-published here), but have never heard anyone mentioning it or read anything at all. I looked it up, and it turns out NZ did circumcise in the past, but gave it up in the late 60s.

So no word for it. An awareness that, particularly in other countries, but very rarely here (no Mohel in the country, he apparently only visits to do circumcisions every few years or so), it is done for religious reasons. But I've worked with babies and children for many years, and never seen a circumcised penis. I wouldn't even know what it looked like.

[tammylsmith]

I suspected as much (though Philomom's bit about the word for circumcised is interesting) and I am quite envious of you Aislin. You are lucky not to have to know any babies who had to go through this procedure. I love many things about my culture, but this one really bugs me because it should be so easy to point out the error... but yet it persists

I can't stand the term uncircumcised, and intact is a little better, but I wish it were just "normal."

[Emma Bryan Fuller]

I have never heard a word for it either. I have also not heard it discussed quite so much as when I lived in the States. It is just never a topic of conversation here. It would be like discussing your baby girl being intact. It is also not even something to be proud of or mention. I guess it is just the accepted norm?

[Fluga]

It's called a penis. 

[tessie]

Originally Posted by Fluga 

It's called a penis. 

Yep. It's the circumcised ones that are commented upon as they're far less usual.

[tammylsmith]

Lol, yes, this is the most pointless conversation in the world, but oh, how I wish it were this easy here in the states!