Rants of the day

[rootofnewt]

I don't understand why parents feel they have the right to modify their child's genitals for mere cosmetic reasons. It's cruel, it's barbaric, and it's a violation of the child's bodily integrity. I think it's ridiculous that we have laws protecting girls from circumcision, but it's perfectly okay to mutilate boys.

- - -

Unrelated to this, I also despise evil nannies and am trying to out a particular beast via our local parenting groups.

Comments

[circumspectly.livejournal.com]

I've never understood why parents want to mutilate a perfectly functioning penis...I mean, so it makes it easier for parents to clean...gee...maybe we should cut off the exterior ears, eh? *sheesh*

[krasota.livejournal.com]

That's the thing--it's not easier to clean a cut penis.

The intact penis is easy-peasy to clean on a newborn. The foreskin is fused to the glans, so absolutely no retraction. Just wipe it off like a finger.

A newly circumcised penis requires wound care and attention.

[mmymoon.livejournal.com]

Old people penis, on the other hand -- oh my lord, but I've cleaned up a lot of horrors in my life!

[krasota.livejournal.com]

And another argument for removing ears at birth! Old people ears!

I find lots of food under my boobs, maybe I should cut them . . . oh, wait. I do want to do that.

AS A CONSENTING ADULT.

[circumspectly.livejournal.com]

Well see then? I have bought into the myth of the medical folk...having never had a little boy (or a little girl, for that matter), I've just gone along with the popular dialog. So, it's just pain for no other reason than the old myth put forward by the Bible? Cripes. :\

[krasota.livejournal.com]

Actually, routine medical circumcision was initially brought forth in the US as a means to curb masturbation. It worked really well. *rolls eyes* Oh, and to cure nocturnal emissions, epilepsy, and bedwetting, among other things.

You might find this interesting to read:
http://www.icgi.org/medicalization/

[circumspectly.livejournal.com]

Okay, I'm reading the whole thing, but so far I'm like, "WTF?"...this shit is....SHIT!

[melody-rossiter.livejournal.com]

reminds me of hysterectomies to cure hysteria and depression.

[mmymoon.livejournal.com]

People use that as an excuse to do that to dogs, sooooo...

If you don't want to dig crammed-in poop out of various interesting locations, don't obtain a child!

[circumspectly.livejournal.com]

I have no interest in obtaining a child at my ripe old age...also, I don't crop ears or tails of my lovely pets. I was merely spouting what I'd been led to believe. I'm 44...no worries about children here...but I clean up plenty of poo, given that I have two of the most adorable pups ever put on earth.

Now.

[ljvb.livejournal.com]

I have a dane with natural ears and still has his tail.. however.. I swear sometimes I want to cut that tail off.. it has a mind of its own, and enough power to take any male out in short order (his tail is at waste hight and has perfect aim...)

Actually, in all honesty, tail cropping on some dogs is not always done for pure looks, but also to prevent painful breaks later on in life, but this is usually related to large breed dogs... My dane will be 200 pounds soon.... and I will have to switch from pet food to small children.. its cheaper :) (I am kidding about the children part.. unless you take into account my neighbours kid who is a terror...) :)

[sophy.livejournal.com]

Amen!!

[melody-rossiter.livejournal.com]

Here, here. I try very hard to allow other people the right to circumcise their boys, and I ultimately left that choice up to Jay (my choice was no circumcision, thankfully Jay's, too). I just can't understand why people would EVER want to snip a piece of their child's gentiles off. EVER.

I have a similar opinion on earrings in babies and small children (they should have to wait until they are a) old enough to decide they want and b) old enough to care for the piercing themselves).

Nannies scare me in general. I don't want anyone else to raise my child.

Long answer to a short post

[marea93.livejournal.com]

I just had an interesting convo about this with my daughter. Apparently, uncircumcised penii are not popular with her and her friends. She was making free with the jokes about it in front of her bro one day when she saw a funny look on his face. She hadn't seen his unit since they were very small, didn't realize he was uncircumcised, and wound up making an awkward apology for making fun of the uncut. She went on to question my decision on the matter, which I explained, but she was unconvinced. We'll see, though, if she has the stomach to have her own baby mutilated that way.

[balmofgilead.livejournal.com]

Do you feel differently about people who do it for religious, not cosmetic reasons?

(I'm against doing infant circumcision for cosmetic reasons, and lean toward being against it in general, but the Jewish tradition aspect gives me pause sometimes--enough to prevent me from being firmly against it.)

[briskpepper.livejournal.com]

Mutilation of boys is just preparation for the pains of dating later in life.

[short-line2.livejournal.com]

From the standpoint of an uncut male I appalled you speaking out. I know I have had a better sex life.