Off Topic — HabitableZone

Off Topic » in reply to Apples and, um, bannanas

Ooples and banoonoos
Mary Anne — (archived)

Male circumcision does have some benefits, specifically, in the areas of infection prevention. There are other, more specific medical reasons to have the procedure done, but those don't usually turn up at birth. It's a question of trade-offs.

On the other hand, there is no clinical reason at all for female circumcision. It has everything to do with controlling female sexuality because it's dangerous to a male-dominant society.

The big problem is that many people nowadays make this decision based on custom rather than on a considered opinion instructed by research. Social pressure is a lousy reason to make a medical decision.

As Rob says, people do choose actively not to vaccinate because they are more afraid of the effects of the vaccine than they are of the effects of the disease. They have never seen the disease, so all they see is the danger at hand, not the danger prevented. Not a rational basis for a decision, either.

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