Genital Circumcision

Rashika Rivera

Sociology 210

May 22, 2007

Genital circumcision has been very controversial; many people feel that circumcision is safe, healthy and morally correct while others oppose this idea. May it be for religionist or moral reasons male and female or still undergoing this procedure. In western societies male circumcision have became such normality that when a baby boy is born there typically is no question of whether or not the baby will be getting circumcised unless the mother has opposed for religionist reason. Female circumcision on the other hand is out of the question in western societies. Nevertheless there still is a medical bias in favor of the unjustifiable procedure of male circumcision.

In recent years male circumcisions are starting to become very uncommon, parents are starting to ask the rationality for it. During circumcision, the foreskin, which is the skin that covers the tip of the penis, is removed. Many will argue that the procedures can cause many complications ranging from minor to life threatening. “Complications generally include bleeding, infection, and surgical accident, including penile necrosis and penile amputations. Bleeding or infection can progress to death. It is difficult to control complications with mass circumcisions. Circumcision excises significant amounts of nerve bearing penile skin and mucosa, especially the ridged band structure near the mucocutaneous boundary. The protective effects of circumcision against HIV remain controversial.”

Male circumcision can be performed at any age, birth the older you are the more you run the risk for complication. Male Circumcision is usually performed 1-2 days after birth. Although an adult can undergo circumcision there are some disadvantages which include: temporary pain, after the operation, temporary irritation of the glands, different and/or decreased sensation during sex and risk of complications and/or surgical errors. Also when an adult’s male undergoes circumcision he must not partake in any kind of sexual activity for about six weeks.

Religion also plays a major factor in whether or not parents decide if they are going to have their babies circumcised. Christians and Muslim have distinguishing differences in their beliefs but they both would agree on circumcision. Christians believe that “Circumcision as defined in the Old Testament (Genesis 17) was a symbolic act of Covenant with God by which a Jewish male was entered into covenant with God. It required the participants in this covenant to accept and obediently follow sanctions and strict commandments. Circumcision became the "badge of membership" within the Covenant Community. It became the distinguishing mark of being a Jewish male.” With Muslims however “Circumcision is not mentioned in the Qur'an, but Muslims everywhere regard it as essential, and the Hadith record it as a practice enjoined by all past prophets.”

Female circumcision often referred to as female genital mutilation; consist of any surgical procedures involving removing all or part of a girl’s clitoral hood, clitoris, and/or the labia, also known as clitoridectomy. Many people today advocates that Female Circumcision is immoral, unhealthy and unjust. With female circumcision there are long term and immediate consequences that can occur. The immediate complications can include pain, shock, hemorrhage, urine retention, infections, and ECT.