Why are feminists so hypocritical about circumcision? Whatever happened to "my body, my choice?"

torrentfox · 2013-04-08T02:44:13+00:00

Feminists support male circumcision , and are against any efforts to ban infant circumcision. NOW protested the measure proposed in San Francisco to make circumcision illegal to perform on a child under 18.

Really? When / where was this?

Volundarkvioa · 2013-04-08T02:08:24+00:00

I've never understood it either. I'm a circumcised man, I was circumcised while I was an infant and while I am not mad at my parents nor the doctors for the procedure, I do feel like circumcision is wrong (except in the case of phimosis. That's the ONLY time circumcision should be acceptable, and ONLY when the individual in question has a good enough ability to agree to the procedure (let's say at age 14 and above as an example)) and it seriously needs to be campaigned more to be stopped as a medical procedure for infants. Will it make it easier to clean your penis? Yes, but that's not a good argument to chop off a piece of my genitals. Will it take away the chances of phimosis? Yes, but I shouldn't have that procedure until I actually get phimosis. It's not a vaccine to a virus, it's a painful medical problem. You wouldn't give me arthritis medication until I had arthritis.

__The_Void__ · 2013-04-08T04:03:16+00:00

I was circumcised about 5 years ago due to medical reasons and I would say that I lost about 30 percent of feeling not 90 percent as you state here. But it was still very noticable initially. I think my brain rewired in the years after and Im not sure now whether the feeling is really that different from before. Fapping has obviously become a little harder (no pun).

BTW Im completely against non consent circumcision and think its a glaring hypocracy that the world only seems to care for baby girls getting circumcised. Insane.

Send anyone who argues for MGM [this] (http://i.imgur.com/gVKqh.png) picture (GRAPHIC) to inform them on the reality of MGM.

waffebunny · 2013-04-08T03:08:24+00:00

This is of course purely anecdotal, but the grand majority of Feminists I've observed and interacted with openly acknowledge male infant circumcision as an issue.

Having said this: a prominent number of the very same group have argued that female genital mutilation is significantly worse than male infant circumcision; and that consequently, efforts to stamp out the former take precedence over efforts to stamp out the latter. (The perennial "Women have it worse" effect in action, so to speak.)

Goatsonice · 2013-04-08T03:57:36+00:00

I Hear the "I want him to look like his dad" excuse, which is very very odd, and why don't we let the actual person it's effecting choose. Ask him when he is 18, "want to cut a part of your penis off?" I wonder what he might say.

rebuildingMyself · 2013-04-08T04:34:37+00:00

No no no, silly. "My body, my choice" only applies to women's bodies! Men's bodies are disposable and need to be mutilated because foreskin is just icky!

/s

StiltsonStilts · 2013-04-08T06:46:52+00:00

As a circumcised guy I really wish I had a choice.

ApproachingZero · 2013-04-08T03:19:01+00:00

Interestingly enough female circumcision has the same benefits as male circumcision, that being a reduced risk of spreading some stds. Of course the best way to prevent the spread of stds would be a condom but that is beside the point.

OuiCrudites · 2013-04-08T02:12:26+00:00

Because they get off on knowing that male infants suffer.

2013-04-08T02:39:10+00:00

They view it in the context of patriarchy theory.

The origins of female circ. are likely women suppressing their own sexuality [1] but the feminist movement views is as men oppressing female sexuality, so to them its totally different, there is also a lot of propaganda and information surrounding fgm, stereotyping it by its most extreme forms and saying it typically destroys the ability to experience pleasure.

[1] http://www.femininebeauty.info/suppression.pdf

Poltra_Actual · 2013-04-08T04:17:00+00:00

Because that only applies to women you silly MRA!

stop_stalking_me · 2013-04-08T03:37:44+00:00

"But feminism provides space to discuss men's issues!" they say.

Celda · 2013-04-08T04:51:14+00:00

Feminists support male circumcision , and are against any efforts to ban infant circumcision. NOW protested the measure proposed in San Francisco to make circumcision illegal to perform on a child under 18.

Can you give a source for that? Would be good to have on hand.

rottingchrist · 2013-04-08T06:56:56+00:00

"My body my choice" only applies when women want abortions. Otherwise, it's his body her property.

Brohemond · 2013-04-08T07:37:30+00:00

I don't get how it's like, they think that by trying to get a discussion/ban on infantile MGM that we're somehow pro FGM. Which is the farthest from the truth. I have never met a single person in the MRA movement or in the Global North in general that advocates for Female Genital Mutilation. Ever.

So how is it that by talking about Male Genital Mutilation in the West and the Global North, we're somehow enabling/encouraging/responsible for Female Genital Mutilation? It's fucking insane.

CrossHook · 2013-04-08T04:34:57+00:00

NOW protested the measure proposed in San Francisco to make circumcision illegal to perform on a child under 18.

Seriously. What the fuck is up with this? Why are feminists so invested in continuing the practice of male genital mutilation?

Fuck anyone who identifies as a feminist. They all should burn.

mcmur · 2013-04-08T04:44:25+00:00

Better question, why are feminists so hypocritical?

nachtliche · 2013-04-08T06:37:27+00:00

its typical for feminists to be unable to see men ever as victims, only females can be victims.

DoctorYucatan · 2013-04-08T09:29:02+00:00

Which feminists have campaigned for circumcision? Even among problematic radical feminists, whose blogs and sites I have pored through in depth, I have not encountered this sentiment of which you speak. A quick Google search reveals this and this and multiple others. I have found no sentiment for circumcision in the circles you have described.

My lesbian mothers were avidly anti-circumcision and were firmly against circumcising my brother. I know you oppose the practice but please be informed on who feels what about the topic.

Feminists support male circumcision , and are against any efforts to ban infant circumcision. NOW protested the measure proposed in San Francisco to make circumcision illegal to perform on a child under 18

^ Is a sweeping generalization and, for those who don't do their own research, a falsehood that could incite others to base their beliefs on incorrect data. I highly support your opposition to penile circumcision but please understand that I am also in support of fairly representation.

LoveThemApples · 2013-04-08T12:45:14+00:00

I chose to leave my son uncicumsized. I had to argue with the nurses who kept telling me things like. "Its unhealthy" "he will smell musky when hes older" "its harder to clean" and get this, this is the best of all "He wont feel a thing." I could slap that stupid nurse.

JuWoolfie · 2013-04-08T16:59:55+00:00

As a feminist/egalitarian I am against male circumcision. My opinion on the subject would be that it has largely been a traditional/religious or quasi medical practice that is slowly being overturned or rejected by civil society as personal views on the matter change.

Zuke88 · 2013-04-09T05:59:54+00:00

its more like HER body HER choice

NEET_Here · 2013-04-08T03:33:32+00:00

I thought most feminists were against mutilation?

memymineown · 2013-04-08T05:17:47+00:00

In my experience most feminists are actually against Male Genital Mutilation but feel there are more important issues.

There are some who are for it but they are a minority and I don't think it would be incorrect to say that many of the major voices in the intactivist movement are actually feminists.

You need to do more research about this topic. I agree that if feminists really cared about equality they would address this huge issue of gender inequality but you need to really see their multitude of positions.

And I would love to see the source for NOW protesting the ban on Male Genital Mutilation in SF. I believe they protested including boys in the 1998 WHO document about female circumcision but can't find a source at the moment.

Edit: Two well known feminists are in favor of Male Genital Mutilation. Hillary Clinton and Alice Schwarzer(German).

Edit: Here is Jezebel making fun of intactivists:

http://jezebel.com/5192599/the-anti+circumcision-movement-puts-their-skin-in-the-game

linearThinker · 2013-04-08T07:15:23+00:00

Because feminism is a female-supremacist ideology, not a gender-equality one.

twiitar · 2013-04-08T09:22:34+00:00

"Male body? No Choice".

real-boethius · 2013-04-08T10:27:01+00:00

NOW protested the measure proposed in San Francisco to make circumcision illegal to perform on a child under 18.

You got a reference for this?

Tusse · 2013-04-08T12:23:57+00:00

Because it's an efficient form of sexuality control -- a semi-neutered male will have a diminished sexuality and a fundamentally very different experience of that part of manhood, and feminist think this will be less 'threatening' -- in essence, it's the feminization of men that feminists champion.

If it's any consolation, it's also usually women who argue for FGM(and also carry it out), because they think it controls women's sex drive.

empathica1 · 2013-04-08T04:50:41+00:00

Other than a claim that feminists protested a bill prohibiting male circumcision (which just seems too convenient for me to believe that this is the entire story), do you have any actual evidence that feminists support male circumcision? the only "proof" i have seen for this is one of omission, complaining about female genital mutilation without mentioning circumcision.

Lawtonfogle · 2013-04-08T12:08:57+00:00

"By body my choice."

Pregnant young teenager.

"Her body her choice."

Young female teenager who wants to be in relationship with older guy.

"RAPE RAPE RAPE! Social pressure! Patriarchy!"

But she wants birth control...

"Her body, her choice."

...so she can have safe sex.

"RAPE RAPE RAPE! Social pressure! Patriarchy!"

~~YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY~~

On a more serious note, the whole 'my body, my choice' is used very inconsistently.

MrStinky · 2013-04-08T15:20:42+00:00

Equality... Until it's inconvenient

PinballWizard10 · 2013-04-08T17:34:34+00:00

Most feminists have never given two shits about "my body, my choice" in a genuine sense.

If you were to poll all women who've used that line while picketing or protesting about their opinions on legalizing all drugs, suicide, and prostitution, you'd get a large portion of them responding with "no" to all three.

CrossHook · 2013-04-09T13:19:57+00:00

The best part is when women with INTACT genitals try to tell men with MUTILATED genitals that:

FGM IS LIKE SO MUCH WORSE THEN MGM

Cupcake, you have no fucking clue what you're talking about so shut your retarded mouth.

rightsbot · 2013-04-08T02:00:16+00:00

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wysiwyg2 · 2013-04-08T08:30:09+00:00

Because they don't want to look at an uncircumcised penis? Oh and as a man you don't have a say in what happens to your body.

Wellfuthen · 2013-04-08T09:34:25+00:00

A circumcised man has about 10% the sexual sensation of an uncircumcised man. Multiply what you feel by 10-that's what uncircumcised men feel.

That is total BS there. Where did you hear that?

BalllsackTBaghard · 2013-04-08T15:10:24+00:00

I wonder what is the elephant in the room here?

sputnikv · 2013-04-08T17:22:06+00:00

isn't female genital mutilation relatively uncommon in the states? worldwide i know it's certainly an issue, but why even bring it up if that's not what otherwise is being discussed? why can't we look at it as a general issue and discuss it regardless of gender as it should be?

2013-04-09T16:19:38+00:00

This should really be focused on society, not feminists. Feminists are not the matriarchy, they are not the ones circumcising male infants or pressing for it. Blast them when they oppose us, society the rest of the time.

Get mad about the cologne ban being overturned, but get madder that no ban has been considered elsewhere.

DavidByron · 2013-04-09T17:04:18+00:00

Feminists appear hypocritical because you believe they have principles, and therefore you see them as betraying those principles.

Feminists don't have any principles. They don't want equality. They just hate men.

stopsayingfaggot · 2013-04-08T05:59:36+00:00

Feminists support male circumcision , and are against any efforts to ban infant circumcision. NOW protested the measure proposed in San Francisco to make circumcision illegal to perform on a child under 18.

Any evidence for this? I did a bit of googling, and couldn't find anything to verify this claim.

More to the point, why is your movement obsessed with blaming everything on feminists? There are many forces arrayed in favor of keeping male circumcision legal, including parts of the medical community, Muslim and Jewish groups, and the ACLU. Feminists aren't among them. Most feminists are actually against circumcision, and if you google "feminism male circumcision", you'll find dozens of links from feminists speaking out against it, and none for it (none that I noticed, at any rate). By focusing all your attention on feminists, you just make yourselves look ridiculous, and your advocacy ineffective.

Velaxtor · 2013-04-08T07:33:17+00:00

Hey, feminist here. I don't support circumcision. I have no idea where you got that idea. I have never heard of any feminist supporting it.

Fundieathiest · 2013-04-08T08:49:13+00:00

I knew before even getting in here that this would be a post without links, and what do you know.

Don't have any proof to back up your claim? Then a good tip is that you should probably not make your claim.

Riesea · 2013-04-08T13:51:46+00:00

Not their body, not their problem. Besides, it's just punishment for when they grow up and rape.

EthologicVestige · 2013-04-08T20:13:29+00:00

I had a circumcision as an adult, and know how sex was before and after. Here's some things more people should know.

A circumcised man has about 10% the sexual sensation of an uncircumcised man. Multiply what you feel by 10- that's what uncircumcised men feel.

This isn't true. You have 2,500 nerve endings every cm<sup>2</sup> of your fingertips, but rubbing them together won't bring you to orgasm. Men's sexual pleasure comes from stimulating nerves connected to specific parts of the genitals, particularly the glans.

Nobody gets off on having their foreskin pleasured. That's just not a thing. No guide to oral ever said to lick his foreskin or words to that affect. Where the foreskin is used, it for rubbing it against the glans, to produce sensation there.

I have noticed no difference in the intensity or frequency of orgasms since the operation.

I can assure the circumcised men reading this, you aren't missing out on incredible, mindblowing orgasms. The number of nerve endings don't matter, it's how many nerves are connecting to the brain. One nerve ending, if it triggered all the pubic nerves, would be sufficient for an orgasm of the same intensity.

Feminists support male circumcision

Now you're just trying to score points from anti-feminists. There's no clearly defined position on the subject and no consensus among feminists here. As with the general population, opinion is divided.

No, it's just like.... Circumcision should be a decision for adults, because it's permanent and babies can't choose.

Too fucking right. I won't circumcise my kids, but I might suggest they consider having it done to them when they turn 16.

Cutting ANY other body part would be considered mutilation. Cutting off the earlobe or fingertip would be mutilation, but NOT the foreskin, JUST because it's worse when it happens to girls.

Piercings? Tunnels? Other body modification? Infant circumcision is indeed mutilation, it is also, in some cases a practical choice- as in my case. I would argue giving a young child a piercing is mutilation, but not as an adult.

Ma99ie · 2013-04-08T02:58:36+00:00

Circumcision benefits women, so many feminists support male circumcision because of both its symbolic nature and its tangential health benefits for women.

VolumeZero · 2013-04-08T12:58:06+00:00

Oh look this thread again.

that_other_guy_ · 2013-04-08T06:19:07+00:00

This is completely off topic...and will bring in a whole other debate but I don't follow your logic. Circumcision is bad because the infants don't get to chose what happens to their body, but abortion is ok because its "my body my choice" ? when does the infant become human enough to decide what should happen to its body? Cleary a baby/fetus would chose not to be aborted, but untill it reaches a certain point legaly, it dosent get to make that choice. Circumcision has far less repercussions on an infants life then abortion so I am assuming that time that we get to make the decesion is pushed back also. Eventually your right to make it is over. You can't abort a 5 year old and you probably can't circumsize a 15 year old.

ghrens · 2013-04-08T03:42:58+00:00

The foreskin has 20,000 specialized nerve endings of sexual tissue compared to the clitoris, which has 8,000.

dude, not the same thing. foreskin is just that, skin. however the male equivalent of the clitoris is the glans penis. you should be comparing the two or compare the foreskin with the clitoral hood

Title	Why are feminists so hypocritical about circumcision? Whatever happened to "my body, my choice?"
Author	[deleted]
Upvotes	158
Comments	153
Date	April 8, 2013 1:58 AM UTC (13 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/MensRights
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/mensrights/comments/1bw2il/why-are-feminists-so-hypocritical-about-/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/MensRights/why-are-feminists-so-hypocritical-about.1610023 https://theredarchive.com/post/1610023

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