If femal circumcision is wrong, why is male circumcision right?

Question

Nightmares, depression, shock and feelings of betrayal are common psychological side effects, according to the federal report. -- From an article on cnn about femal circumcison.
Don't you thing males have the same side effects?

Answer 1

look at men in the west and ask again.

yeah, i think so.

there is no way that male circumcision is right and female wrong.

it shows you how limited people's understanding is when they decry female genital mutilation, done for religious reasons, and support male genital mutiliation, also done by many for religious reasons.

it's wrong to mutilitate your kids.

Answer 2

The dichotomy shows me that you do not understand the difference of degree in the circumcision debate. The difference in degree is so great that it is almost a difference in kind. Male circumcision is not even on the radar, compared to female circumcision. I have never heard any male relate those symptoms you have listed there. I am circumcised and have never even intimated such feelings. I would be highly suspicious of anyone relating such feelings and suspect that they were being downloaded from a therapist with an agenda.

Answer 3

“There is significant disagreement about whether (male) circumcision is overall a beneficial, neutral or harmful procedure. At present, the medical literature on the health, including sexual health, implications of circumcision is contradictory, and often subject to claims of bias in research.” (British Medical Association)

In other words, there are studies which suggest that male circumcision has health benefits, for example non-circumcised boys and men tend to have higher rates of various infections and inflammations of the foreskin. Before antibiotics infections were a much more serious issue (far more often potentially fatal), so circumcision was probably a good thing considering boys health. This and the fact that circumcision doesn't (usually) hinder males sexual (or overall) life explains why for historical reasons we accept this ritual to be performed for cultural reasons. Naturally there are health risks involved in the procedure itself (as there is in every thing that involves cutting of ones flesh), and when there are antibiotics around and hygiene is better overall, I really don't see other but cultural reasons why male circumcision is considered "right".

But female "circumcision", or female genital mutilation, is completely another thing. It has absolutely no benefits (health or otherwise) for the woman/girl, quite the opposite. There are serious infection risks, and those psychological side effects you mentioned are only some of the many. Often it means that a woman can never enjoy sex, because of psychological AND physiological reasons. It is completely different procedure than male circumcision (gee, men and women ARE different down there). To say it straight out: there's nothing good in it, and nobody sane even tries to claim so.

So basically, we can dispute if male circumcision is right, but we can be sure that female "circumcision" is not.

EDIT: Just to clarify things: above I've tried to discuss about general opinions when I tell why male circumcision is considered right. Personally, I would never let anyone cut my own child for "cultural reasons". And to straighten some weird things people are claiming here:

1) Some people claim that uncircumcised penis is ugly. So? You may think so, but your child may not agree. We don't allow babies noses to be pierced, even if their parents think it would look cool. Cosmetic things like that should be decided by the child himself, and not before he's adult and presumably capable of making decisions about things that have life lasting consequences.

2) There are religious reasons. Yes, there are. There are also religious reasons to mutilate female genitals, but it is illegal. Yes, it is true that female circumcision is far more severe and harmful procedure, but it doesn't give any reason to allow male child to be circumcised. Even if murder is a far more serious crime than an assault, that doesn't make either of them more or less illegal.

3) Health reasons: infections. Now, I covered this one already. We have antibiotics and good hygiene, and if all else fails, circumcision can be done for those who really have medical need for it. As one answerer already pointed out, we don't cut away other pieces from every child, even if those parts of human body get far more serious infections more easily.

4) Study about HIV infections and circumcision. I think that one is, frankly speaking, utter BS. There does exist a study where they have found negative correlation between circumcision and HIV infections in Africa. However, this study doesn't line out other possible factors, like religion. Nearly all of those circumcised men of the study were circumcised because of religious reasons. So, the group of circumcised men represented totally different religious (and thus moral and ethical) values than the uncircumcised group. Could it be that devoutly religious people have less extramarital affairs and less sex partners in general? These factors were NOT considered in that study. All I can do is wonder at all those surveys conducted without any idea of basic methods and guidelines of scientific studies. So many are published and become solid facts for the public, even if they are widely disputed by scientific community. But the main point about this subject is: you most likely get infected if you have unprotected sex with an HIV positive partner, even if you are circumcised. That's a fact. So remember your rubbers kids, even if you are circumcised.

Now, I guess this ranting is enough about this subject. I hope nobody thinks this as an offense against certain religion or religious group, that is not my intention. This is against mutilation of children. If you are an adult, then go ahead and cut your penis if you want. Peace.

Answer 4

No!
Not the same cutting goes on.
With the penis the skin around the head of the penis is removed. No problem is caused with the pleasure sensation function.
As opposed with the practice of removing major amounts of tissue including the clitoris...there goes the feel good stuff.
This is a practice done in many Islamic countries and by primitive cultures.
Kind of a nutty thing to do as it's fun to share pleasure via sex from my viewpoint.
I'd rather share pleasure than just have a poke.

Answer 5

No.
First, because it is done when they are (typically) very young. Second, because when done when older, is done under a local anaesthetic.
Third, because when done when older, it is a choice, usually for religious reasons.
Fourth, becasue it was done initially to prevent disease.

Female circumcision is done, mostly without any thoguht of pain relief.
It is done to prevent women from having pleasure during sex.
It is done as a means of male control over women.
It is a drastic mutilation of women.
It serves no healthy purpose.

Make any more sense now?

Answer 6

Yes, and losing the sensation of the defining act of the human species. Circumcision of either sex is a wicked act and has absolutely no medical, theological or social justification.

Answer 7

Not sure what female circumcision is but I do know about male circumcision. You seen an uncircumsized male penis? That is one ugly appendage!!!!!!! A penis NEEDS circumcised!!!

Answer 8

The “medical” reasons for circumcision are for Doctors to make MONEY!!!
Circumcision is “nothing” compared to other much more terrible things that people do for MONEY, when MONEY is involved EVERYRHING is possible, MONEY is the priority not moral values, not ethics, not health, not wrong or right, not even human life, etc. People are selfish by nature. And that is soooo sad. $$$CASH$$$

MOTHERS, the feelings of mothers who observed the circumcision of their babies. Go here if you have the courage:
http://www.circumcision.org/mothers.htm
They do not remember the pain when they grow up, but I wonder what kind of neurological/emotional damage it does to inflict such severe pain to such a young one!

In the US circumcision started to stop boys from masturbating; they will take much longer to reach the orgasm, and the orgasm will not be as intense, but that will not stop them.
Nowadays the “medical” reasons to circumcision are for Doctors to make MONEY!!!

RELIGION--If God intended boys to not have "skin" He would have made them so.
Also, if you examine the bible, lest just say that is full of terrible things that are considered very illegal nowadays, and many of those terrible things are AGAINST WOMEN. Women, how would you like it if those things get legalized?
http://www.nocirc.org/religion/

HYGIENE--Use a new invention, soap and water!!! Women produce much more “smegma”, all kinds of discharges, wetness, and smells; because of physiologic and anatomical reasons, and how would you feel if they cut your vulva lips??? Women, why don’t you answer my question, are you afraid? Women are more likely to get urinary tract infections and no one suggests we surgically alter them at birth to reduce the risks! Just one of many double standards and laws that always treat men worse.

MEDICAL REASONS--No medical reasons. It is not a birth defect! A extremely small chance of a complication do not justify the removal of the foreskin, if so, why don't we remove the tonsils and the appendix when a child is born, and the chance of complications of the tonsils and the appendix is much greater. And what is even greater is the chance of breast cancer so the best thing to do is to remove the breast glands of young girls or at least remove them at the first sign of trouble without trying any alternative treatments first in order to preserve the breast(women, how do you like it now?). And for infections of all the organs, including female organs, use a new invention called antibiotics. Talking about complications, in fact many baby boys die each year from circumcision and related complications.
EVEN if “TRUE phimosis” occurs, instead of chopping it off like barbarians!, use Conservative Treatments like:
-Topical Medication(non-traumatic and non-destructive)
-Dilation and Stretching(non-traumatic and non-destructive)
-Combination treatment(non-traumatic and non-destructive)
-Preputioplasty is the medical term for plastic surgery of the prepuce or foreskin(many methods).
If you want more detail on Conservative Treatments, go here:
http://www.cirp.org/library/treatment/phimosis/
http://www.circinfo.org/alternatives.html
The foreskin can still be tight even after puberty, and it is natural, not TRUE phimosis.
And now they invented a new reason to make money, the risk of STD in uncircumcised men. Well actually uncircumcised men have more protection, but in practical terms that protection means nothing, because circumcised or not, if you have sex without protection and your partner have an STD you will be infected FOR SURE! That means, it is just one more stupid and desperate reason in order to make money with circumcisions.

SEX--Foreskin actually enhances the sexual experience for men because it constantly moves over the head of the penis causing more friction and pleasure. Men will also lose much sensitivity to the glans if circumcised.
Circumcised men will have to deal with discomfort and dry glans. Uncircumcised men, pull the foreskin back for a day, and see how it feels against your underwear all day, and see what happens. The frenulum is the G SPOT in men.
The foreskin have those functions: protective, erogenous, sensory, and sexual physiologic. After all, why would you want to lose all of those “Meissner corpuscles”, the same nerve complexes which provide fine touch to the fingertips?
It is there for many reasons, that is how a man should be(it is natural).
If women like it better circumcised because it looks better(strange, not natural) or gives them more sexual pleasure(strange, not natural), then too bad, they do not have the right! All men do not like mutilated vulvas, and all men like breasts with nipples, they do not like mutilated breasts, etc, etc, etc, because that is the way those organs are supposed to be, it is natural. Interesting, isn’t?!!!

If that was a common practice to do that to baby girls, all the women would be in a BIG UPROAR about it(and men too!, men are not like women), but it’s ok to mutilate little boys. The great majority of the ones that agree with circumcision are women for their stupid selfish reasons. Even court cases reported in which mother and father fight because the mother wants to mutilate the son, it is always the mother!. You women should be ashamed to that to your son. Men that are not circumcised, will not get circumcised when adults, they would scream, kick, fight and run, if someone tries to mutilate their privates area, just like you women would run too if someone tried to do that to your labia. Men that where circumcised do not realize what they lost because never had one, and most of them that do realize try to justify it so they do not feel bad about it. Many circumcised men feel very bad emotionally because of what was done to them to such a private area.
It is mutilation of defenceless children in the most private spot, genital mutilation.
It is cruel and barbaric.
It is a human rights violation.
It is not the parent’s decision; it is the parent’s decision if they want to abuse him, rape him, or to kill him? It is the parent’s decision to choose the son religion? How can he chose a religion or his believes, if he is just a baby?
I do not even agree that it is ok if an adult man wants to get circumcised. I think it is wrong, because if a man wants to lose a finger, the Doctor can not do that to him. Think about it, think, think. And by the way, adult men that decide to get circumcised, do it because they know most women like it, they just do it to be more accepted by women.
I think it is just like slavery and all other barbaric acts of the past, it was accepted because it was common practice or tradition, everyone accepted slavery without questioning the facts, but it is not accepted anymore in a modern and fair and civilized society. Circumcision must not be allowed, BY LAW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Many other reasons not to do it, check it out:
http://www.mothersagainstcirc.org/
http://www.cirp.org/library/treatment/phimosis/
http://www.noharmm.org/
http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org/
http://www.circumcisionquotes.com/boydies.html

Answer 9

You're comparing apples and stock options.

Perhaps you don't know what they remove in a female circomcision...? You might be interested to find out.

Answer 10

no. females are disfigured for no reason. Males are 'touched up' for health and religious reasons.