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© 1997-2007
Circumcision Resource Center.
All rights reserved. |
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ABOUT US
The Circumcision Resource Center is a
nonprofit educational organization with the purpose of informing the
public and professionals about the practice of circumcision. Our
mission is to raise awareness and facilitate healing. The Center is a
valuable source of circumcision information for parents and children's
advocates; childbirth educators and allied professionals; medical,
mental health, and academic people; Jews; and others. Our Directors
(majority is Jewish*) and Professional Advisory Board members
(one-third is Jewish*) consist of researchers and clinicians in the
fields of medicine, mental health, and social science.
Based on a review of medical and
psychological literature and our own research and experience, we
conclude that circumcision causes serious, generally unrecognized harm
and is not advisable.
* why we mention this
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Circumcision:
The Hidden Trauma
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| The first intensive
exploration of the unrecognized psychological and social aspects of
this increasingly controversial American cultural practice. Endorsed by
dozens of professionals in psychology, psychiatry, child development,
pediatrics, obstetrics, childbirth education, sociology and
anthropology. |
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LANGUAGE
Circumcision
is “normal” among Americans. Normality is associated with cultural
values. What is familiar becomes a cultural value. Circumcision is
familiar. The words we use and the words we avoid when talking about a
cultural value like circumcision serve to reinforce the practice. Words
not typically associated with circumcision may stir uncomfortable
feelings, yet a closer look tends to support the connection.
For example, the term “uncircumcised” suggests that to be circumcised
is the norm, the standard. This is an assumption made by a culture that
practices circumcision. However,
nonreligious infant circumcision is not “normal” in any culture outside
of the United States. From a global perspective, to be
“uncircumcised” is to be normal, the way males are born, and the way
most of the world’s males remain.
As the American debate about circumcision develops, the words “intact”
and “natural” are being used in place of “uncircumcised” to reflect
this global view. This website uses the three words interchangeably.
“Intact” means “not altered, complete, whole.” “Natural” means “formed
by nature, inborn, in its original state.” For various reasons,
circumcising cultures generally do not recognize that the circumcised
penis is not natural or intact.
The arguments in favor of circumcision are readily available and
promoted in American media. Because
the reasons to question circumcision are not well known and do not fit
into sound bites, they are the focus here. We encourage visitors to
seek other sources of information and come to their own conclusions.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
Attitudes
toward circumcision are changing because of new information.
Results of the latest studies are arousing concern about this often
misunderstood procedure. These selections present important information
not generally available.
MEDICAL
Cultural
Bias in American
Medical Literature
Circumcision Removes the Most Sensitive Parts of
the Penis (NEW)
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