1. According to the moral theory called "cultural relativism" or "ethical relativism," when are actions morally wrong in some culture? When are they permissible in that society? 2. What

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Photo b y M an an V ats y a ya n a/A FP/ G ett y

B oys an d g ir ls a li k e

An u n-c o n se n tin g c h ild , a n u nneces sa ry , i n va siv e

su rg ery : i s t h ere an y mo ra l d i

ma le an d f e ma le cir c u mc is io n ?

B ria n D Earp is a n a ss o cia te d ir e cto r o f t h e Y ale -H astin g s p ro g ra m me i n e th ic s a n d

hea lt h p oli c y a t Y ale U niv e rs it y a n d a r e se a rc h f e ll o w i n t h e U eh ir o C en tr e f o r P ra ctic a l

E th ic s a t t h e U niv e rs it y o f O xfo rd .

P ub li s h ed i n a ss o cia tio n w it h O xfo rd U eh ir o C en tr e f o r P ra ctic a l E th ic s a n A eo n

P artn er 7/13/2021 Are male and female circumcision morally equivalent? | Aeon Essays

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I t r y n ot t o t a lk a b ou t m y r e se arc h a t d in ner p artie s. I ’l l s a y ‘ m ed ic a l e th ic s’ i f p re sse d ,

w hic h w ill so metim es tr ig ger a n u n w elc o m e f o llo w -u p : ‘ B ut w hat a b ou t m ed ic a l

eth ic s?

‘I st ud y l o ts of t h in gs,’ I ’l l sa y – a n d t h at’s t r u e, I d o. ‘ B ut I f o cu s o n m ed ic a lly

u n nece ssa ry su rg erie s perfo rm ed o n c h ild re n .’

‘ Li ke w hat? ’

Li ke w hat, i n deed . I t ’s ra re ly a s m ooth r id e f r o m t h ere .

su rg erie s, sp eci

ru le , I t h in k t h at h ea lt h y c h ild re n – w hate ve r t h eir s e x o r g en der – s h ou ld b e f r e e

fr o m h av in g p arts of t h eir m ost i n tim ate s e x u al o rg an s r e m ove d b efo re t h ey c a n

u n derst an d w hat’s at st ak e i n s u ch a p ro ce d ure .

c o m e t o h old t h is vie w , b ut i n s o m e w ay s i t ’s p re tty s im ple . ‘ P riv a te p arts ’ a re p riv a te .

a d dre ss (fo r w hic h su rg ery i s th e m ost c o n se rv a tiv e o p tio n ), t h ey s h ou ld p ro b ab ly b e

le ft a lo n e.

In t h e 1 990s, when t h e Ca nad ia n e th ic is t M arg are t S om erv ille b eg an t o s p ea k a n d

w rit e c rit ic a lly a b ou t t h e n on -t h era p eu tic c ir c u m cis io n o f i n fa n t b oys, s h e w as

atta ck ed f o r e ve n a d dre ssi ng t h e s u b je ct i n p ub li c . I n h er b ook ,

sh e sa ys her c rit ic s accu se d h er o f ‘ d etr a ctin g f r o m t h e h orro r o f f e m ale g en it a l

m utila tio n a n d w ea k en in g t h e c a se a g ain st i t b y s p ea k in g a b ou t i t a n d i n fa n t m ale

c ir c u m cisi on i n t h e sa me c o n te x t a n d p oin tin g o u t t h at t h e s a m e e th ic a l a n d l e g al

p rin cip le s ap pli e d t o b oth ’.

S he w asn ’t a lo n e.

h er u n iv e rsi ty l e ctu re s, pro vo k in g a r e a ctio n t h at w as ‘ i m med ia te a n d h ostile … Ho w

dare I m en tio n t h ese t w o e n tir e ly d i

co m pare t h e i n nocu ou s an d b en e

m utila tio n s en acte d a g ain st f e m ale s i n o th er s o cie tie s!’ 7/13/2021 Are male and female circumcision morally equivalent? | Aeon Essays

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eve ry on e of t h em i s u n tr u e o r s e ve re ly

m is le a d in g

It ’s ea sy t o se e w here t h ese r e a ctio n s a re c o m in g f r o m . O ne f r e q uen t c la im i s t h at

F G M i s an alo g ou s to ‘ c a st ra tio n ’ o r a ‘ t o ta l p en ecto m y’. P ut t h at w ay, a n yo n e w ho

tr ie d t o c o m pare t h e t w o o n e th ic a l ( o r o th er) g ro u n ds w ou ld b e m ak in g a s e rio u s

m ist ak e – a n ato m ic a lly , a t t h e v e ry l e a st.

Y ou o ft e n h ea r t h at g en it a l m utila tio n a n d m ale c ir c u m cis io n a re very di . F G M

is barb aric a n d c rip pli n g ( ‘a lw ay s t o rtu re ’, a s t h e G uar dian co lu m nist T an ya G old

w ro te r e ce n tly ), w here a s m ale c ir c u m cis io n i s c o m para tiv e ly i n co n se q uen tia l. M ale

c ir c u m cisi on i s a ‘ m in or’ i n te rv e n tio n t h at m ig h t e ve n c o n fe r h ea lt h b en e

FG M i s a d ra st ic i n te rv e n tio n w it h n o h ea lt h b en e

‘p rim e m otiv e ’ f o r F G M i s to c o n tr o l w om en ’s s e x u ali t y ; i t i s i n here n tly s e x is t a n d

disc rim in ato ry a n d i s an e x p re ssio n o f m ale p ow er a n d d om in atio n .

t r u e f o r m ale c ir c u m cisi on .

U nfo rtu n ate ly , t h ere ’s a p ro b le m w it h t h ese c la im s. A lm ost e ve ry o n e o f t h em i s

u n tr u e, o r se ve re ly m isl ea d in g.

F G M a n d m ale c ir c u m cisi on ; a n d t h ey a re i n co n sis te n t w it h w hat s c h ola rs h av e

k n ow n a b ou t t h ese p ra ctic e s fo r w ell o ve r a d eca d e. I t ’s t im e t o r e -e x am in e w hat w e

‘k n ow ’ a b ou t t h ese c o n tr o ve rsi al c u sto m s.

T h e W orld He alt h O rg an iz a tio n ( W HO ) d e

of t h e g en it a li a o f w om en a n d g ir ls . W hat t h is i s l i k ely t o b rin g t o m in d i s t h e m ost

e x tr e m e v e rsi on o f su ch ‘ a lt e ra tio n ’, w hic h i s t h e e x cis io n o f t h e e x te rn al p art o f t h e

cli t o ris fo llo w ed b y a n arro w in g o f t h e v a g in al o p en in g, s o m etim es u sin g s tit c h es o r

th orn s. I t i s ra re ly u n derst ood t h at t h is n oto rio u s f o rm o f F G M i s c o m para tiv e ly r a re :

it o ccu rs in a su bse t o f t h e p ra ctis in g c o m mun it ie s, a n d m ak es u p a b ou t 1 0 p er c e n t

of c a se s w orld w id e. M ore p re va le n t, b ut m uch l e ss f r e q uen tly d is c u sse d i n t h e m ed ia ,

is a r a n ge o f l e ss ex te n si ve a lt e ra tio n s, s o m etim es p erfo rm ed u n der a n aesth esia b y

m ed ic a l p ro fe ssi on als an d w it h s te rile s u rg ic a l e q uip m en t.

o th er i n te rv e n tio n s, so -c a lle d r it u al ‘ n ic k in g’ o f t h e c li t o ra l h ood ( c o m mon i n

M ala y si a), a s w ell a s non -m ed ic a lly -in dic a te d l a b ia p la sty a n d e ve n p ie rc in gs t h at

m ig h t b e d on e f o r p erc e iv e d c o sm etic e n han ce m en t. 7/13/2021 Are male and female circumcision morally equivalent? | Aeon Essays

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Male g en it a l c ut tin g i s p erfo rm ed at d i

ag es, i n d i

to ol s, b y d i

It sh ou ld b e c le a r t h at t h ese d i

deg re es of h arm , w it h d i

ch an ce s of d eve lo p in g a n i n fe ctio n , a n d s o o n . A nd y e t al l f o rm s of n on -t h era p eu tic

f e m ale g en it a l a lt e ra tio n – n o m atte r h ow s te rili s e d o r m in or – a re d eem ed t o b e

m utila tio n s in ‘ W est ern ’ c o u n tr ie s. Al l a re p ro h ib it e d b y l a w .

w hen y o u g et r ig h t d ow n t o i t , i s t h at c u ttin g i n to a g ir l’s g en it a ls w it h ou t a m ed ic a l

d ia g n osi s, an d w it h ou t h er c o n se n t, i s e q uiv a le n t t o c rim in al a ssa u lt o n a m in or

u n der t h e l e g al c o d es of m ost o f t h ese s o cie tie s. A nd, m ora lly , I t h in k t h e l a w i s

c o rre ct h ere . I d on ’t t h in k t h at a s h arp o b je ct s h ou ld b e t a k en t o a n y c h ild ’s v u lv a

u n le ss it i s to sa ve h er l i f e o r h ea lt h , o r u n le ss s h e h as g iv e n h er f u lly i n fo rm ed

p erm issi on t o u n derg o su ch a n o p era tio n , a n d w an ts t o t a k e o n t h e r e le va n t r is k s a n d

co n se quen ce s.

In t h at c a se , o f c o u rse , sh e w ou ld n ’t b e a ‘ c h ild ’ a n ym ore , b ut r a th er a n a d ult w om an ,

w ho c a n m ak e a d ecisi on a b ou t h er o w n b od y.

th e p ra ctic e p ro h ib it e d , a n d i n m an y i t i s n ot e ve n r e str ic te d . I n s o m e c o u n tr ie s,

in clu d in g i n t h e U nit e d S ta te s, a n yo n e, w it h a n y i n str u m en t, a n d a n y d eg re e o f

m ed ic a l t r a in in g ( in clu d in g n on e) c a n a tte m pt t o p erfo rm a c ir c u m cis io n o n a n on -

co n se ntin g c h ild – so metim es w it h d is a str o u s c o n se q uen ce s. F o r a r e ce n t e x am ple ,

lo ok u p ‘ G ood lu ck Ca ub erg s’ o n t h e i n te rn et; s im ila r c a se s h ap p en e ve ry y e a r. A s t h e

b io eth ic ist D en a D av is has poin te d o u t, ‘ S ta te s c u rre n tly r e g u la te t h e h yg ie n ic

p ra ctic e s of t h ose w ho c u t o u r h air a n d o u r

g en it a ls? ’

Ju st l i k e F G M , h ow eve r, c ir c u m cis io n i s n ot a m on oli t h : i t i s n ’t j u st o n e k in d o f t h in g.

m in or. I t i n vo lv e d c u ttin g o

o ve r t h e e n d o f t h e g la n s – t h ere b y p re se rv in g ( m ost o f) t h e f o re sk in ’s p ro te ctiv e a n d

se xu al f u n ctio n s, as w ell a s re d ucin g t h e a m ou n t o f e ro g en ou s t is su e r e m ove d .

‘ m od ern ’ f o rm i s m uch m ore i n va siv e : i t r e m ove s b etw een o n e-t h ir d a n d o n e-h alf o f 7/13/2021 Are male and female circumcision morally equivalent? | Aeon Essays

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th e m ova b le sk in sy stem o f t h e p en is ( a b ou t 5 0 s q uare c e n tim ete rs o f r ic h ly

i n nerv a te d t issu e i n t h e a d ult o rg an ), e li m in ate s t h e g li d in g m otio n o f t h e f o re sk in ,

an d e x p ose s th e h ea d o f t h e p en is t o e n vir o n m en ta l i r rit a tio n , a s i t r u b s a g ain st

c lo th in g.

M ale g en it a l c u ttin g i s perfo rm ed a t d i

di

cir c u m cisi on s are d on e w hile t h e b oy i s f u lly c o n sc io u s, b etw een t h e a g es o f

e ig h t, a n d so metim es la te r. A m eric a n ( n on -r e li g io u s) c ir c u m cis io n s a re d on e i n a

h osp it a l, i n t h e M etz it z ah b ’p eh ,

d on e b y so me u lt r a -O rth od ox J e w s, i n vo lv e s t h e s u ck in g o f b lo od f r o m t h e

cir c u m cisi on w ou n d, a n d c a rrie s t h e r is k o f h erp es i n fe ctio n a n d p erm an en t b ra in

d am ag e.

S ub in cisi on , se en p rim arily i n a b orig in al A ustr a li a , i n vo lv e s s li c in g o p en t h e u re th ra l

p assa ge o n t h e u n dersi de o f t h e p en is f r o m t h e s c ro tu m t o t h e g la n s, o ft e n a

u rin atio n a s w ell a s se xu al f u n ctio n . A nd c ir c u m cis io n a m on g s o m e t r ib al g ro u p s i n

A fr ic a i s don e a s a r it e o f p ass ag e, i n t h e b ush , w it h s p ea rh ea d s, d ir ty k n iv e s, a n d

oth er n on -st erile i n st ru m en ts. S im ila r t o f e m ale g en it a l c u ttin g r it e s p erfo rm ed u n der

co m para b le c o n dit io n s (a n d o ft e n b y t h e v e ry s a m e g ro u p s), t h ese o p era tio n s

fr e q uen tly c a u se h em orrh ag e, i n fe ctio n , m an gli n g, a n d l o ss o f t h e s e x u al o rg an . I n

fa ct, b etw een 2 008 a n d 2 014, m ore t h an h alf a m illi o n b oys w ere h osp it a li s e d d ue t o

b otc h ed c ir c u m cisi on s in S ou th A fr ic a a lo n e. M ore t h an 4 00 l o st t h eir l iv e s.

B ut e ve n ‘ h osp it a li se d’ o r ‘ m in or’ c ir c u m cis io n s a re n ot w it h ou t t h eir r is k s a n d

co m pli c a tio n s, an d t h e h arm i s n ot c o n

d oze n i n fa n t b oys w ere t r e a te d f o r l i f e -t h re a te n in g h aem orrh ag e, s h ock o r s e p sis a s a

r e su lt o f t h eir n on -t h era p eu tic c ir c u m cis io n s a t a s in gle c h ild re n ’s h osp it a l i n

B ir m in gh am , E ngla n d. S in ce t h is

in fo rm atio n r e q uest ( a n d o th erw is e w ou ld n ot h av e b een p ub li c k n ow le d ge), i t h as t o

b e m ult ip li e d b y o rd ers of m ag n it u d e t o g et a s e n se o f t h e t r u e s c o p e o f t h e p ro b le m .

W hen p eo p le t a lk a b ou t ‘ F G M ’ t h ey a re u su ally t h in kin g o f t h e m ost s e v ere f o rm s of

fe m ale g en it a l c u ttin g, d on e i n t h e le ast ste rile e n vir o n m en ts, wit h t h e m ost dr asti c

co n se quen ce s li k eli e st t o f o llo w – e ve n t h ou gh r e se a rc h s u ggests t h at t h ese f o rm s a re

th e e x ce p tio n r a th er t h an t h e r u le . W hen p eo p le t a lk a b ou t ‘ m ale c ir c u m cis io n ’, b y

co n tr a st , t h ey a re ( a p pare n tly ) t h in kin g o f t h e le ast se v ere f o rm s of m ale g en it a l

cu ttin g, d on e i n t h e m ost s te rile e n vir o n m en ts, wit h t h e le ast drasti c c o n se quen ce s 7/13/2021 Are male and female circumcision morally equivalent? | Aeon Essays

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li k eli e st t o f o llo w – p erh ap s beca u se t h is i s t h e f o rm w it h w hic h t h ey a re c u lt u ra lly

f a m ili a r.

O ne r e cu rre n t c la im , r e ce n tly u n derli n ed b y t h e U S C en te rs f o r D is e a se C on tr o l

(CD C), i s th at m ale c ir c u m cisi on c a n c o n fe r a n um ber o f h ea lt h b en e

sm all r e d uctio n i n t h e a b so lu te r is k o f c o n tr a ctin g c e rta in s e x u ally t r a n sm it te d

in fe ctio n s.

Ho weve r, b oth p arts of t h is cla im a re m is le a d in g. C erta in ly t h e m ost e x tr e m e t y p es o f

F G M w ill n ot c o n tr ib ute t o g o od h ea lt h o n b ala n ce , b ut n eit h er w ill t h e s p ea rh ea d s-

a n d-d ir ty -k n iv e s ve rsi on s of g en it a l c u ttin g o n b oys. W hat a b ou t o th er f o rm s o f

F G M ? I ts defe n ders (w ho t y p ic a lly r e fe r t o i t a s ‘ f e m ale c ir c u m cis io n ’) r e g u la rly c it e

su ch ‘ h ea lt h b en e

pra ctic e . I n deed , t h e v u lv a h as all s o rts o f w arm , m ois t p la ce s w here b acte ria o r

vir u se s co u ld g et t r a p p ed , su ch a s u n dern ea th t h e c li t o ra l h ood , o r a m on g t h e f o ld s

of t h e l a b ia ; so w ho i s to sa y t h at r e m ovin g s o m e o f t h at t is su e ( w it h a s te rile s u rg ic a l

to ol) m ig h t n ot r e d uce t h e r isk o f v a rio u s d is e a se s?

on e re le va n t h arm w ou ld b e t h e i n vo lu n tar y l o ss

of a h ea lt h y, f un ctio n al , an d e ro to g en ic g en it al

s truct ure

Fo rtu n ate ly , i t ’s im possi ble t o p erfo rm t h is t y p e o f r e se a rc h i n t h e W est, b eca u se a n y

sc ie n tist w ho t r ie d t o d o so w ou ld b e a rre ste d u n der a n ti- F G M l a w s ( a n d w ou ld n eve r

g et a p pro va l f r o m a n e th ic s re v ie w b oard ). S o w e s im ply d o n ot k n ow . A s a

c o n se quen ce o f t h is, eve ry t im e o n e s e es t h e c la im t h at ‘ F G M h as n o h ea lt h b en e

– a c la im t h at h as beco m e so meth in g o f a m an tr a f o r t h e W HO – o n e s h ou ld r e a d

th is as sa yin g, ‘ w e a ctu ally d on ’t k n ow i f c e rta in m in or, st erili se d f o rm s o f F G M h av e

h ea lt h b en e

B y c o n tr a st , a sm all a n d i n si st en t g ro u p o f ( m ostly A m eric a n ) s c ie n tis ts h av e t a k en i t

u p on t h em se lv e s to p ro m ote i n fa n t m ale c ir c u m cis io n a s a f o rm o f p artia l

p ro p hyla x is ag ain st d ise ase . M ost o f t h ese d is e a se s a re r a re i n d eve lo p ed c o u n tr ie s,

d o n ot a

t r e a te d t h ro u gh m uch m ore c o n se rv a tiv e m ea n s. N eve rth ele ss – s in ce i t i s n ot

ag ain st t h e l a w f o r t h em t o d o s o – a d vo ca te s o f ( m ale ) c ir c u m cis io n a re a b le t o 7/13/2021 Are male and female circumcision morally equivalent? | Aeon Essays

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co n duct st ud y a ft e r w ell- f u n ded s tu d y t o s e e j u st w hat k in ds o f ‘ h ea lt h b en e

m ig h t f o llo w f r o m c u ttin g o

M an y E uro p ea n m ed ic a l e x p erts d is p ute t h ese s tu d ie s, a n d d ete ct m ore t h an a w hi

of c u lt u ra l b ia s in f a v o u r o f c ir c u m cis io n d ue t o i t s p ecu li a r s ta tu s a s a b ir th r it u al i n

A m eric a n so cie ty .

a u gu st o rg an isa tio n c o n te n ds t h at t h e b en e

w here b y ‘ r isk ’ t h ey a p pare n tly m ea n ‘ r is k o f s u rg ic a l c o m pli c a tio n s’.

B ut i n m ed ic a l e th ic s, th e a p pro p ria te t e st f o r a n on -t h era p eu tic s u rg ery p erfo rm ed i n

t h e a b se nce o f d ise ase o r d efo rm it y i s n ot b en e

but r a th er b en e har m. I n t h is ca se , o n e r e le va n t h arm w ou ld b e t h e

in vo lu n ta ry l o ss of a h ea lt h y, f u n ctio n al, a n d e ro to g en ic g en it a l s tr u ctu re t h at o n e

m ig h t w ish t o h av e e x p erie n ce d i n ta ct. I m ag in e a r e p ort b y t h e C D C r e fe rrin g t o t h e

b en e

dra w back t o su ch a p ro ce d ure w as d esc rib ed a s t h e ‘ r is k o f s u rg ic a l c o m pli c a tio n s’.

It i s oft e n sa id t h at F G M i s desi gn ed t o ‘ c o n tr o l’ f e m ale s e x u ali t y , w here a s m ale

g en it a l c u ttin g i s le ss symboli c a lly p ro b le m atic . B ut a s t h e s o cio lo g is t L is a W ad e h as

sh ow n i n h er r e se arc h , ‘ a ttr ib utin g [ th e] p ers is te n ce [ o f f e m ale g en it a l a lt e rin g

rit u als] t o p atr ia rc h y g ro ssl y o ve r-s im pli

f u n ctio n s’ i n t h e d iv e rse so cie tie s i n w hic h t h ey a re p erfo rm ed .

A fr ic a , f o r e x am ple , g en it a l c u ttin g ( o f w hate ve r d eg re e o f s e ve rit y ) i s m ost

c o m mon ly p erfo rm ed a ro u n d p ub erty , a n d i s d on e t o b oys a n d g ir ls a li k e. I n m ost

c a se s, th e m ajo r so cia l f u n ctio n o f t h e c u ttin g i s t o m ark t h e t r a n sit io n f r o m

ch ild hood t o a d ult h ood , a n d i t i s t y p ic a lly p erfo rm ed a s p art o f a n e la b ora te

c e re m on y.

In deed , i n n ea rly e ve ry so cie ty t h at p ra ctic e s s u ch c o m in g o f a g e r it u als , t h e f e m ale

h alf o f t h e i n it ia tio n i s ca rrie d o u t b y w om en ( ra th er t h an b y m en ) w ho d o n ot

ty p ic a lly v ie w i t a s bein g a c o n se q uen ce o f m ale d om in an ce , b ut w ho i n ste a d s e e t h eir

g en it a l- a lt e rin g p ra ctic e s as bein g b ea u tif y in g, e ve n e m pow erin g, a n d a s a n

im porta n t r it e o f p assa ge w it h h ig h c u lt u ra l v a lu e.

‘ b ra in w ash ed ’ i s an th ro p olo g ic a lly i g n ora n t. A t t h e s a m e t im e, t h e ‘ r it e o f p assa g e’

ce re m on ie s fo r b oys in t h ese s o cie tie s a re c a rrie d o u t b y m en ; t h ese a re d on e i n

p ara lle l, u n der si m ila r c o n dit io n s, a n d f o r s im ila r r e a so n s – a n d o ft e n w it h s im ila r

co n se quen ce s fo r h ea lt h a n d s e x u ali t y ( a s i llu str a te d e a rli e r w it h t h e e x am ple o f

S ou th A fr ic a ). 7/13/2021 Are male and female circumcision morally equivalent? | Aeon Essays

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Eve ry p are nt w ho r eq uests a gen it a l- al te rin g

surg ery f or t heir ch ild – f o r w hate ve r r e as on

un der t he s un – t h in ks t h at t h ey ar e ac tin g i n t h e

ch ild ’s b est i n te re sts

In t h e U S c o n te x t, m ale c ir c u m cis io n w as a d op te d b y t h e m ed ic a l c o m mun it y i n t h e

la te 1 800s in a n e

si nce p ersi st ed a s a r a tio n ali se d h ab it , l o n g p ast t h e t im e w hen i t w as e

a b an don ed b y o th er d eve lo p ed n atio n s. O f c o u rs e , i t i s p ro b ab ly t r u e t h at m ost

c o n te m pora ry W est ern p are n ts w ho c h oose c ir c u m cis io n f o r t h eir s o n s d o n ot d o s o

o u t o f a d esi re t o ‘ c o n tr o l’ t h eir s e x u ali t y , b ut t h is i s a ls o t r u e o f m ost A fr ic a n p are n ts

w ho c h oose ‘ c ir c u m cisi on ’ f o r t h eir d au gh te rs . A s t h e r e n ow ned a n ti- F G M a ctiv is t

Ha nny Li gh tfo ot-K le in h as st ate d : ‘

i n A fr ic a a n d f o r r o u tin e m ale c ir c u m cis io n i n t h e U nit e d S ta te s a re e sse n tia lly t h e

sa me. B oth p ro m ise c le a n li n ess a n d t h e a b se n ce o f o d ou rs a s w ell a s g re a te r

a ttr a ctiv e n ess an d a cc e p ta b ili t y .’

G iv e n t h at b oth m ale a n d f e m ale f o rm s o f g en it a l c u ttin g e x p re ss d i

n orm s dep en din g u p on t h e c o n te x t, a n d a re p erfo rm ed f o r d i

di

w e a sse ss th e p erm issi bili t y o f e it h er? D o w e n eed t o i n te rv ie w e a ch s e t o f p are n ts t o

m ak e su re t h at t h eir p ro p ose d a ct o f c u ttin g i s i n te n ded a s a n e x p re ssio n o f

acc e p ta b le n orm s? I f t h ey p ro m is e t h at i t i s n ’t a b ou t ‘ s e x u al c o n tr o l’ i n t h eir s p eci

c a se , b ut r a th er a b ou t ‘ h yg ie n e’ o r ‘ a esth etic s’ o r s o m eth in g l e ss s y m boli c a lly

p ro b le m atic , sh ou ld t h ey b e p erm it te d t o g o a h ea d ?

B ut t h is is bou n d t o f a il. E ve ry p are n t w ho r e q uests a g en it a l- a lt e rin g s u rg ery f o r t h eir

c h ild – f o r w hate ve r r e a so n u n der t h e s u n – t h in ks t h at t h ey a re a ctin g i n t h e c h ild ’s

b est i n te re st s; n o o n e t h in ks th at t h ey a re ‘ m utila tin g’ t h eir o w n o

f e m ale o r m ale ). S o i t i s not t h e re aso n fo r t h e i n te rv e n tio n t h at d ete rm in es i t s

p erm issi bili t y , b ut r a th er t h e co n se q u en ce s o f t h e i n te rv e n tio n f o r t h e p ers o n w hose

g en it a ls are a ctu ally o n t h e l i n e.

A s th e so cia l a n th ro p olo g ist S ara J o h n sd otte r h as p oin te d o u t, t h ere i s n o o n e-t o -o n e

re la tio n sh ip b etw een t h e a m ou n t o f g en it a l t is su e r e m ove d ( in m ale s, f e m ale s, o r 7/13/2021 Are male and female circumcision morally equivalent? | Aeon Essays

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in deed i n i n te rse x p eo p le ), a n d e it h er s u b je ctiv e s a tis fa ctio n w hile h av in g s e x , o r a

f e eli n g o f h av in g b een p erso nally h arm ed b eca u se o n e’s ‘ p riv a te p arts ’ w ere a lt e re d

b efo re o n e c o u ld e

w hate ve r d eg re e o f se ve rit y – w ill a

e a ch i n div id ual’s re la tio n sh ip t o t h eir o w n b od y i s u n iq ue, i n clu d in g w hat t h ey

aest hetic a lly a p p ea li n g, w hat d eg re e o f r is k t h ey f e el c o m fo rta b le t a k in g o n w hen i t

c o m es to e le ctiv e su rg erie s on t h eir r e p ro d uctiv e o rg an s, a n d e ve n w hat d eg re e o f

se xu al se nsi tiv it y t h ey p re fe r ( fo r p ers o n al o r c u lt u ra l r e a so n s).

a re b eg in nin g t o a rg u e t h at i n div id uals s h ou ld b e l e ft t o d ecid e w hat t o d o w it h t h eir

o w n g en it a ls w hen i t c o m es to i r re ve rs ib le s u rg ery , w hate ve r t h eir s e x o r g en der.

P rac tic al Eth ic s w eb sit e . Li nks t o s u pp ort in g r e se a rc h c a n b e f o u nd i n t h e o rig in al e ssa y,

av ailab le h ere .

1 3 January 2015 aeon.co