...Circumcision article...about girls...

[4chunut1]

This is very sad... Boys are never mentioned. But I suppose circumcision for boys in Mali must be universal..??

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080503/D90EAA5O0.html

[minkajane]

The article was written in America. Boys weren't mentioned because circumcising boys isn't at all harmful and it's necessary for cleanliness, but circumcising girls is horrible and is done for the sole purpose of controlling their sexuality (even though it's usually circumcised women having their girls circumcised).

That's how it works, right? :

[perspective]

But its interesting, because from the point of view of cultures that circ girls, they dont see a big difference between male circ and female circ. Men circ the boys, women circ the girls, and its all a process of coming into "adulthood"

How do you expect any fem circing culture to take us seriously, when they look at us, and in their eyes, we are doing the same thing.

Like in this article, that whole side of things are ignored. Male circ is never mentioned.

[tlh]

"I was circumcised without my consent."


"It is like some part of you is taken away. I don't feel complete at all," she said of the practice, meant to suppress sexual desires and maintain the honor of young girls. "A woman is complete when you have all parts of your body."



She is saying the same thing as men circumcised in this country.

[perspective]

Originally Posted by tlh

"I was circumcised without my consent."


"It is like some part of you is taken away. I don't feel complete at all," she said of the practice, meant to suppress sexual desires and maintain the honor of young girls. "A woman is complete when you have all parts of your body."



She is saying the same thing as men circumcised in this country.

Yes, but if any circumcised man said that publicly in this country, many people
would think there must be something wrong with him mentally.

[tlh]

Originally Posted by perspective

Yes, but if any circumcised man said that publicly in this country, many people
would think there must be something wrong with him mentally.

I have read those studies but everone seems to accept that as part of being a man.But I don't see how having a mental problem could make someone be a better person or more manly.


Male Circumcision:
Pain, Trauma and
Psychosexual Sequelae

http://www.cirp.org/library/psych/boyle6/

[copslass]

Anyone else notice the irony of her plans for nursing school in the only country in the world where she would undoubtedly particpate in (non-religious) circing infant boys without their consent?

(I realize she herself is likely unaware of this)

[perspective]

Originally Posted by tlh

I have read those studies but everone seems to accept that as part of being a man.But I don't see how having a mental problem could make someone be a better person or more manly.


Male Circumcision:
Pain, Trauma and
Psychosexual Sequelae

http://www.cirp.org/library/psych/boyle6/

What do you mean? Maybe I am confused, but as I understand it, even in this country having mental problems is not seen as manly. Its just any man that has a problem with being circumcised is seen negatively, like there must be something wrong with HIM, and not the cultural practices inflicted on to him.

[tlh]

Originally Posted by perspective

What do you mean? Maybe I am confused, but as I understand it, even in this country having mental problems is not seen as manly. Its just any man that has a problem with being circumcised is seen negatively, like there must be something wrong with HIM, and not the cultural practices inflicted on to him.

What I meant is that manly men are supposed to hold everything inside and not show emotions.I think that doing that can lead to more mental problems and probably also leads to angry men that beat/abuse people and drugs/alcohol.But it is documented that circumcision can cause mental problems and I think the idea that a man should not have these problems is changing maybe not in society but within the mental help community.


New Policy Urges Soldiers to Seek Mental Health Care

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/healt...ops_05-01.html

[perspective]

Originally Posted by tlh

What I meant is that manly men are supposed to hold everything inside and not show emotions.I think that doing that can lead to more mental problems and probably also leads to angry men that beat/abuse people and drugs/alcohol.But it is documented that circumcision can cause mental problems and I think the idea that a man should not have these problems is changing maybe not in society but within the mental help community.

Very true, honestly I believe the reason you see so many school shootings, that are almost always commited by teenage boys, is because there is that idea that guys should not be effected by things, or they are weak. So there will be that one boy who is bullied, and gets victimized everyday, yet socially he feel like he cant go to his family, his friends, and certainly not anyone at the school. So in the end, violence is the only acceptable emotion/action he feels he has left.
____


But with circumcision, I feel this "not talking" comes into play again, because even guys who do think its bad, cant speak out. The last thing ANY guy wants to be is a victim, if a guy is not always strong and in control in this most basic way, its socially humiliating.

For the anti-circ movement to move to a bigger, wider level in america, a new narrative HAS TO be created in our movement that will allow men (who abide by the social stigma we discussed above) to speak up as well.

Personally, I think the discussion has to be moved away from victimization, and toward "personal choice". That way when a man speaks up against circumcision, its not assumed he feels victimized himself. But that he is happy about his body, and wants future males to be happy too, so they should have the choice if they want to be circumcised.

But I do believe creating this narrative (if it is anything like what I stated here, or not) is going to be key to expanding our cause to a mainstream level.

[tlh]

yup i totally agree our society needs to learn that a man has the same feelings and emotions as any other person.