As a pregnant urologist,… I was often asked by hospital…
““As a pregnant urologist,… I was often asked by hospital workers and physicians if I was going to circumcise the baby. I always answered a simple “no” immediately, without adding the unnecessary caveat that I already knew I was carrying a girl. Knowing that in some parts of the world circumcising girls (female genital mutilation) is as common a practice as circumcising boys, I wanted to use this to spark rethinking every chance I had. When the questioner would find out I knew I was having a girl and tried to use that to explain my choice to not circumcise, I told them, “I wouldn’t circumcise if the child were a boy, either.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker rejects gender‑based assumptions about circumcision, emphasizing equal treatment regardless of sex.
In simple terms: Reject gender bias in medical decisions.
Key Takeaway
Treat all children the same.
Themes
gender equality
medical ethics
cultural norms
advocacy
Mood
determined
empathetic
Type
advocational
ethical
When to use this quote
- hospital staff
- parents
- policy makers
- medical students
- public health campaigns
Key Concepts
gender bias
patient autonomy
human rights
Questions to Reflect On
- How can healthcare professionals challenge gender stereotypes?
- What policies support equal treatment of newborns?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep‑seated cultural practices is difficult and may meet resistance.