10 Comments
Feb 17, 2022Liked by Brendon Marotta

I just wanted to say thank you for this piece. I am going into sex-therapy specifically to help survivors of forced genital cutting / circumcision and I think this sheds so much light on the societal issues faced when one tries to find hope and healing in a culture that continues to normalize this behavior. This is something I will share with clients to help them understand the complexity of their feelings and know they are not alone. Thanks again!

Expand full comment

Thank you for your article and the attendant issues. I definitely identified with my response to learning that someone was pregnant - I was unable to communicate any joy until I knew that the baby was a girl. And then how to raise the (its the parents' decision) subject, when minds are already made up based on the father's state. My marriage proposal (in 1973) carried the agreement that I would be present at the birth of our children and that they would not be circumcised - both unusual at the time! Since the children's act of 2005 (in South Africa) outlawed circumcision of children under 16 except for religious or medical reasons, the law is now on our side. The trump card now is being able to say ...besides which it is illegal. (people still manage to get it done)

Expand full comment

Re: medical care. I here quote the story of the old woman who was asked how she lived so long and was so healthy. She replied that she never went to a doctor.

Expand full comment

This entire article is an insulting to everyone who lives with P.T.S.D. Please tell me about the flash backs and sleepless nights you have from the trauma you couldn't possibly remember! Please tell me about the night terrors and cold sweats you wake up in! Tell me about how you can't keep a job because being around people give you panic attacks! Im sure your so traumatized! You People going around trying to get cudos for mental illness you don't have are sick totally sick would you walk around pretending to be retarded no that would be insulting to retarded people!

Expand full comment

This is amazing. As a straight white male I finally understand how other people can claim cultural trauma for things (an unexpected reaction).. but this is real. To me this is more real than race or gender, because God created all races and all sexes, but nobody is born with a cut dick. It's weird as a privileged man for people to understand and even better than I understand myself

Expand full comment

Total BS, I'm Circumcised, all the males in my family are, and, can you believe it, no one has ever had any problem with it. Humm?

Expand full comment
founding

"This means survivors do need medical care, " --> This means WHEN survivors do need medical care,

Expand full comment