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Fighting MGM
ByThe Village Voice has an article in the current issue on the question. More and more people seem to be questioning the practice of scarring men's genitals for life without their consent. The Voice includes a brief history of the practice outside the Jewish and Muslim communities:
The practice began in English-speaking countries in the mid-1800s as a way to prevent masturbation, which was believed to cause many diseases. By the 1900s, infant circumcision had become widespread thanks to the shift in control over the birthing process from female midwives to male obstetricians; the rise of medical experts, who began recommending it; and the increase of advertising aimed at convincing people they were dirty in order to sell hygiene products.
