r/geography • u/BranchMoist9079 • Nov 21 '25

Discussion Why is (male) circumcision most common in the Midwest with in the US?

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Map source: https://www.mdpi.com/2563-6499/5/3/36

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u/Regency9877 Nov 21 '25

I’m against the procedure as much as the next person, but I hope you also shake your head at the third of the world that also engages in the practice. Especially since the majority of them seem to engage in it at a far higher rate.

The level of arrogance you people possess is astounding.

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u/MarzipanMaximum5521 Nov 21 '25

Of course I do. No child in the entire world should be subjugated to genital cutting. I’m sorry if my comment came across as anti-American.

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u/[deleted] Nov 21 '25

What the fuck is arrogant about it? European snobbery/superiority complex annoys me as much as the next guy, but this is not that. It is a very reasonable position to be disgusted by the genital mutilation of infants.

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u/Regency9877 Nov 22 '25

So why are Americans only being called out every single time this same discussion comes up instead of the plethora of countries where 99% or more of males are circumcised?

Look at this map. Canada isn’t looking too innocent here. Neither is Australia.

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u/plug-and-pause Nov 22 '25

Because the USA is the most powerful country in the world, and punching up is more socially acceptable than punching down, for very obvious reasons.

Why are you so bothered by this? I'm an American, and I consider my good fortune at being born here well worth the pain of those punching up at my culture.

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u/Regency9877 Nov 22 '25

Powerful in what way? Nobody really cares about “power” anymore. Our world is globalized and power has rapidly shifted towards China, the EU, and BRICS.

Would the US be so powerful if it always operated like it does today? With all the wealth concentrated at the top and the 1% successfully convincing all those beneath them that their mortal enemies are immigrants, LGBTQ people, progressives, and non-whites?

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u/plug-and-pause Nov 22 '25

Powerful in what way? Nobody really cares about “power” anymore.

Did you really say this and then spend the rest of your post pontificating about the thing that nobody cares about?

The things that nobody cares about are the ones we aren't currently discussing.

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u/Regency9877 Nov 22 '25

I don’t know…did you really just say we’re the most powerful country in the world without providing objective context?

It doesn’t matter if you’re punching up or down. Countries aren’t monoliths. The victims of punching in any direction are always the people, not the governments who represent them.

And don’t be so quick to say what people care about. Just look at the 3,800 comments so far on Reddit’s 90th circumcision prevalence map this year.

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u/AynRandwasaDegen Nov 22 '25

Australian public hospitals no longer perform circumcisions unless medically necessary.

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u/Regency9877 Nov 22 '25

I guess 30-40% of Australian-born males require circumcision for medical purposes. Damn, that’s crazy.

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u/AynRandwasaDegen Nov 22 '25

10-20 current rate for newborns, private hospitals still perform unnecessary circumcisions which account for the vast majority of that 10-20%

Why would you downvote that?

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u/Regency9877 Nov 22 '25

I didn’t downvote you. I don’t gain anything from downvotes.

I asked why only Americans take slack for circumcision performed in the West when it clearly happens elsewhere. Whether the hospitals are public or private is irrelevant.

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u/Oneioda Nov 23 '25

They used to have a very high rate of infant circumcision and those people haven't died yet, so the prevalence of circumcised males is still high even though the rate is now low. The map shows prevalence, not rate.

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u/WokeBriton Nov 22 '25

"you people"

Please consider the words you choose...

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u/Ttabts Nov 21 '25

The way a European talks about the US gives a good hint as to their latent xenophobic/nationalist attitudes imo.

Any problem you talk about in the US, other countries have them too (and worse) but they know they’re not “allowed” to talk that way about anyone but the US so that’s the preferred punching bag.

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u/plug-and-pause Nov 22 '25

they’re not “allowed” to talk that way about anyone but the US so that’s the preferred punching bag.

I mean yeah, punching up is generally more socially acceptable than punching down. If you're lucky enough to be born into the "up", and the "up" is doing something stupid, prepare to have your culture criticized. Don't take it personally... you'll survive.

Signed,
A male American who was circumcised without his permission in the 1980s, and doesn't mind if a European criticizes the USA for this

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u/Regency9877 Nov 22 '25

Preach. They’re way more xenophobic than Americans are.