This article was written by Rose-Marie Paradis from our Women Against Feminism Facebook Group. Her first language is French. Check her twitter out at rmpwriter and this is her Facebook Page or you can message her here.
I am a men’s rights activist woman. I’m a egalitarian, but here, in developed countries, evidence shows that men don’t have as much rights as most people think they have, and not as many as women have.
One of the most important one is…
Bodily Autonomy.
If I told you that I want to cut my baby girl’s clitoris, you would definitely and rightfully be against it. It’s obvious in developed countries that we don’t cut baby girls. If I would tell you I’m going to tattoo my baby, give them face piercing, you would also be rightfully against it. So why is it still legal to circumcise baby boys?
Bodily autonomy is one of the most basic human rights. It’s also the one giving women the right to have abortions. Why isn’t this right granted to boys ? While circumcision is seen as a casual procedure, the consequences are big. To start, even if it is considered successful, the removal of a healthy tissue with functions means the loss of certain functions, mostly related to lubrication.
Also, the removal of the foreskin means the glans aren’t protected anymore and that it will lose a certain degree or sensibility, and this increases with ageing since the gland will constantly be made to rub against clothing. The procedure itself puts the baby in pain, and if not “successful” it might lead to the loss of sexual functions or of a part or the of the penis.
Even though European countries are having this discussion, it is still currently legal and therefore we are infringing upon babies boys regularly. Its also not even being discussed in most parts of the world. Female genital mutilating though, has been illegal since decades and nobody tries to defend a “parental right” to do so.
The worst developed country offender is USA, with a ratio of 79%. Europe is mostly under 20% and in Canada the rate of about 50% is getting lower at the moment. While that means doctors don’t tell their patients to do it by default and most parents don’t ask to do it, the legality of the act still means that kids are underprivileged by being in a less educated family or from Jewish or Muslim background, regarding the protection of their basic human rights of bodily autonomy.
While the religious freedom is often named, this right applies to individuals themselves and not others. Until the kid choses himself is religion and/or to go with the procedure as grown up man, he should be kept intact. This way not only his bodily autonomy is respected, but is sexual future is also protected and not in the hands of his parents. It’s a no-brainer to not mutilate babies.
Yet, feminism which fought so hard to end female genital mutilation and claims to want equality with men has been deeply silent about it as a movement. Some voices have risen against it, but it’s not something that will be talked in feminist conferences, papers, or even in university classes. My prominent feminist teacher even didn’t want to talk at all about this subject in our gender class (it was not a feminist class yet mostly focused on women’s issues).
While feminists want to push the first definition as seen in the Webster, when they want other women to side with them when we refuse, they are only working on the second definition:
1. the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes
2. organized activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests.
When I say I am egalitarian, I’m talking about the first definition, and then they say I’m a feminist. If so, then it’s time to hear feminist talk against genital mutilation for all, not only against FEMALE genital mutilation. Those aren’t 2 subjects. They are the same subject : mutilation without consent. It´s time to raise and awakening conscience for the sake of humanity in us. Human rights aren’t gendered.
This article was written by Rose-Marie Paradis from our Women Against Feminism Facebook Group. Her first language is French.
Check her twitter out at rmpwriter and this is her Facebook Page or you can message her here.
My penis is not your concern. Circumcision is not your concern. Menstruation is none of my business, and foreskin is none of yours.
End. Of. Discussion.
Human rights are everyone’s concern, even if the specific subject matter isn’t something you are personally comfortable discussing. You have no right nor ability to end the discussion.
This is a dumb article. A man’s penis is none of your concern. I’m not feminist but I know a lot of men who have had their foreskin removed and they have suffered no injury or loss of sensation. Also I am a woman who is married to man who had his removed and I can happily tell you he obviously doesn’t suffer from loss of sensation. The foreskin is about as useless as your appendix. Also I once dated a man who had his foreskin still left on, and his penis was foul as hell.
That’s some dumb shit
The foreskin is very useful, it even hurts some women when it’s removed as there is too much friction.
It’s not up to the parent to decide, but the owner of the penis
Lol I meant to reply to the article. Anywho I agree with you
A baby’s penis isn’t his parents business.
People get to decide what happen to their genitals, and if you were to support that as a woman I have the same right, I won’t criticize you based on your sex
But hey, I’m not a sexist