I've just finished a book entitled, PRISONERS OF RITUAL, by Hanny
Lightfoot-Klein, 1989, Harrington Park Press. Anyone interested in delving into
the motivations of a society to circumcise their children - and the obstacles to
changing this practice -  might want to have a read. Wonderfully
non-judgemental, and very readable, though primarily focused on female genital
circumcision (especially the pharaonic version requiring a complete infibulation
of the genital region - only a reed's width bore allowed to remain for passage
of urine and menstrual flow), Chapter 7 considers male circumcision and the
rationale for such. I enjoyed learning about the process of studying first hand
a very intimate ritual (not unlike trying to get at some of the more personal
aspects of breastfeeding) as well as reading about the ritual and the belief
systems that maintain it in the face of grave health risks.

Jeanine Klaus, MS, IBCLC
Oakville, Ontario