CIRCUMCISION SCAR

A writer examines the horrors of male circumcision.

Debut author Jackson explains early on in his autobiographical book that he has quite a few issues with circumcision, including the seemingly standard practice of performing the procedure on male infants in the United States. One of his main arguments is that in the modern-day world, circumcision serves no real purpose and amounts to “sexual mutilation.” And if one truly wants to be circumcised, why not let that individual make the decision as a consenting adult rather than a defenseless child? The volume tells not so much the story of circumcision in general (though a later chapter addresses the work of an early 20th-century advocate named Dr. Peter Charles Remondino) as the author’s personal tale. And it is a story fraught with family trauma, angry urologists, and painful cosmetic surgery. The author details his own apathetic attitude toward religion as well as the struggles he and his husband have faced in a world that has often been unkind to their status as a gay married couple. To say that Jackson’s words are raw would be an understatement. Readers who feel squeamish at the thought of someone’s intricate “taping” routine to try to overcome his circumcision are unlikely to get far in the book. The author’s anger is palpable, though his hostility can become monotonous. His lengthy attack on Remondino (“If circumcision cures all mental illness, then Dr. Remondino’s own cropped penis should have rendered him less of a moron”) could have been summed up more succinctly. Yet Jackson’s honesty provides a new way of looking at a practice that is rarely discussed. In the end, this intriguing subject is not only brought to light, but also done so in an impassioned way.

While repetitive in places, this work delivers a heartfelt attack on an often overlooked topic.