Why does male circumcision seem to be such a big deal in the US / North America?

Question

I might be mistaken about this but I've always felt like male circumcison is quite a deal in America. There are questions about it almost every day on GaG, people who ask stuff such as "Girls, do you prefer circumcised or non-circumcised cocks?" I've also read it on other sites and heard this kind of things in real life in the US. From this I conclude that male circumcision must be a big thing in America, that there must be a considerable amount of normal, white American guys who are circumcised and a considerable amount of girls who apparently find this attractive/hot.

To me as a European, this has always felt rather... bewildering. We have very few guys in Europe who are actually circumcised. The Jews are obviously but there are not so many Jews left around here... . I certainly don't know any guy who is circumcised and I doubt that any of the people I know knows somebody who is circumcised. 
Personally, I can't understand why anyone would circumcise their child if it's not for medical reasons. I consider it mutilation and physical assault (or whatever you call this in legal terms). If nature put this skin there, then you can be pretty sure that there's prooooobably a good reason why it's there. 
Now, I don't wanna go into the religious discussions. I get that if you're religious, you want to stick to your religion's rules, even if they're messed up. But why would anyone in their sane mind who is not religious or christian let his/her son be circumcised? Somebody once told me that "it's more hygenic" because some guys might forget to pull back their foreskin when they wash their penis. Seriously? Are there really such morons out there that they wouldn't know how to wash their own penis thoroughly? It just doesn't seem quite credible to me. I mean... it's not like you need a special machine or something to clean your penis... just pull back the skin, what's the big deal? How could such a no-brainer possibly lead to a lack of hygiene? And regarding girls... why would any girl prefer the looks of a circumcised (and thus unnaturally looking) penis? I would worry about my myself if I considerd circumcised girls hotter than uncirumcised ones.
It just confuses me that this can posisbly be such a big topic in America...

gray_sailor · Accepted Answer

Blame it on American fee-for-service medical care provisioning. You can't charge any money for leaving a foreskin alone.

I am the only cut man in my family. I was the result of an unplanned pregnancy that occured a few years after my mother lost a child as an infant. Consequently, my mother was concerned that I might be a high risk pregnancy (My three other siblings are all at least 10 years older than me.)

Late in my mother's maternity care, it came out from our family physician that he expected to perform a circumcision if I was a boy. My parents declared their intent to not have me circumcised. The doctor responded by refusing to attend the birth if my parents did not agree to give consent to the proceedure. Recognising that they did not want to look for a new doctor at the late hour, reluctantly, they gave consent.

I lost a portion of flesh from my penis because my parents were afraid and our doctor was an asshole.

This is only an anecdote but it represents an example of our dysfunctional thinking as Americans in this matter. There are thousands and thousands of similar stories every bit as stupid as this.

What is our reasoning in this matter? Nothing rising to the level of reason for sure.

- the doctor knows best?
- he'll look like his father?
- he'll look like the other boys?
- easier to clean?
- freer from disease?

All of it is so much bull shit.
How about the simplest reasoning:
It came with the boy so leave it alone!

Mesonfielde · Accepted Answer

Because they were told that they will get brain cancer, infections and all kinds of lethal diseases if they leave it "intact" and before the advent of the internet they actually believed this nonsense. It is actually popular because this is how the mutilated parents verify the need for the lack of their foreskin. It became popular because they thought it stops people from masturbating and that masturbation caused dementia, hysteria, depression, epilepsy and death.

Technically people are lied to so that health care providers can get the extra cash for it.

badgerly · Accepted Answer

I live in America, and I think that parents have been circumcised and want their sons to be that way to? I think it also has to do with the looks of the penis. I think they think you don't have to move anything out of the way to see the head or something like that. Who knows, this world is crazy.

bubble_tea · Accepted Answer

I think it's their culture. They are the frontrunners in admiring the fake look, thus everything natural must go.

chuppachup · Answer

It's beyond me. Those salt baths you apparently have to take don't sound like it's worth it to get circumcised.

OnionsNstuff · Answer

they don't have showers in america

well, i have never been there myself, so I wouldn't actually know, but the only thing i ever hear about why they mutilate their children is "its hygienic". where i live we have access to fresh water and showers and dont face that issue

Anonymous · Answer

I hear ya but im so fuckin glad that my parents had me circumcised HAHA. Especially since I don't remember a moment of it

Anonymous · Answer

American just being americans. Very much like why they have to have guns. The only valid reason they have is "because we like it".

Why does male circumcision seem to be such a big deal in the US / North America?

Most Helpful Guys

Most Helpful Girls

Related Questions

What Girls & Guys Said

Latest Questions