Circumcision without consent. Is it wrong?

[an anarchist]

Those who are circumcised are often circumcised when they are just a few days old, like me. Can an 8 day old baby consent to such a procedure? Of course not.
In the Protestant church my parents were going to when I was born, it was common practice for the Christians there to circumcise their children. So that’s what my mom did. We aren’t Jewish. It’s not required of us Christians. When I realized I was circumcised (whilst in high school) I was quite quite mad.
Circumcision has permanent effects on the male who is at the receiving end. At the very least shouldn’t they get a say in it? Imagine if a female got an equivalent to a male circumcision. That would F up their capacity to be intimate at least in some degree.
If you feel circumcision is wrong without consent, do you also feel that way for the Jewish people? Their religion demands that they do this, right? Is it wrong for a Jewish person to circumcise their baby?
I feel like Moses had some reservations about circumcision. He didn’t circumcise his kids, even at the threat of God killing him. It was his wife who cut the foreskins off their sons when God was chasing them.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

I said yes, always but there's a mental asterisks for 'except where medically necessary.' I don't mind circumcision to treat an existing problem, but I do mind routine circumcision.

 

[viole]

Those who are circumcised are often circumcised when they are just a few days old, like me. Can an 8 day old baby consent to such a procedure? Of course not.
In the Protestant church my parents were going to when I was born, it was common practice for the Christians there to circumcise their children. So that’s what my mom did. We aren’t Jewish. It’s not required of us Christians. When I realized I was circumcised (whilst in high school) I was quite quite mad.
Circumcision has permanent effects on the male who is at the receiving end. At the very least shouldn’t they get a say in it? Imagine if a female got an equivalent to a male circumcision. That would F up their capacity to be intimate at least in some degree.
If you feel circumcision is wrong without consent, do you also feel that way for the Jewish people? Their religion demands that they do this, right? Is it wrong for a Jewish person to circumcise their baby?
I feel like Moses had some reservations about circumcision. He didn’t circumcise his kids, even at the threat of God killing him. It was his wife who cut the foreskins off their sons when God was chasing them.

That is like female genital mutilation on little girls. So, obviously wrong, when performed on humans who cannot decide themselves. A form of baby’s sexual abuse.

ciao

- viole

 

[Mock Turtle]

As above (@ADigitalArtist ) - always wrong unless medical need.

 

[Yazata]

I consider it genital mutilation and answered that I think that it's wrong.

 

[Revoltingest]

That is like female genital mutilation on little girls. So, obviously wrong, when performed on humans who cannot decide themselves. A form of baby’s sexual abuse.

ciao

- viole

You said it so that I needn't.

 

[Revoltingest]

As above - always wrong unless medical need.

Is it ever accepted that FGM is medically necessary?

 

[metis]

I was circumcised when a newborn, and it didn't affect me in the long run with the exception of being shorter.

 

[Mock Turtle]

Is it ever accepted that FGM is medically necessary?

I didn't manage to sneak my answer in before another - so just about circumcision. FGM is also wrong under any circumstance unless there might be a medical reason.

 

[Revoltingest]

I was circumcised when a newborn, and it didn't affect me in the long run with the exception of being shorter.

Of course, being acceptable to you doesn't mean
that it's OK to impose it upon others who are unable
to give consent.

 

[Altfish]

I said yes, always but there's a mental asterisks for 'except where medically necessary.' I don't mind circumcision to treat an existing problem, but I do mind routine circumcision.

You beat me to the disclaimer, I was about to say the same.

 

[pearl]

I think putting off circumcision until old enough for the child to decide would be rather uncomfortable the older one gets. Our son was circumcised at 4days. As one gets older there are health benefits.

Imagine if a female got an equivalent to a male circumcision. That would F up their capacity to be intimate at least in some degree.

Imagine never to know the pleasure of an intimate relationship. I guess the reason being it assures the wife won't stay.

 

[ChristineM]

Yes always wrong unless there is medical need.

 

[Revoltingest]

I think putting off circumcision until old enough for the child to decide would be rather uncomfortable the older one gets. Our son was circumcised at 4days. As one gets older there are health benefits.

There are also health risks.
The benefits appear to accrue to people living
in 3rd world countries with poorer hygiene.

 

[Wildswanderer]

Circumcision done correctly doesn't ruin sex, I don't know where people are coming up with that.
And it has a lot of advantages.
Having said that we did not do it to our boys.
I think it's kind of silly to say that it is wrong because they can't consent, when it's legal to terminate an unborn child without his consent.
And this is just a medical procedure with little consequence.

 

[The Hammer]

That is like female genital mutilation on little girls. So, obviously wrong, when performed on humans who cannot decide themselves. A form of baby’s sexual abuse.

ciao

- viole

I wouldn't compare it to FGM, as it doesn't prohibit sexual pleasure of the man, and isn't used as a method of control, imo.

 

[KWED]

Those who are circumcised are often circumcised when they are just a few days old, like me. Can an 8 day old baby consent to such a procedure? Of course not.
In the Protestant church my parents were going to when I was born, it was common practice for the Christians there to circumcise their children. So that’s what my mom did. We aren’t Jewish. It’s not required of us Christians. When I realized I was circumcised (whilst in high school) I was quite quite mad.
Circumcision has permanent effects on the male who is at the receiving end. At the very least shouldn’t they get a say in it? Imagine if a female got an equivalent to a male circumcision. That would F up their capacity to be intimate at least in some degree.
If you feel circumcision is wrong without consent, do you also feel that way for the Jewish people? Their religion demands that they do this, right? Is it wrong for a Jewish person to circumcise their baby?
I feel like Moses had some reservations about circumcision. He didn’t circumcise his kids, even at the threat of God killing him. It was his wife who cut the foreskins off their sons when God was chasing them.

The ritual genital mutilation of children, whether male or female, should be a criminal offence and universally condemned as the abhorrent child abuse it is.

 

[The Hammer]

Is it ever accepted that FGM is medically necessary?

Nope. It has no basis in protecting the woman. Only deadening pleasure.

Circumcision doesn't change sexual pleasure. And is beneficial in societies with lower hygiene standards then the West, and also prevents irretetractable (tight) foreskin.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

when it's legal to terminate an unborn child without his consent.

Not that you care but in all cases where someone is dependent on another body to live, including instances of direct blood transfusion or multiple tissue donations, or pregnancy, the consent of the person allowing their body to be used trumps the consent of the body in need. Aka: nobody is allowed to use another person's body against their continuous consent.

Circumcision is not an example of this.

 

[KWED]

I was circumcised when a newborn, and it didn't affect me in the long run

It did. It meant that you were permanently missing your foreskin. Obviously you are not aware of the loss of sensitivity you have suffered because you have never experienced the full-fat version, so in that respect it is relative.
It also makes masturbation more difficult and less pleasurable (which was likely the intended purpose).