Hyperbole or Justified? - "Circumcision Is Rape"

Markalite · 2020-02-04T00:24:19+00:00

It's forced mutilation, without question. The comparison to rape is that it involves penetration of the genitals with an instrument. It's the equivalent of using a metal instrument and forcing it into a baby girl's vagina and tearing open her hymen. If you don't think that should be allowed, then why can you do it to a baby boy?

Saying "it's worse than rape" rather than "it's rape" emphasizes the permanence of the damage. It's arguable, as there are many levels of lasting consequences that could result from rape, such as a disfiguring STD or pregnancy.

The point being raised is that it is a crime but not recognized by society as such. When a priest fondles a child's genitals, there is universal outrage and demands for justice. When another kind of priest takes a knife and slices off a piece of a child's genitals, no one bats an eye. Which is the more serious violation? The only reason you don't think circumcision is wrong is you were told it's normal. There have been cultures in which rape and child abuse were acceptable too.

Infant genital cutting is practically illegal in many places right now, in that no doctor in those countries will do it.

Cyb3rd31ic_Citiz3n · 2020-02-03T23:29:09+00:00

It is arguably rape because they have to penetrate the genitalia before cutting off the foreskin. In the majority of cases this is done by overpowering an unconsenting victim.

It's arguably worse than rape because it leaves permanent physical scars and also victims are told that nothing bad happened to them. As bad as rape is, it is at least treated as a crime. Some say that a sexual component is missing from the act, but circumcision fetishists exist. Also you couldn't say that forcibly penetrating the genitals of an unwilling adult were suddenly ok just because the perpetrator claims it wasn't sexual.

Dunkolunko · 2020-02-04T01:04:19+00:00

It's not rape, it's genital mutilation. Emotional abuse is not violence, it's emotional abuse. Systemic discrimination is not indistinguishable from individual discrimination. I thought false equivocation and wordplay was a feminist arena, not ours.

mewacketergi · 2020-02-04T21:04:29+00:00

We probably shouldn't frame the issue this way to avoid coming off as sensationalist and alienating people; plus, in my experience, people who use this as an argument tend to be pretty incoherent.

cromulent_weasel · 2020-02-05T03:26:19+00:00

Circumcision Is Worse Than Rape

Yes, I would agree with this. Genital mutilation is barbaric, regardless of the gender of the child being assaulted.

I think the 'worse than rape' thing is because rape itself has become imbued with this mystic power. It's like every instance of rape does the same amount of damage as the very worst kinds of rape, which DO do a lot of psychological damage (incest).

serpentineeyelash · 2020-02-04T01:49:55+00:00

Equating circumcision with rape is a pretty straightforward argument. It's a nonconsensual touching of the genitals, indeed far worse than merely touching. Circumcision inflicts extreme pain and permanent mutilation on the genitals of a nonconsenting infant boy. The main difference is that the motivation isn't sexual (indeed if you look into the history of circumcision, the motivation is to prevent masturbation).

"Worse than rape" is a more controversial piece of rhetoric but not entirely indefensible. Rape - depending on the details - at least has the potential to be physically pleasurable. There's nothing even potentially pleasurable about circumcision. u/Markalite's priest comparison illustrates the point.

It's certainly rhetoric that raises people's eyebrows, but maybe it'll shock people out of their complacency about the issue. Rape is something taken very seriously in our society, so if an issue can be argued to be worse than rape, that means it should be taken very seriously too.

LeftNatTay · 2020-02-09T17:30:26+00:00

Hyperbole. I personally don't think it's a big deal. The Anti-Circ crowd kinda freaks me out anyways

needletothebar · 2020-02-04T01:10:29+00:00

forcible penetration of your genital opening without your consent is as serious as forcible penetration of your genital opening without your consent. how can anyone rationally disagree?

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