Circumcision, Male

Circumcision, derived from the Latin term circumcidere (to cut around) is a body modification practice involving removal of the foreskin (prepuce) or double-layered fold of skin and mucus membrane that covers the glans of the penis in male gender-assigned individuals. Circumcision, as a medical intervention or symbolic or religious act, continues to cause debate among scholars, medical practitioners, public health advocates, and health care consumers regarding the procedures, risks, and benefits; thus, health communication scholars stand to benefit from better understanding opposing perspectives regarding this controversial practice. For instance, debates on male circumcision, particularly neonatal circumcision, often focus on children's rights related to their agency, autonomy, bodily integrity, and consent for this permanent procedure, and ethical positions among the world's major medical organizations range considerably ...