Evolution of Male Circumcision as Normative Control

Abstract

Circumcision of infant males is the most frequently performed surgical operation in the United States. There has been an extensive debate over its merits, dating back to its inception in Judaism more than 2,000 years ago. However, the current medical debate is made irrespective of the pseudo-rationales that promote the practice. In this analysis of religion, psychology, medicine, and sociology , a pattern of coercion is defined. In each normative system, an intangible fear of unknown perils is used to promote the manifest ritual of circumcision, with the promise of reconciling the generalized fear. Research on the transmission of pseudo-rational beliefs needs to be examined so male circumcision can be adequately addressed by activist or advocate agents. The aim of this review is to delineate the beliefs that reify the ritual of circumcising male infants. The practice of circumcising is perpetuated on a generalized fear of an intangible peril, which has taken many forms throughout the course of history. In each evolving normative system, this generalized fear becomes a pseudo-rationale for the circumcision of infants. As the system of control develops and becomes more refined, the practice becomes suspect and becomes a ritual detached from any larger 265 Adam Henerey is now at the Sociology Department of Rutgers University, New Brunswick. Portions of Evolution of Male Circumcision as Normative Control were presented at the 2001 meetings of the Southwest Social Sciences Association.