American habit since the 19th century.
It was supposed to stop the terrible sin of masturbation, that could make boys blind or injure their spine and brain.
Moreover, I read maternity clinics will advocate circumcision of boys to raise their turnover. This would explain why boys from "well to do" families are more often circumcised than those from poor families who prefer to give birth at home.
In Europe, there are only circumcisions for medical or/ and religious reasons. It is thus quite rare there.
Girls too were "cut" ( the complete clitoris, no less, like in Africa! ) sometimes because of this: it was thought they could get hysteria from masturbation. (it had advocates until the fifties in Europe)
In the US Dr. John Harvey Kellog(everyone knows him, I suppose) was a fervent propagandist of circumcision : link (but he was not the only one.)
His "solution" for boys was cruel and for girls it was inhuman!
Genital cutting of girls was reimbursed by some American health insurance companies until the seventies
On other continents it was/is a kind of rite tied to entering adolescence or becoming adult. (Americans and Jews do it at birth, Muslims often at 6-7 years age) The original true reason for it was hygiene: someone who doesn't wash under the foreskin can get infections (and spread them)
Earlier this year I read an article stating that circumcision could reduce the risk of STI's with boys (by some 5-8% I believe: not enough to help any individual, of course, but 5-8 % less medical costs on STI's in a poor country is interesting ...for its government.
most people don't have a choice, as it's done when they're infants. It's mostly cultural here in the US.
Well, regardless of how religious the guys you've hooked up with are, it's their parents that usually make this choice for them. It's both religious and cultural. Jews are circumcised for religious reasons and the actual day of circumcision is a cause for celebration in their community. Non-Jewish Americans are generally circumcised because it's the cultural norm in this country. You'll notice (or maybe not) that European men are rarely circumcised, unless they're Jewish.
The argument for circumcision is that removing the hood of skin keeps the penis cleaner. Also, non-circumcised guys usually get teased because they're rare. I've seen dozens of penises in my day, and only one was uncircumcised.
I've seen lots of boys in the showers, at school, but I've NEVER seen a circumcised penis except on photo: Europe...
Yeah, like I said, it's rare outside of the US.
it is easier to clean and care for...or so I have heard. but honestly considering that the average american takes a shower every day or at least every few days...i don't see how hygiene could be a real problem anymore...maybe years and years ago when they first came up with the procedure but not now...
people say its cleaner... but I strongly disagree with that. its cleaner to be bald but we don't go around shaving out hair .
*our u_______u
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