Male Circumcision
Trauma Survey
by
Dan Bollinger © 2006
Click on picture to take the survey
Even
though infant male circumcision has been identified as an early
trauma having negative effects, and knowing that early traumas are
particularly devastating, no researcher has administered a
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Alexithymia (having no
words for feelings) checklist to men and compared results between
intact and circumcised men. For this reason I have put together an
online survey, which TheMensCenter has graciously sponsored.
Childhood trauma is known to have a lasting, negative effect on adult life. The earlier the trauma occurs, the more devastating the effect, and the more difficult to treat later. It is thought that if a trauma occurs before the child learns language, then it is even more difficult to treat using traditional talk-therapy methods.
Recent research is showing that boys, not girls, are the ‘weaker sex’ in that they are more prone to environmental harm. Boys are less likely to receive as much holding, caressing, and attention from parents. Parents let boys cry longer before coming to their assistance such as if they are hurt, hungry, or have soiled diapers. Some parents intentionally let boys cry longer employing the mistaken belief that doing so will somehow prepare him for manhood. When born, both boys and girls express themselves equally well with non-verbal communication, but by the time they are three, boys are less communicative than girls are. As long ago as 1986, researchers cautioned that the gender differences being found in studies may be the effect of mass circumcision of boys. Yet to this day few researchers control for penile status.
As one victim said about a stressful event he believed was associated with his circumcision trauma, “My physical reaction was so extreme, you can be sure I didn't put myself in a position to have it happen more than once, or at least not for another 10 years.”
Dan Bollinger, Executive Director, www.ICGI.org, Men’s workshop facilitator
ICGI Resolution for Genital Integrity
We recognize the inherent right of all human beings to an intact body.The genital integrity movement advances human rights for infants and children, and hence for society as well. Member organizations agree, in whole or in part, with the human rights principles outlined in this resolution. Please join the growing number of concerned organizations and help protect all children from further harm.
Without sexual, racial, or religious prejudice, we affirm this basic human right.WHEREAS, over 2 million girls, 13 million infant males and boys, tens of thousands of intersexed children will undergo some form of forced genital cutting this year alone; and
WHEREAS, normal, natural genitalia is not pathological and does not require correction, amputation or alteration; and
WHEREAS, every major medical society in the world that has studied non-therapeutic male or female circumcision and other forms of genital cutting has concluded these procedures to be cosmetic and elective with no medical justification or recommendation; and
WHEREAS, children who are subjected to forced genital cutting are not old enough to give informed consent to invasive surgical and amputative procedures without medical justification; and
WHEREAS, parents of genitally altered children are rarely given full and accurate information about the inherent risks and harms involved in these procedures; and
WHEREAS, parents do not have the right to request the removal of normal body parts for non-medical reasons; and
WHEREAS, physicians do not have the right to remove normal body parts for non-medical reasons; and
WHEREAS, most adults, if given the choice, would choose to keep their genitals whole and intact as created by natural design; and
WHEREAS, forced genital cutting is a violation of basic human rights to a whole body.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we support the inherent rights of children to enjoy complete, intact genitals endowed to them by natural design without the forced cutting or other forms of genital alteration; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we urge the society to cease all forms of forced genital cutting for non-medical reasons; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that we support the International Coalition for Genital Integrity and their member organizations in their struggle to end medically unnecessary genital surgeries on children.
Copyright 2006 Dan Bollinger, all rights reserved
This page was last updated:
05/15/06
Authored by James R. Bracewell
jbracewell@themenscenter.com
Copyright © 2006 The Men's Resource Network, Inc. All rights reserved.