http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/fema...al-cutting.cfm

This is a FAQ page I found helpful.

I wasn't basing my post on your accidental word substitution; in fact the only thing I would like to have dismissed from your post was the attitude. I'm not allowed to call you on referencing the wrong body part but it's okay for you to say I didn't read or understand your entire message? Howabout in the future we all give each other a break?

Question
 

Ok, so yesterday I was talking to someone about this thread who has a son. I asked her about circumcision (her son is circumcised) and why did she do it? So, she gave me various reasons, including working with men who were HIV+ and the stats around that, cleanliness, etc. I brought up the desensitizing of the penis and why not just teach children how to pull back the skin and clean the area (I said the same things to her the other day that I have now read others saying).

And she said to me, "Does anyone on that board have a son who was not circumcised? Can anyone speak to the difficulty in getting your 8 year old son to pull back the skin of a flacid penis and clean between the folds? Because it is not like you can do that for them at 8 years old."

She then went on to talk about hearing from more than one parent their difficulty with getting their sons to keep the area clean and spoke about one mother's experience with her son always getting infections under the foreskin and the pain that he would be in when she would have to take a q-tip to clean under the skin after it was infected.

So, now I am curious about this....does anyone here have a child who was not circumcised?

If so, what has the experience been like for you/your son?


(for the sake of self disclosure: I have no children and have not raised any children).

Im going to warn anyone who might read this article that its *extremely* disturbing. I was sickened.

Evidence of Female Genital Mutilation and sexual conpromise right here in the USA-->http://jezebel.com/5565895/cornell-s...te-6+year+olds

That is so disturbing. There is no reason for this surgery. I honestly can't believe it's being done, especially in the US. I feel sick just thinking about those poor girls and how this is affecting them now as well as in the future.

This loathesome surgical practice happens to little girls and boys ....and adults....because there is a lack of education, acceptance and respect for gender diversity and sexual expression.

My prayers go out to all the people, both here in the US and globally, who routinely have their bodies and self expression policed and invaded by others. It happens every day, in covert and blatant ways. It matters not what country or religion; conformity is demanded.

Hida Viloria is a spokesperson for the rights of children and adults to be free from the tyranny of medical intervention and social gender policing.


Here are parents who have had to fight the medical establishment to protect their little boy. My heart goes out to them and their son, Patrick.

A relevant albeit disturbing read. Dear God, why?

So Sad

Found this on Open Salon (it's heartbreaking; just forewarning you)
 

Legislation recently introduced in the U.S. Congress aims to strengthen current asylum laws for immigrant women who are trying to flee their country to escape gender-based violence.

Listen to the story of Yaye, a 36-year-old woman from a West African country who was subjected to FGM as a baby. She moved to the U.S. for a forced marriage and bore 3 daughters. Family members started pressuring her to bring her daughters back to the homeland so the "procedure" could be performed on them. The Tahirih Center was able to win her asylum.