For context, I’m circumcised and expecting a son and my wife and I are torn about the circ. We’re American so from a cultural standpoint circumcision is the default choice. Thing is, there’s no real benefit besides practicing a religion we don’t believe in, and I’m uncomfortable about cutting the tip of my son’s dick off.

On the other side, I’ve met a guy who was bullied in high school so bad for it he got a circ as an adult. Apparently crazy painful recovery. I’ve also talked to women who are generally grossed out by uncircumcised men. I don’t want to make him feel like something’s wrong with him his whole life because I was uncomfortable with the idea.

From a moral standpoint I’m against it, but from a social and cultural standpoint I feel like I should do it? It’s a crappy situation. If there’s any uncircumcised American men who want to talk about their penis I’m all ears.

Edit: I really appreciate everyone’s responses I never expected to hear from so many people. With the decision hinging on social and cultural norms it’s been really helpful to be able to take the temperature like this. I obviously need to talk to my wife, but given the overwhelming support of dick hats I don’t thing we’re going to do it. Thanks, lemmings!

  • MagicShel@lemmy.zip
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    19 hours ago

    Circ’d here but I’ve struggled with this decision myself. Lucked out in the matter and had girls. Society has changed. Circ rates have recently fallen just below 50% national average (much higher in the Midwest).

    If your only reason for considering it is to match his peers, you can have no concerns either way.

    That said, I do think people make a much bigger deal about this decision than it really is 99% of the time. You’re going to make thousands of decisions for your kids and most are more impactful than whether they have a penis hat or not. Saw someone here saying circing flat out makes you a bad parent. I don’t expect they are a parent because that’s not the kind of decision that keeps me up at night wondering if I fucked up, you know?

    Go with your gut and it’ll be fine.

    • Rikudou_Sage@lemmings.world
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      13 hours ago

      Yeah, mutilating your kid’s penis is not something keeping you up at night. I wouldn’t say everyone who does it is a bad parent, some are just misinformed and some cave in under societal pressure.

      People like you, though, definitely are bad parents.