Thread by @ThatIntersexGuy

Continuing the exploration on the historical rise of #circumcision in #Britian, let’s look at the evolving definition of circumcision in the Encyclopaedia Britannica over the decades- showing HOW perceptions changed so dramatically. #i2 #mgm #childrights #historyofBritian (1)

“In the third edition (1797) #circumcision is described as “the act of cutting off the prepuce; a ceremony in the Jewish and Mahometan religions.” Discussion focuses around “strange middle eastern traditions”. Little division is made between male or female circumcision: (2) #i2

“Circumcision is practised on women by cutting off the foreskin of the clitoris, which bears a near resemblance and analogy to the praeputium of the male penis.”(3) #fgm #i2 #historyofcircumcision

The ninth edition (1876) keeps its perspective, no mention of #circumcision as a medical procedure & rejects sanitary/hygienic explanations of its emergence in favor of religious ones: “Like other bodily mutilations . . . [it is] of the nature of a representative sacrifice.” (4)

11th edition (1910) has been turned on its head: “This surgical operation, commonly prescribed for purely medical reasons, is also an initiation or religious ceremony among Jews and Mahommedans.” Suddenly circumcision is a medical procedure & only after a religious rite. (5) #i2

The entry explains that “in recent years the medical profession has been responsible for its considerable extension…for reasons of health.”#historyofcircumcision #i2 #childrights #historyofbritain #endinfantcircumcision (6)

“By 1929 the entry is much reduced in size, consists of a brief description of the operation- “done as a preventive measure in the infant” & “performed chiefly for purposes of cleanliness”readers are referred to the entries for “Mutilation” & “Deformation” for religious #circ (7)

Encyclopedias offer us a view into the cultural narrative of Britain at the time. Any Brit (usually one of means & wealth) would crack open this book & except practical unbiased explanations. So in 1910 circ would be purely a medical exercise.

What you also see here is Britain creating an evolving cultural narrative for itself. While they internalized what they once saw as foreign, strange. They still make clear distinction between #British #circumcision & the “deforming” foreign religious acts.

Part of that processes is not just found in encyclopedias but in the over medicalization of the act, & by entirely dropping the previous clear comparisons made to #FGM. It was almost like they felt a defensiveness against Fathers & Grandfathers opinions of circ.

It’s also clear they were fighting against their own cognitive dissidence. How they squared their own #islamophobia & anti semitism against taking up a ritual that till recently had ONLY been associated with those groups. #historyofcircumcision #i2 #mgm

This history highlights an important point. #Antisemitism is often a criticism against #intactivists with the rationale that Western circumcision rose as an extension of religious customs. Yet the originators of British circ created a clear divided out of their own hatred.

We walk a perilous line with many body autonomy issues. #Abortion, genital cutting practices. Any time you stand up for a humans right to choice, u infringe upon long standing cultural beliefs. There is beauty in cultural traditions, but not at the cost of basic #bodyautonomy #i2