Mom And Dad, It's Time To Understand What Circumcision Did To Me

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Mom And Dad, It's Time To Understand What Circumcision Did To Me

Hi Mom and Dad! It’s your 21-year-old son! The son you lovingly cared for as he grew out of infancy, watching him gain independence, make mature decisions, and turn into the handsome man you see when you close your eyes and picture him smiling. And finally, now, the son you are ready to let go of in a broader sense...poised to make my big transition into the adult world, where from now on I am fully the product of my own decisions.

As parents you have always wanted to protect me the very best you could: yearly physicals, six-month dental checkups, eye exams... It seems as if our culture has the general instruction manual laid out for you. One culturally taboo part of this American parenting manual, though, is flawed and outdated.

When I was born, it seemed as if you had a decision to make: whether to circumcise me or not.

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My Parents Gave Their Consent — Circumcision Rage & Grief

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My Parents Gave Their Consent — Circumcision Rage & Grief

A profound sense of loss will always be with me. I consider my circumcision fully responsible for causing my anxiety disorder…My loss of sensitivity after age 40 is an emphatic fact that cannot be argued. I still think I got off lucky compared to those who had even more penile skin taken, or worse. Some lose the whole body part. Some get infected. Some infants die from this cosmetic procedure.

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