Samantha Lund

FHS 2450
September 17, 2018
Unit 2 – Essay 1
Question:
What do you think about male circumcision? In your view, what are the pros and cons. Have
you ever discussed the issue with someone else? How does your cultural perspective and/or
religion affect your viewpoint? Do you think you would see the issue differently if you had been
raised in a different culture?

Answer:
Until more recently, I had not put much thought into if I would choose to have a son
circumcised or not. In westernized cultures, it is a very common practice to circumcise newborn
males. “About 80% of male infants in the United States are circumcised in the hospital before
discharge.” (Knox, 2017, pg. 92)

I do not have children of my own yet, but I have friends and relatives who have had their
boys circumcised. When I have discussed their decision-making process with them, typically
their choice to circumcise had little to do with any religious beliefs but rather was done primarily
to adhere to cultural norms and for cosmetic purposes. At the time I thought that if I ever had a
male child I would also choose to have him circumcised.

Over the last couple of years, this is a discussion I’ve heard more about and have put
more time and thought into. Currently, I do not feel that I would prefer my child to undergo a
circumcision.
There are some advantages to circumcision such as, “Prevention of urinary tract infections,
penile cancer, and transmission of some sexually transmitted infections.” (Knox, 2017, pg. 92)
Even with this in mind, I worry that the rates might not be high enough for me to personally
justify facing potential complications.

One thing that troubles me is the motivation to circumcise boys for cosmetic purposes.
The most common reason for advocacy of circumcision that I hear is that parents worry that their
boys might be ridiculed by peers or potential partners if they are not circumcised. I don’t believe
that circumcision is a necessary procedure, rather a voluntary one. I would rather afford my child
to make such a personal decision on their own when they were older if that was a procedure that
they chose for themselves.

I don’t adhere to any religious denomination, so there isn’t a religious influence for me
personally. I have seen an influx of my peers who are new parents who have advocated against
circumcision. I do believe that hearing this perspective from new parents has shaped my
perspective on the subject. I have heard personal accounts from parents of complications, as well
as the heartache that has been endured because of it.
 I have had conversations with a partner before about my personal feelings about having
my child circumcised. At the time my partner had a rather strong reaction to the subject. They
were adamant that they would absolutely want their child to be circumcised, and that the matter
was non-negotiable. They felt that it was a gender-specific matter and that they should have the
final say.

I do believe that circumcision is a matter which should be decided by the parents and that
my personal beliefs should not infringe on others. However, I would encourage parents to
thoroughly weight both the potential benefits and possible risks with their personal beliefs on the
matter. I understand that circumcision plays a significant role in many religious practices, and
though that should be respected, I would be heartened to see a decline in circumcision amongst
parents when the primary focus is on physical male aesthetic.

Reference List
Knox, D., & Milstein, S. (2017). Human Sexuality: Making Informed Decisions (5th ed.).
Redding, CA: BVT Publishing.