In North America, we tend to think of circumcision as "normal" and "widespread." But did you know that circumcision as a practice only became widespread in the US in the mid 1900s?
So what's the deal? Why did it originate as a practice and why has it persisted? And perhaps most importantly, what is the impact on a man — both physiologically as well as psychologically?
The answers may surprise you — I know they did me. I was unaware, for example, of the extent to which intact foreskin helps a man with sexual pleasure. I also didn't realize that foreskin restoration is a thing — that if you've been circumcised, there's actually a way to re-grow foreskin.
There's a lot of intensity and sensitivity around this subject, and for good reason: It matters deeply. If you yourself are circumcised, you have loved ones who are, and especially if you're a parent-to-be, please listen. It's important.
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Memorable quotes:
- “Much of the history is murky.”
- “I acutely felt the feeling of being different.”
- “Dollars per hour, circumcision is the most lucrative thing a doctor can do.”
- “Circumcision is estimated to be a $5B/year industry in the US.”
- “Men don’t like to feel like victims.”
- “Most responses are silence.”
- “There’s an unconscious desire to control the sexuality of children.”
- “‘OK, something really bad happened to me.’”
- “It ends with me.”
- "This can be a story of resilience and triumph."
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Mentioned on this episode:
- Book rec: Circumcision: The Hidden Trauma — How an American Cultural Practice Affects Infants and Ultimately Us All
- Documentary on Netflix: American Circumcision
- Subreddit dedicated to foreskin restoration: www.reddit.com/r/foreskin_restoration/
- For more on our upcoming course, Sexual Mastery, go to melaniecurtin.com/sexualmastery