Why is circumcision of infant boys performed in the United States?

Answer 1

This is a very good question. There is not known medical benefit to circumcision, and no major medical association recommends routine infant circumcision.

Circumcision became popular in the United States and United Kingdom during the late 19th century as a way of preventing boys from masturbating. By removing the foreskin, masturbation becomes much more difficult and less pleasurable. it was put forward by British medical practitioners that masturbation was responsible for more then a hundred different diseases ranging from syphilis to insanity. Nevertheless, most boys continued to masturbate even after circumcision. and the rate of these diseases needles to say did not change. However one thing did change. and that was the income that could be gained by the medical fraternity. never the less as time went on the practice started to loose popularity and if it was not for the start of WW2 and the army medical board being advised by pro circumcision quacks that it would protect conscripts health it would have large faded away as is has in other English speaking countries. there are many reasons why people consider this form of mutilation and one of the biggest proponents is the existing circumcising industry in the United states. other countries unreservedly condemn the practice

In the United Kingdom the rate of circumcision quickly decreased as Victorian attitudes towards sex and masturbation changed. By the early 20th century, circumcision was rarely practiced in the UK, and today circumcision remains extremely rare except amongst certain religions such as Judaism and Islam.

However in the United States the tradition of circumcision continued. As late as the 1980s, over 70% of male infants were circumcised. However, the circumcision rate is dropping in the United States. In 2007, less than 40% of newborn boys were circumcised.

Answer 2

Through the 19th century, concern about moral issues increasingly focussed on masturbation, as a sexual activity that young people could indulge in without adult control. This moral concern was believed to have a physical counterpart, and masturbation was blamed for many illnesses, from tuberculosis to epilepsy. Attempts to prevent it included bizarre devices, such as cages for the genitals to be worn overnight. At the same time, some doctors claimed circumcision to have cured various ailments, on the basis of individual cases (that had probably cleared up naturally). A theory of "nervous irritation" grew popular, suggesting that cutting off the foreskin would remove the stimulus to masturbate. And of course, if a child was caught masturbating and then circumcised, he would make very sure not to be caught again (what would they cut off next?), so it seemed to work.

As masturbation hysteria faded, concern focused on "Venereal Disease" (sexually transmitted infections) especially after the First World War, and circumcision was claimed to prevent those. Then a doctor called Wolbarst claimed circumcision prevented penile cancer (without noting that old men got penile cancer and young men were circumcised). The Second World War, when men were forcibly circumcised in the forces, provided a further spur, and the suggestion that "A boy should look like his father" became current. (Nobody said this when fathers were not circumcised.) In the 1950s it was claimed that circumcision prevented Cervical cancer (this has still not been directly proved), which motivated women to want their sons to be circumcised.

Once circumcision became almost automatic, it became self-perpetuating. Many parents have had their sons circumcised in the mistaken belief that it was obligatory. Many other reasons have come and gone. Circumcision has been described as a "cure" looking for a disease.

Answer 3

It became a tradition the gained popularity in the US and other English speaking country's during the Victorian era. It was claimed at that time by British medics that masturbation was the cause for any number of terrible diseases ranging from syphilis to insanity. they claimed that by circumcising the boys they would be less inclined to masturbate. these archaic ideas are rapidly starting to wain in other English speaking country's. However in the united states a big commercially medical market was developed around it and the medical profession there is loath to spread the truth for fear of loosing lucrative business. less then 20% OF THE WORLDS MEN ARE CIRCUMCISED and most of these for religious and cultural reasons. The American people are being hoodwinked by their doctors for the sake of them making the almighty dollar. there There is no good reason for circumcision. and the practice should be seen as the mutilation and sexual molestation of a child. for the sake of cultural or religious mores.

Answer 4

For social, medical, or cultural/religious reasons. Families who practice Judaism or Islam may select to have their sons circumcised as a religious practice. Others choose circumcision for medical benefits.