Circumcised Quote by Christopher Ryan
““Circumcision remains prevalent in the United States, though varying greatly by region, ranging from about 40 percent of newborns circumcised in western states to about twice that in the Northeast. This widespread procedure, rarely a medical necessity, has its roots in the anti-masturbation campaigns of Kellogg and his like-minded contemporaries. As Money explains, “Neonatal circumcision crept into American delivery rooms in the 1870s and 1880s, not for religious reasons and not for reasons of health or hygiene, as is commonly supposed, but because of the claim that, later in life, it would prevent irritation that would cause the boy to become a masturbator.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Sex at Dawn, 2010
Highlights US neonatal circumcision’s cultural roots and questionable medical necessity.
In simple terms: Circumcision in the US is largely cultural, not medical.
Key Takeaway
Question cultural medical practices.
Themes
health policy
culture
ethics
Mood
critical
informative
Type
historical
analytical
When to use this quote
- parental decision‑making
- policy debate
- public health education
Key Concepts
medical sociology
historical precedent
Questions to Reflect On
- How do cultural beliefs shape medical procedures?
- What evidence would shift public opinion?
A Different Perspective
Changing entrenched practices is difficult.
![“[Man] has imagined a heaven, and has left entirely out of it the supremest of all his delights, the one ecstasy that stands first and foremost in the heart of every individual of his race…sexual intercourse! It is as if a lost and perishing person in a roasting desert should be told by a rescuer…” quote by Christopher Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/939/christopher-ryan-4309_joy_man-has-imagined-a-heaven-and-has-left-e_187069.jpg)
