The Age (AU): "It's child abuse and it's time it was cut out"

[pdx.mothernurture]

It's child abuse and it's time it was cut out
Catherine Deveny
October 24, 2007

People give plenty of reasons for circumcising their male children, writes Catherine Deveny. But most of them don't amount to anything.

NO ONE seems to be able to explain to me why the circumcision of baby boys is not considered child abuse. Why in 2007 is it still acceptable for parents to have their babies' foreskins ripped off? How can it be legal, let alone ethical, for any human being to choose for another human being's body to be irreversibly mutilated? No medical reason, no rational thought and in many cases no aesthetic. Just because.

I suggest that we should ban the use of the term "circumcision" and force people to use the term "genital mutilation". Because that's what it is. It's not "a personal choice", because that person is not making a choice. It's human rights abuse.

Read more:
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/20...941062383.html

Note: Please remember that we cannot discuss circumcision for religious reasons in this forum.
Thank you.

[QueenOfThePride]

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=775937

[pdx.mothernurture]

Originally Posted by QueenOfThePride

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=775937

Whoops, thanks! Somehow I missed this. Maybe a mod can lock this one.

Jen

[LavenderMae]

I like most of what she said but it's not necessary for a 7 yr. old to retract so I don't like that part.

[Dave2GA]

The plain defensiveness of circumcised Australian men just demonstrates how deep the psychological damage of circumcision goes. It also sounds just like men in the U.S. There is no difference psychologically - the same defensiveness is everywhere, just as it is in Africa about FGM. Vincent Bach, who is often cited here, is quite right about the vulnerability of men. And the comments to this article show it in the light of day.