# Genital mutilation of young girls. But it's a religious thing! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 23, 2017, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-mutilation-of-young-girls-but-its-a-religious-thing/785057 "2017-04-23T11:44:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-mutilation-of-young-girls-but-its-a-religious-thing/785057/41 "2017-04-25T02:00:28Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Female mutilation has religious aspects, but no health benefits. Again, it does not even have this. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-mutilation-of-young-girls-but-its-a-religious-thing/785057/42 "2017-04-25T04:49:51Z")
> [@Schoggi](#): > > As a european man, I find it tragic how people defend male genital cutting. There’s just no reasonable pro argument. You have people defending it based on medical “benefits” - well, there are benefits to prophylactically removing your appendix or gall bladder, stuff that can become infected and pose an actual threat (as opposed to either ridiculously seldom-occuring diseases like penis cancer or, in the west, very treatable ones like HIV). But we don’t do that because that’d be insane. Also sadly implying that genital cutting on infants is justified by later “benefits” in young adults, basically asking for a kid’s penis to get cut in order to prevent STDs. How sick is that? > Then there are those, without fail, that pop up saying we shouldn’t compare it with FGM. Well, never mind the fact that in a lot of places, amongst others when introduced in the west, it was actually supposed to damage a man’s sexuality, why shouldn’t you mention the less morally wrong or less barbaric thing in relation to another? It’s like if we’re talking about traffic accidents and somebody might interrupt and say that more people might die of cancer - so? Murder is worse than assault, both are illegal. Male genital cutting is sadly prevalent in the west and is scandalously underdiscussed. Hear, hear. > [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](#): > > So thanks a lot for making sure we cannot ever have this discussion without it being derailed because you don’t like your pee pee. Way to pay attention. It should have been a slight clue to you when he said “as a European man” that he is not circumcised and does “like his pee pee” the way it is, and is horrified by circumcision because he knows what is taken away. Same goes for me: I lucked out, as an American boy born overseas where RIC was not offered in the hospital. By the time my parents got back to the U.S. a few months later, they were used to me in my natural state and left it alone (thank fucking gawd). My dad, who was circumcised, did ask me once when I was around ten years old if I wanted to have it done. I was so vehement in shaking my head in the negative, I later realized I might have made him feel bad. And I do feel sorry for all the guys who were circumcised against their will, before they can remember, and I absolutely understand the psychology behind why they must keep insisting to themselves that they are just fine this way, or heck, even better than fine. It’s just really sad and pathetic to observe from the outside looking in. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-mutilation-of-young-girls-but-its-a-religious-thing/785057/43 "2017-04-25T05:58:43Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > You’re threadshitting. In the Pit? I’m not sure that is possible. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-mutilation-of-young-girls-but-its-a-religious-thing/785057/44 "2017-04-25T12:59:02Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > In the Pit? I’m not sure that is possible. OTOH the intactivist/circumfetishist segment do seem constitutionally unable to avoid trying to make any topic their topic. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-mutilation-of-young-girls-but-its-a-religious-thing/785057/45 "2017-04-25T15:57:22Z")
> [@igor\_frankensteen](#): > > This is a very old and common story. The United States does not, and has never supported universal unfettered “freedom of religious practice,” and never will, precisely for reasons such as this. > > There are no, and can be no absolute freedoms. > > But there WILL always be people in the media eager to goad us all into reacting emotionally to idiots like this doctor, in order to sell more commercials. Quite so - or else ‘God told me to shoot you in the face’ would be enough excuse for murder. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-mutilation-of-young-girls-but-its-a-religious-thing/785057/46 "2017-04-25T15:58:13Z")
> [@Schoggi](#): > > Reply due to editing time limit: > > One does only need to read any american forums on masturbation to realize that circumcision harms the healthy male body. Such a thing as chafing and possible infections don’t happen nearly as much in intact men. The use of lube is also much less of a thing. The foreskin provides protection of the glans and eases masturbation, and if you think that’s a thing to make fun of, it doesn’t change the fact that circumcision harms male sexuality. That sounds important enough to have its own thread! Why don’t you go start one? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-mutilation-of-young-girls-but-its-a-religious-thing/785057/47 "2017-04-25T16:11:03Z")
Preferably on Reddit. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-mutilation-of-young-girls-but-its-a-religious-thing/785057/48 "2017-04-25T16:31:38Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > It’s just really sad and pathetic to observe from the outside looking in. No, you’re sad and pathetic. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-mutilation-of-young-girls-but-its-a-religious-thing/785057/49 "2017-04-25T16:32:39Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > I absolutely understand the psychology behind why they must keep insisting to themselves that they are just fine this way, or heck, even better than fine. I absolutely understand the psychology of someone using this pathetic attempt to deflect arguments to the contrary so they can always reassure themselves that they must be righteous and correct despite any conflicting evidence. So now we’re both full of absolute understanding 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-mutilation-of-young-girls-but-its-a-religious-thing/785057/50 "2017-04-25T17:04:16Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > AFAIK, male circumcision does not adversely alter sexual pleasure. Debatable. It may even affect the woman’s pleasure. [http://www.circumcision.org/femalesex.htm](http://www.circumcision.org/femalesex.htm) > [@](#): > > Female mutilation removes all sexual pleasure. Not necessarily. > [@even\_sven](#): > > Again, it does not even have this. Does so. > **[Circumcision of girls and some doctors’ criticism thereof - Islam Question...](https://islamqa.info/en/answers/60314)** ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-mutilation-of-young-girls-but-its-a-religious-thing/785057/51 "2017-04-25T17:53:31Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Way to pay attention. I paid all the attention I needed to when it was discovered the poster was a slack-jawed yokel with dumb ideas. I don’t have to delve into the details, just as I don’t need to consider the arguments of conspiracy theorists, MRAs, creationists and the like. Once I see you’re a delusional anti-circ loony (and by comparing it to FGM you out yourself right off the bat) then there’s no need to get into it any deeper. Idiots will continue to be conspiracy theorists, MRAs, creationists and anti-circ activists no matter how often their flawed, bullshit “logic” is discussed intelligently. So the best thing to do (especially in this forum) is to point, laugh, and explain in the most broad terms why the person is an idiot just in case someone comes along and thinks that those dumb things are true because they have not been challenged. I have better things to do with my time than to consider counters to people who believe dumb things. Case in point: The only thing in your post i read was what I quoted. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-mutilation-of-young-girls-but-its-a-religious-thing/785057/52 "2017-04-25T17:57:46Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > Debatable. It may even affect the woman’s pleasure. > > [Circumcision Affects Female Sexual Pleasure – Circumcision Resource Center](http://www.circumcision.org/femalesex.htm) Your cite sucks. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-mutilation-of-young-girls-but-its-a-religious-thing/785057/53 "2017-04-25T18:12:54Z")
Does this one suck less for you?: [http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/ohara/](http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/ohara/) ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-mutilation-of-young-girls-but-its-a-religious-thing/785057/54 "2017-04-25T18:13:31Z")
Yeah, at the point where someone cites [circumcision.org](http://circumcision.org) or [cirp.org](http://cirp.org), you can safely check out because they’re not serious about it. Might as well link to some Earth Mother woo site about their antivax stances. I did love how the “study” is not named or linked to. Just trust us on this! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-mutilation-of-young-girls-but-its-a-religious-thing/785057/55 "2017-04-25T18:15:53Z")
> [@](#): > > Women having sexual experience with both circumcised and anatomically complete partners were recruited through classified advertisements in magazines **and an announcement in an anti-circumcision newletter.** _Hahahahahahahaha…_ This just in: Women who read anti-circumcision newsletters think sex with uncircumcised men is better! Film at eleven. Holy shit, you’re kidding me, right? Edit: I’m going to stop relying to this nonsense now in this thread out of respect of the people who wish to discuss FGM. Sorry for the hijack, got away from myself. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-mutilation-of-young-girls-but-its-a-religious-thing/785057/56 "2017-04-25T18:18:27Z")
> **[Male circumcision decreases penile sensitivity as measured in a large cohort...](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23374102/)** > > This study confirms the importance of the foreskin for penile sensitivity, overall sexual satisfaction, and penile functioning. Furthermore, this study shows that a higher percentage of circumcised men experience discomfort or pain and unusual... [http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1464-410X.2006.06646.x/full](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1464-410X.2006.06646.x/full) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-mutilation-of-young-girls-but-its-a-religious-thing/785057/57 "2017-04-25T18:19:16Z")
Good god, do I hate intactivists. So much. Some of them must keep their brains in their foreskins. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-mutilation-of-young-girls-but-its-a-religious-thing/785057/58 "2017-04-25T18:22:15Z")
A smart lawyer would make sure the woman in the OP faced a jury with at least 2 male jurors, preferably one cut and one uncut. She’d never be convicted because the jury room would devolve into those two talked about their own dicks, endlessly, until the other jurors begged to be released. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-mutilation-of-young-girls-but-its-a-religious-thing/785057/59 "2017-04-25T18:23:39Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Good god, do I hate intactivists. So much. Some of them must keep their brains in their foreskins. Yeah, fuck having a clit, labia or foreskin. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-mutilation-of-young-girls-but-its-a-religious-thing/785057/60 "2017-04-25T18:33:31Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > In the Pit? I’m not sure that is possible. Possible in the sense of breaking a board rule? No. Possible in the sense of still being fucking annoying? So much yes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-mutilation-of-young-girls-but-its-a-religious-thing/785057.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-mutilation-of-young-girls-but-its-a-religious-thing/785057.md?page=4)