The information regarding circumcision presented on this website is by no means inclusive; there are numerous avenues from which this topic could possibly be addressed. However, I feel that I have presented sufficient information to display that the American circumcision is not 'a rite of passage,' or truly a ritual in our culture as it is and has been in other societies throughout time and place.
By considering the main religions in the United States, that of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, I attempted to seek the root of the circumcision tradition in our culture. Circumcision is not a integral part of the Christian faith, and although it is in both Judaism and Islam, the percentages of practicing Jews and Muslims, which is under 2% of the American population, does not account for the 62.8% circumcision rate among the American populous.
I further attempted to seek reasons for the American circumcision rate by briefly reviewing the supposed medical benefits of the procedure. Although there are apparent links between circumcision and the low rate of penile cancer, cervical cancer in partners, venereal diseases, and AIDS, the medical community is in dispute on whether or not these links truly exist. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics stance on circumcision is that it is NOT a necessary medical procedure (although it may have some medical benefits), and that the decision to circumcise should be left up to the parents.
So the great question posed is: "Why are the majority of infant males circumcised in the United States if the procedure does not pose any definite medical benefits, and there is not an overriding factor of religious rituals at work?"
Here may be some answers which were taken from Rosemary Romberg's book Circumcision: The Painful Dilemma:
In a letter written by Paula and Richard
Sloun, Paula states in reference to her son Andy, "When Andy was four
days old my husband said he really felt he wanted their penises
[Richard's and
Andy's] to look the same. [Richard] felt it was important for
Andy's identification with him." (Romberg 149)
In another letter written by Maggie and David Seastrom, Maggie states that her and her husband "questioned our male friends and found that almost all were circumcised." They felt that their son may be "laughed at in the school locker because he was different from the other boys." Maggie also said that her doctor stated that "circumcision decreased the incidence of disease and infection later in life." (Romberg 150)
Yet another letter written by Carolyn Miller states, "one guy told my husband it was terrible not having it [circumcision] done because the Bible said a man was unclean if he wasn't circumcised." (Romberg 151) (It is noted by author Rosemary Romberg that the Bible says nothing about circumcision being important for cleanliness...apparently this is a misconstrued interpretation of the Bible.)
Although some possible reasons for the American circumcision could be those of medical, religious, or the basic desire to "be like Dad," one thing is for certain: Circumcision is a procedure enforced on infants males by various forms of hierarchal control, whether it be the medical authorities, religious institutions, or parents; Circumcision is an involuntary procedure which submits the infant to total body control.
This site was last updated 12/21/04