why do people have their little children circumcised?

Question

I am purely asking on a knowledge base I genuinely havnt a clue why it gets done
thanx

Im shocked that its so common ive never known anyone to have had it done

Answer 1

As you can see from the SHEEPLE that answered before me. Its mostly done out of ignorance, mythology and the sexual preferences of the mother. Sick huh?

Americans seem to fear the intact penis and make up all sorts of ridiculous reasons to amputate healthy erogenous tissue from their hours-old infants. Nice huh?

Here are some actual facts:
http://www.circumstitions.com/Itsaboy.html

http://www.icgi.org/2007/04/medicalization-of-circumcision-an-online-slide-show/

http://www.icgi.org/information/full-disclosure-informed-consent/

Answer 2

I think it's more common in the U.S. whereas here in the U.K. not so. I can understand people adhering to their religious beliefs but hygiene? If you wash it properly there shouldn't be a problem. I have a son & I taught him how to wash his penis correctly when he was small, this kept it clean & by pulling the foreskin back for washing it prevented future problems. My cousin had to be circumcised at age 12 because his foreskin was too tight, this was exactly what I didn't want for my son.

And on a superficial level, circumcised penis's look & feel odd.

Answer 3

Circumcision began as a social ritual among a small number of tribal peoples in north-east Africa and the Arabian peninsular.
There is also an account of the campaign in the 1880s to compulsorily circumcise Black Americans so as to "protect them" from syphilis; and of the attempt in the 1890s to pass a law requiring all Negro boys to be circumcised so as to reduce their sex drive and protect white women from rape.
Nowhere did preventive circumcision become more popular or more rigorously enforced than in the United States. This statistical essay, A century of circumcision, offers some reflections on why a nation which prides itself on its individualism and its love of freedom should be so keen on this mark of uniformity and servitude.

Some notable events

Christian church begins celebrating 1 January as the Feast of the Circumcision (of Christ).

Mohammed born "already circumcised" supposedly giving rise to the rule of circumcision among Moslems, the largest group of circumcised men in the world today

Moses ben Maimon (Maimonides, 1135-1204), Jewish physician, writes Guide for the perplexed, in which he explains that circumcision was test of faith, the main purpose of which was injure the penis and discourage sexual indulgence

Also it is not wise to have a go your self at circumcision

Answer 4

We had our son circumcised for two reasons. The first reason was that we were concerned about greater risk of infection around the foreskin if it wasn't removed. My nephew was not circumcised and had many problems with infections there when he was little. The second reason was that it is a fairly common procedure in the States and boys will look at each other in locker rooms so we wanted our son to fit in and not be teased by other kids for being "different." The hospital where my son was born did use anesthesia for the procedure though. I know some hospital don't because supposed babies don't "feel it" which is nonsense.

Incidentally, my son was born in a US Military base hospital so we did not pay to have it done and the doctor did not make an extra money on the procedure. If anything the hospital lost money on it. The doctor also agreed with our reasoning to have it done.

Glad to know I'm a sadistic horrible person now too. Ya'll have a nice day!

Answer 5

There is no reason for it to be done to a little girl and the practise is outlawed in most (maybe all) countries.

Little boys may have tight foreskins and need that releasing so they can clean properly. Some boys get infections under the foreskin. THese are both medical reasons for it to be done and I'm sure there are other medical reasons.

Some religions require circumcision as in the past in desert countries it was difficult to keep clean "down there".

Some people like to have their sons circumcised as because they beleive it is more hygenic. A personal choice.

As said previously it is a far more serious procedure in an adult.

Answer 6

Religion is one reason.
Other than that ignorance and culture - and this only really applies in the USA because elsewhere circumcision is very rare.
They do it because they don't understand the function and purpose of foreskin, they mistakenly believe it causes all sorts of problems and infections (in fact they are more likely to have something go wrong from the circumcision), they want their babies to be like their father and like everybody else because they know no other, and they falsely believe it is clean and better-looking (because they are used to it).

Rates are dropping now as people figure out it is not only unnecessary but potentially harmful.

Answer 7

For Jews it is a religious/cultural thing. (It may be for Muslims too but I'm not sure)

For Americans, its a cultural thing.

There is no medical reason to have the foreskin removed unless it was not played with enough by the male in childhood (yes, they must play with it at least some or the foreskin won't draw back properly) and cannot be drawn back for urination or sex to be comfortable.

This is for men only. Female circumcision is considered cruel and unnecessary by most countries.

Answer 8

People do it because they do not know any better, it is something that is just done and they do not think to question it. Their dad, brother, cousins, nephews and everyone else they know has it done. Most do NOT do it for religious reasons, most could not even tell you why it is done for religious reasons. They have heard that it has to do with cleanliness and preventing infections but those are untrue and even the AMA has admitted that there is no medical reasons for circumcision it is considered a cosmetic surgery. The only reason that Dr's today are still pushing for it is for the profit. A circumcision cost virtually nothing and yet they are charging insurance companies hundreds of dollars for each one. Also every year more and more insurance companies are considering this a cosmetic procedure and refusing to cover them. I urge parents to really research this before just getting it done. It is unnecessery and cruel.

Answer 9

Some for medical and health benefits. Judaism and Islam require all male infants to be circumcised as infants because it is a direct law from God and part of the Covenant between God and Abraham(PBUH*). Sometimes a child who is not cut could get a serious infection as a child so he has no choice but to get cut at a later date.

Answer 10

Routine infant circumcision was originally promoted in victorian times as a way of curbing masturbation.

Answer 11

Circumcision is mainly a religious thing. Im not sure why in other faiths but Islam its compulsory for young males to be circumcised because it promotes cleansiness and purity. The foreskin is likely to certain infection as it not always are clean. The infection may spread to the partner. So in order to prevent it, the boy at the young age foreskin is removed. x x x x x