Winter 2017 Article 4

March 2017 The ncU ut Story: A History of Circumcision Tisa Tollenaar Iowa State University

Alixandria Collins Iowa State University

Follow this and additional works at: http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/ethos Part of the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine Commons

Recommended Citation Tollenaar, Tisa and Collins, Alixandria (2017) "The ncU ut Story: A History of Circumcision," Ethos: Vol. 2017 , Article 4. Available at: http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/ethos/vol2017/iss2/4

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Magazines and News at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Ethos by an authorized editor of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Uncut Story: A History of Circumcision THE RELIGIOUS, SOCIAL AND SEXUAL BACKGROUND OF THE PRACTICE BY TISA TOLLENAAR DESIGN ALIXANDRIA COLLINS

“Are you circumcised?” is a hell of an icebreaker — After that, Clark was admitted as an However, he says it does not explain why the corona [the flesh that joins the shaft approaching men that way is bound to get you some outpatient to the hospital and underwent men have marked themselves in an area and head of the penis].” the surgery. He says it took thirty minutes not publicly shown. He does say that The medical community is torn on their funny looks, to say the least. It’s something that — “if that.” However, recovery wasn’t such marking a “sensitive area” would show views on the procedure, but the American nobody talks about in the open and there’s probably a breeze. true loyalty. a lot you didn’t know about it because of that. Medical Association has denounced the “The next day, after I had gotten off all the “If violence is defined as the act of modifying and/ procedure over the last couple of decades Male circumcision is the practice of anesthesia and pain medicine and all that as “medically unnecessary.” Testosterone removing the foreskin from the penis. The fun stuff, I was like, ‘This is the worst thing or inflicting pain upon the human body in order is produced and stored in the corona and foreskin is the “hood” covering the tip of I’ve ever done,’ and ‘Why would I do that to to express or impose power differentials, then not the foreskin, meaning that men are the penis that, when the male is sexually myself?’ and was kind of regretting it. A circumcision may be one of the most prevalent not affected hormonally by having one aroused, folds back to show the head. lot,” he says. forms of violence on a global scale,” Avalos writes. or the other. Uncircumcised penises just require a more strict hygienic routine with When the foreskin is removed, the head Recovery for Clark took about a month. In regular cleaning under the foreskin to of the penis is not covered even when the that month, he recalls being unable to lay Many sources stated that the practice took prevent infection. Birdie believes that the male is not sexually aroused. Circumcision on his back, walking awkwardly, wearing hold in mainstream America after World topic of circumcision and having one or the is typically performed either because of a pair of scrub pants because regular War II; it was believed that the procedure other is something people shouldn’t be religious reasons or to fit societal norms. It pants were too tight, and that going to the would help reduce the numbers of STIs embarrassed to discuss. is usually done on babies. bathroom was “not fun.” and other infections that men contract. It was also done because it was believed There’s a bigger story to circumcision than “I think, at the point in time that you are “Stitches were not nice,” he adds, “There to lower sexual desires in men because the removal of the foreskin — that’s just interacting with someone at a genital level, was a lot of bleeding, too.” removing the foreskin meant removing the tip of the matter. then you should know them well enough most of the nerve endings on the penis and Even though it is a popular cosmetic and care about them deeply enough that therefore causing it to lose sensitivity. Uncircumcised men can always change surgery in United States, the practice of the subtle variations of a penis or labia their mind. That was the case with one circumcision has religious roots. In the “There is a slightly higher risk of STI shouldn’t matter,” she says. Iowa State student. article “Circumcision as a Slave Mark,” transmission with uncircumcised penises,” Clark*, a junior, was uncircumcised until Iowa State religious studies professor Dr. says human sexuality professor Elizabeth She adds, “Being comfortable with your body August 2016. Despite believing that most Hector Avalos theorizes that circumcision Shirtcliff. “Although, that can be avoided isn’t easy sometimes, but it is an important of his friends were circumcised, he says originated in Judaism and was a method through condom usage and making sure to part of being a sexually healthy person to be he wasn’t pressured in any way into having of marking one as a slave to Yahweh, keep the penis clean with soap and water.” knowledgeable and comfortable with your body, the procedure. “the ultimate owner and master of the Hebrew people.” Shirtcliff, who more commonly goes by including your genitals.” “For me, I kind of needed to because sex Birdie, states that there are no other was very uncomfortable,” he says. “It Avalos acknowledges that this theory biological differences between one or Despite the languish recovery process, wasn’t painful, but I thought it would be explains why the practice is performed the other. “It was once believed that a Clark says he hasn’t experienced any easier if I got cut.” voluntarily and cites that it is done in circumcised penis was more sensitive discomfort and does not regret his decision infancy because early followers of Judaism than an uncircumcised penis (because to have his penis circumcised. Clark first went and got checked out and held the belief that one’s body healed the foreskin wasn’t in the way), but that “I think it was worth it. I would do it again. cleared by a urologist who made sure he better in the eighth day of life. (The number does not turn out to be the case. A penis is Ten out of ten,” he laughs. was fit for the procedure, verified that he eight has a lot significance in Judaism.) pretty sensitive either way, especially on was sure about his decision and explained the process to him.

8 | ethosmagazine.org The Uncut Story: A History of Circumcision THE RELIGIOUS, SOCIAL AND SEXUAL BACKGROUND OF THE PRACTICE

“Are you circumcised?” is a hell of an icebreaker — After that, Clark was admitted as an However, he says it does not explain why the corona [the flesh that joins the shaft approaching men that way is bound to get you some outpatient to the hospital and underwent men have marked themselves in an area and head of the penis].” the surgery. He says it took thirty minutes not publicly shown. He does say that The medical community is torn on their funny looks, to say the least. It’s something that — “if that.” However, recovery wasn’t such marking a “sensitive area” would show views on the procedure, but the American nobody talks about in the open and there’s probably a breeze. true loyalty. a lot you didn’t know about it because of that. Medical Association has denounced the “The next day, after I had gotten off all the “If violence is defined as the act of modifying and/ procedure over the last couple of decades Male circumcision is the practice of anesthesia and pain medicine and all that as “medically unnecessary.” Testosterone removing the foreskin from the penis. The fun stuff, I was like, ‘This is the worst thing or inflicting pain upon the human body in order is produced and stored in the corona and foreskin is the “hood” covering the tip of I’ve ever done,’ and ‘Why would I do that to to express or impose power differentials, then not the foreskin, meaning that men are the penis that, when the male is sexually myself?’ and was kind of regretting it. A circumcision may be one of the most prevalent not affected hormonally by having one aroused, folds back to show the head. lot,” he says. forms of violence on a global scale,” Avalos writes. or the other. Uncircumcised penises just require a more strict hygienic routine with When the foreskin is removed, the head Recovery for Clark took about a month. In regular cleaning under the foreskin to of the penis is not covered even when the that month, he recalls being unable to lay Many sources stated that the practice took prevent infection. Birdie believes that the male is not sexually aroused. Circumcision on his back, walking awkwardly, wearing hold in mainstream America after World topic of circumcision and having one or the is typically performed either because of a pair of scrub pants because regular War II; it was believed that the procedure other is something people shouldn’t be religious reasons or to fit societal norms. It pants were too tight, and that going to the would help reduce the numbers of STIs embarrassed to discuss. is usually done on babies. bathroom was “not fun.” and other infections that men contract. It was also done because it was believed There’s a bigger story to circumcision than “I think, at the point in time that you are “Stitches were not nice,” he adds, “There to lower sexual desires in men because the removal of the foreskin — that’s just interacting with someone at a genital level, was a lot of bleeding, too.” removing the foreskin meant removing the tip of the matter. then you should know them well enough most of the nerve endings on the penis and Even though it is a popular cosmetic and care about them deeply enough that therefore causing it to lose sensitivity. Uncircumcised men can always change surgery in United States, the practice of the subtle variations of a penis or labia their mind. That was the case with one circumcision has religious roots. In the “There is a slightly higher risk of STI shouldn’t matter,” she says. Iowa State student. article “Circumcision as a Slave Mark,” transmission with uncircumcised penises,” Clark*, a junior, was uncircumcised until Iowa State religious studies professor Dr. says human sexuality professor Elizabeth She adds, “Being comfortable with your body August 2016. Despite believing that most Hector Avalos theorizes that circumcision Shirtcliff. “Although, that can be avoided isn’t easy sometimes, but it is an important of his friends were circumcised, he says originated in Judaism and was a method through condom usage and making sure to part of being a sexually healthy person to be he wasn’t pressured in any way into having of marking one as a slave to Yahweh, keep the penis clean with soap and water.” knowledgeable and comfortable with your body, the procedure. “the ultimate owner and master of the Hebrew people.” Shirtcliff, who more commonly goes by including your genitals.” “For me, I kind of needed to because sex Birdie, states that there are no other was very uncomfortable,” he says. “It Avalos acknowledges that this theory biological differences between one or Despite the languish recovery process, wasn’t painful, but I thought it would be explains why the practice is performed the other. “It was once believed that a Clark says he hasn’t experienced any easier if I got cut.” voluntarily and cites that it is done in circumcised penis was more sensitive discomfort and does not regret his decision infancy because early followers of Judaism than an uncircumcised penis (because to have his penis circumcised. Clark first went and got checked out and held the belief that one’s body healed the foreskin wasn’t in the way), but that “I think it was worth it. I would do it again. cleared by a urologist who made sure he better in the eighth day of life. (The number does not turn out to be the case. A penis is Ten out of ten,” he laughs. was fit for the procedure, verified that he eight has a lot significance in Judaism.) pretty sensitive either way, especially on was sure about his decision and explained the process to him.

WINTER 2017 | 9