The Controversy of Circumcision

27min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

This chapter examines the complex societal and emotional dimensions of circumcision, highlighting varying perspectives from both men and women. It discusses the psychological defenses men exhibit regarding the practice, exploring how cultural norms around masculinity impact their perceptions of body image and sexuality. The chapter also navigates historical, theological, and personal narratives that question the traditional significance of circumcision across different cultures.

Some people call it circumcision. I call it male genital mutilation.

In the name of being “normal, under the guise of dubious health claims, America has been waging a war on young men's bodies for decades now – but a new documentary is starting a conversation about why we’re mutilating babies, and I've been waiting for this to happen for years.

Today our guest is Brendon Marotta, the director of American Circumcision.

Like a lot of us, Brendon never really thought about circumcision for most of his life. It already happened and there’s nothing you can do about that, so why bother thinking about it? But this is the most common surgery in America, so it affects people on such a scale and in such a personal way that it’s crazy we aren’t thinking and talking more about it.

If there was another issue that affected, in some way, almost every single person in the country – whether you’re a circumcised man, a partner, or a parent – wouldn’t we be talking about it all the time?

We’re afraid to talk about it because it’s such a taboo subject – but today, we break that taboo and have a much-needed conversation about male genital mutilation.

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

Why Brendon first started investigating circumcision
What inspired him to start making the film
The process of foreskin restoration that some men are undergoing today, which allows them to partially restore that part of their body + other ways men are reclaiming sensation
Giving people permission to talk about this deeply personal subject
How “red pill” moments inspire us to investigate the truth
How society turns men into “success objects” and diminishes anything viewed as complaining
The incredible bravery of standing up to your tribe
How circumcision deprives men of multiple orgasms and a lot of pleasure
Soraya Mire, the heroic female genital mutilation survivor who helped pass the Federal law against FGM in 1996 (which has since been overturned, unfortunately)
The medical and religious history of circumcision
The kind of circumcision described in the Old Testament isn’t even the same kind of circumcision performed today – and in the New Testament, it’s called an abomination
Circumcision began as a cure for masturbation, meant to hinder future sexual development and pleasure
The fake AIDS testing done to prove this surgery’s necessity
What the procedure is like for baby boys (spoiler: it’s horrifying)
The PTSD and trauma that many men likely experience due to going through this painful procedure
Breaking down masculinity and toxic masculinity, and the role of empathy in masculinity
The backlash against American Circumcision and other similar films (like The Red Pill)

More about this episode.

Watch it on YouTube

Connect with Luke on social media to learn how to take your lifestyle to the next level, plus catch exclusive live interviews & events:

INSTAGRAM - @lukestorey // https://www.instagram.com/lukestorey/

FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/MrLukeStorey/

TWITTER - @MrLukeStorey // https://twitter.com/MRLUKESTOREY

YOUTUBE - https://www.youtube.com/c/LukeStorey

THIS SHOW IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

ORGANIFI. I talk about the Organifi green juice a lot because it’s delicious and I eat it every day, but did you know that they also make a red juice? This red juice powder is packed with antioxidants, immune-boosting herbs, and adaptogens like reishi and cordyceps mushrooms (which are really hard to make taste good – I have no idea how they did this). It’s super quick and easy nutrition on-the-go. Save 20% using code “LIFESTYLIST” at http://www.organifi.com/luke.

AND...

TO BE MAGNETIC. Lacy Phillips is a manifestation advisor that specializes in unblocking low self-worth. Following a simple formula based on psychology and neuroscience, this isn’t your typical woo-woo manifestation process. It's about tapping into the subconscious through Deep Imaginings, a form of hypnosis you reach through deep meditation. It’s approachable, quick, accessible, and you can do them from your home. Use the code LUKE for 10% off at https://tobemagnetic.com/luke.

AND…

Joovv. If you’ve been listening for a while or following Luke on social media, you’ve probably seen him raving about red light therapy, or photobiomodulation. There are over 3000 published clinical papers on light therapy – over 200 being double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled – making this arguably the most well-researched bio hack in Luke’s arsenal. Some of the benefits include increased skin health, better muscle recovery, better sexual performance, and reduced joint pain and inflammation. So you can see why Luke is so into it... and why all of his friends keep coming over to use his Joovv device! If you are ready to get your own Joovv device + a FREE gift, head over to http://Joovv.com/luke and enter the code “LUKE” at checkout.

HELP SUPPORT THIS SHOW!

Starting and growing a podcast requires a ton of time, energy, and money. Do you appreciate this information, and want to support my mission to deliver as much life enhancing information as possible to as many people as possible?

The easiest, and most effective way you can help is to do this: