Just looked at the thread on FGM and started wondering, Do we consider circumcision of young boys on religious grounds (not medical) to be mutilation in the same way as we do FGM?

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Laugh in the face of the devil Eat Chocolate

I think personally that both are wrong, but then I haven't been brought up in a culture that finds it acceptable and expected. I have to add though, that when boys are circumcised they aren't subjected to the same level of mutilatation that girls are. They are left 'complete' except for the foreskin, so it is very hard to compare one against the other.

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Midwifemissy x

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That's a tough one really, I don't personally think circumsicion is as bad as FGM but that may be perhaps because I don't know enough. I don't know if it is a painful a process as FGM and also I don't consider it to affect the man throughout their life as much as the women who have had FGM.

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I don't agree with circumcision either, culturally it is their choice, but I have heard it is often performed on babies and with no anaesthetic too

The human body is quite perfect as it is, I don't agree with anything that interferes with it, despite the beliefs by those cultures who practice circ. that an entire doodad is unhygienic.

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You can have your baby circumcised on the NHS though can't you??? As in the powers that be would rather it be done safely etc that leave it to go on behind closed doors as it were.

Circumcision is largely a cleanliness thing isn't it (or am I just showing my ignorance?!) and I kind of get the theory behind that - but full FGM is less hygenic if anything as the bodies natural cleansing processes are restricted...

circumcision is part of my ex-husands culture, but when my son was born I refused to let him have it done. I cant see the point in it, i thought (because it was my perfect little boy) that it was barbaric and cruel. Tis is about the only time that i ever really put my foot down about anything.
Looking at it now from a less emotive point of view, I still dont really see the need for it.....but accept that this is a very western point of view

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Boys are born with foreskins as it is part of their natural anatomy! If it is functioning correctly and not causing problems, I find it very hard to accept this surgery as alright! I mean, if I was to say... "Well I find little fingers very offensive... They're not clean and should be removed!" then subsequently went to remove all my children's little fingers at birth... I'd be arrested and put in jail!!!!! What is the difference? I see none.

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I am really sorry but that made me giggle.
I have been reading the thread on FGM, I had never heard of it until today .
I don't think circumcision should be done unless it is needed for a medical reason.
Donna
X xx X

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I agree Minkymoo, Only for medical reasons or when the child is old enough to decide for himself, FGM is just barbaric and completely unnecessary in my opinion! x x

"Men are circumcised as children and for many in the world - without anesthetic, sanitary conditions, or even professional medical knowledge, since many of these circumcisions take place in rural areas where there ARE no hospitals. Some boys are culturally forced to cut off their own foreskins, as they are not considered to be "men" and are rejected from society, shame their families, etc. if they fail to do so.

In the USA, baby boys are circumcised WITHOUT anesthesia. a TOPICAL anesthetic is applied only after the foreskin has been clamped and torn apart." S Desautels.

Its reading things like this that make me fall down on the side of 'not unless medically neccessary' and then only with adequate pain relief, care and instruments.

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