#normative male alexithymia

[itsbansheebitch]

How to Word THIS

I tried rewriting this post so many times. I'm going to try bullet points instead.

I think all of these are good/true:

From my experience as an afab person raised similarly to a boy due to my father wanting a boy, I can confidently say that the emotional suppression that men and boys experience on a daily basis is frankly, inhumane.

Parents shouldn't speculate their kid(s) gender/sexuality/etc just because their kid is showing certain behaviors/having certain interests that aren't stereotypical for their assigned gender.

Parents should allow kids space to explore gender/sexuality, but make sure not to push them into anything.

Parents should allow their kids space to explore gender/sexuality, but make sure that their kid is first and foremost SAFE and HAPPY.

Emotional suppression is expected of men/boys, but science agrees that emotional suppression is in short, BAD FOR YOU.

"Be a man" is often used as a slap in the face to keep men/boys in line. You can imagine this isn't ideal if a boy is reporting bullying in school or a man is trying to bring up unsafe working conditions.

A lot of women have trauma about men (including myself), but this doesn't mean that a whole marginalized group should be excluded from sports (We're not going to re-segregate sports just because some people have trauma related to black people, are we?)

Men & boys' emotions should not only be accepted but ENCOURAGED!

Black men's emotions have been demonized for CENTURIES. Make sure to raise an eyebrow when you hear a black man experiencing anger described as "animalistic" or described with any other dehumanizing language.

Stop expecting men to do things you don't expect women to do! If you don't expect women to chase CEO positions, don't ask why a man isn't a CEO yet! Just like how you shouldn't expect a woman to be a wife and mother by 25 if that's not what you're expecting of men. And if you are having those kinds of standards then maybe lower them because both sides and both genders are extremely unrealistic!

Men aren't given the tools to describe their emotions! If you are wondering what a man thinks about a topic, a decision, etc, give them time to respond and let them know they have time to think! Give them time to think about their answer. If they want (ASK) you can offer an Emotion Wheel or a few (metaphorical) Mad Libs for them to start their answer with.

Alexithymia (also known as emotional colorblindness) is a phenomenon when someone has trouble describing their emotions. They feel all their emotions normally, but they struggle describing them or giving them detail.

Normative Male Alexithymia is a type of Alexithymia. It is called "Normative Male..." because in a lot of cultures (specifically western cultures) it is normal for men to suppress their emotions to the point of having trouble recalling names of emotions or describing them in detail when asked.

Alexithymia/Normative Male Alexithymia is a BIG reason why a lot of men struggle in therapy. It is also the reason why I, myself struggled (to communicate my thoughts) in therapy. Because I was raised to suppress my emotions and not communicate my thoughts.

I truly believe that if my upbringing was even a HINT a SLICE a BREATH a WHISPER a TINY BIT of what the average boy's upbringing is like, then our collective, societal treatment of men and boys is inhumane and inexcusable.

I know any boy or man that makes a post even hinting something like this would be attacked. This isn't me being a pick-me, this is me telling you that my dad was prepared to raise boys, he got girls, and I got a VERY different perspective because of it. I'm telling you right now that if how I was treated was even a hint of what the average boy gets growing up, then we owe men an apology. I'm not joking. This is not satire.

People talk about intersectionality, but rarely actually NAME boys and men as being a part of the discussion (unless they're the "villain"). I think we should do so more often. They are ALSO getting the short end of the stick. (Expecting to be part of an "Atom Family" and work ALL DAY??? NO THANKS)

#lgbt #lgbtqia #lgbtq #lgbtq+ #queer #trans rights #nonbinary #intersex #intersectionality #genderqueer #gender #politics #us politics #world politics #feminism #mental health #alexithymia #normative male alexithymia #unrealistic expectations #suppressing emotions

[nando161mando]

Normative Male Alexithymia

#Normative Male Alexithymia #normative #male #Alexithymia #science #psychology #psychiatry #161 #1312 #class war #anti patriarchy #fuck the patriarchy #smash the patriarchy #patriarchy #ausgov #politas #auspol #tasgov #taspol #australia #fuck neoliberals #neoliberal capitalism #anthony albanese #albanese government #oppression #repression #anti capitalism #fascism #eat the rich #eat the fucking rich

[penguinsarebetter]

is there anything more girly pop than listening to yummy x righteous while reading about MNA

#male normative alexithymia #MNA #alexithymia #mental health #yummyxrigheous #jokes aside #we have some issues to work out #femimism

[blue-grama]

Old Fashion Cupcake: This is an office romance!

... and also a surprisingly concise exploration of midlife, gendered expectations, learning more about yourself in adulthood, and accepting and embracing change. My Personal Weatherman: This is a kinky show about an exceedingly undernegotiated D/s relationship! ... and also a suprisingly concise exploration of individualism versus interdependency in couplehood, normative male alexithymia, domesticity as love, and public versus private selves.

#japanese bl #old fashion cupcake #my personal weatherman #segasaki x yoh #togawa x nozue #PS this is not an endorsement of exceedingly undernegotiated D/s relationships IRL

[maaarine]

The secret of OnlyFans: It's much more than porn (Marta Biino and Madeline Berg, Business Insider, Jan 18 2024)

"OnlyFans has become a place for users — the majority of whom are men — to fill their emotional needs.

Many creators on the platform aren't just selling photos and videos; they're selling connections.

"Microtransactions" — such as pay-per-message chatting or custom content — pay-per-view videos, and tips account for over 50% of OnlyFans' revenue, which hit over $1 billion in 2022, the last year for which data is available.

Walter, for instance, pays hundreds of dollars whenever he chats with Farrah.

(…)

Sweetheart has made well over half of the $2.6 million she's earned on the platform since 2020 from direct messages.

"The queen of sexting," as she calls herself, spends up to eight hours a day chatting.

She said she'd developed such close relationships with her "boyfriends" that she doesn't ask them for money for daily content — they give her a spontaneous "tip" depending on their interaction with her.

OnlyFans creator Jade Nicole has a free account with safe-for-work photos and another account — with a $14.99 a month price tag — with more explicit content. Clients pay extra to message her, unlock pay-per-view content, and receive custom content.

For $600 a month, Jade offers the "girlfriend experience": near-constant messaging and access to her personal-cell number.

(…)

The idea of finding companionship in sex work is nothing new, and many experts said that OnlyFans is an evolution of phone-sex lines, strip clubs, and chatrooms — all places where men have sought connection.

The difference with OnlyFans, though, is the accessibility: No longer do people have to hide in bathrooms with a running faucet to call a phone-sex operator or sneak out of the house to go to a strip club.

"The more advanced the technology becomes, the more problems we see," Weiss said.

(…)

A lot of it comes down to masculine norms — specifically "normative male alexithymia," which is characterized by difficulty in recognizing and expressing emotions.

For some, it's easier to open up on OnlyFans than it is to be vulnerable to family or friends.

"They could consider themselves above the woman because she's a sex worker, and that enables them to feel OK about violating the masculine norms," Levant said."

#article #weaker sex

[jimbr549]

Woman Explains The Male Condition That's Ruining Relationships — 'Our Marriages Are Ending Because Of One Thing Only' https://www.yourtango.com/entertainment/normative-male-alexithymia-ruins-most-relationships

Men need to express emotions in relationships. Hold back, or in is not helping those around them.

[who-canceled-roger-rabbit]

Trauma spitballing, gender wank, and armchair psychology under the cut; not fully endorsed

Okay, so lately I've been suspecting I have either borderline personality disorder or trauma symptoms that look awfully similar in some respects (and honestly the boundary between BPD and CPTSD is already blurry as fuck so what the hell). But recently I've been wondering if a lot of AMAB people are suffering from something like "normative male BPD" (in the same spirit as normative male alexithymia).

Okay, it sounds counterintuitive given that BPD is stereotypically seen as a feminine diagnosis. Obviously, in a lot of cases it might not be severe enough to warrant, like, a clinical diagnosis. I doubt diagnosable BPD is as widespread among men as diagnosable alexithymia is, at any rate.

But like, take a look at some of the symptoms of borderline personality disorder:

Emotional dysregulation, often involving intense anger

Recklessness and impulsivity

Fear of abandonment

Unstable sense of self

Unstable relationships characterized by "splitting" between idealizing and resenting the other person, often focused on a specific "favorite person"

Yeah, all that sounds like classic symptoms of toxic masculinity too. In particular, lately I've been noticing: as a transbian who's still in boymode most of the time, the idea of laser-focused love toward one "favorite person" perfectly describes how I learned, consciously or not, that I was supposed to relate to intimacy. It's no wonder The Straights Aren't All Right.

This last bit is the most armchair-wanky of all, but maybe one reason BPD is overdiagnosed in women is that those symptoms are less normalized in women (at least when they present the same way that they do in guys).

#there's a they wolf in my closet #gender #discourse #traumaposting #psychology #toxic masculinity

[kinka-juice]

You talk about men's issues, but you ignore the big one. Men are sexually indiscriminate enough to just take what they can get, meaning women can afford to be pickier, meaning men who aren't hot or high-status enough can't get laid. You mention body shaming against men without mentioning that the real misery of being bald and short is women won't fuck you. Men don't mind circumcision or hostile schools. A man could be on a slave galley and still be happy if the slave driver was a hot dominatrix.

Hey, I know you're trying to be inflammatory here - making people disgusted makes you feel more vindicated in your belief that you are being wronged by everyone. I do want to try and take this with some good faith and extend some compassion. And I'm Aroace and all so this belief that sex is the be-all-end-all is absolutely alien to me. But I do think you are being wronged, but not in the way you think.

Is sex really this key issue, or is it that men are socialized such that the only form of intimacy you are really allowed to have after boyhood is with sexual partners? Do you need the physical sensation of sex, or do you need the emotional release? Do you want a Domme to make it okay to suffer and cry, or feel okay to let go of societal obligations and just rely on someone else? If you just wanted the physical pleasure, there's certainly other ways to get it.

Emotionally healthy people don't think access to sex is more important than children suffering. This is indicative of things like Normative Male Alexithymia. It's like an emotional constipation. And I think you recognize that you need someone to help release it, but think of it as a sexual frustration & anger rather than you need to talk to someone about what you feel and someone to share in your life, and society has taught you that the way to release this constipated feeling is with a sex partner. Everyone does need supportive people in their life, but that support can come from all kinds of people you don't have sex with.

And if sex is the core root of it, wouldn't it be important that your pleasure is not greatly reduced by a cosmetic procedure we inflict on infants? One that literally kills?

Yeah, I'm doing a lot of armchair psychology here, but I'm trying to extend a compassionate hand because I don't think this was really sent in good faith or a passion for Men's Lib or Egalitarianism. I do sincerely think that the focus on sex as the "real solution to men's problems" is indicative of some deeper issues and I think seeking a therapist with knowledge of Normative Male Alexithymia might help, or a sex therapist. You're obviously not happy, and talking to someone about it sincerely helps.

#Men's Lib #Incel

[jupitercomet]

I'm so honored that my ramblings have inspired a meme @littlemiss-n. And now, in honor of that, I'll ramble some more about what's wrong with Bradley.

So, as I've extensively complained, I'm writing this soul-sucking literature review on empathy. While researching, I stumbled upon this term - alexithymia. It basically means the inability to recognize and describe your own emotions. NOW! There's research that, actually, the better you're able to recognize and express your emotions, the more empathetic you're (it's not like the only requirement for high empathy but still). WHAT'S MORE! Despite this, the condition is usually related to people on the autism spectrum and the conduct disorder. But also with people who have suffered from some sort of traumatic event (self-explanatory). ALSO, there's something called NORMATIVE MALE ALEXITHYMIA. And it's basically the same thing found in men reared to conform to traditional masculine norms!

Let's circle back to jtldm - Bradley was an emotionally constipated asshole incapable of expressing human emotions to save HIS LIFE. UNTIL Dove had the accident. But what actually happened - Bradley was *forced* to actually consider and recognize his own emotions. And he had both traumatic events happen to him (shown in his thoughts and flashback of fear of everyone abandoning him) and the traditional masculine norms (time period)!!!!

Okay, sorry, I screamed, I just got super excited. I swear, I feel like all the Bugsington citizens share a hive mind - the synchronicities are wild. Also, sorry, I just (over) psychoanalyzed Bradley.

the cat impact is too real ✊😌

the fact that I unintentionally gave jtldm!Bradley all the predispositions to not be able to feel empathy — y'all need to never allow me to be romantically involved with a man 😭. but actually that is so fascinating and something I will be taking into consideration with the rest of the boys in the bcu, thank you!!

and stop apologizing 😤😤 no more, I'm outlawing it!!! it is now a crime in bugsington to apologize for talking to me, effective immediately 😤

#acatwriteshere #what's up doc

[uncloseted]

Do all/most have anger issues? I’ve been exploring reddit and it’s like everyone’s husband is anger issues and rages when anything little happens and they get overwhelmed. I’m a very patient person and it takes a lot to get me angry like that. Is it unrealistic to expect that sort of thing from a male partner? Am I always gonna have to walk on eggshells? (i grew up with a father who raged and i’m getting sick of seeing it in my parents. like grow up and stop throwing a fit over EVERYTHING. none of them ever wanna go to therapy either ffs)

I definitely wouldn't say that it's all men. I do know some men who naturally just kind of have the disposition of a monk. But generally, I think a lot of men, especially men in the US, are raised with this idea that anger is the only acceptable emotion, to the point where some of them don't recognize that anger is an emotion at all. And so this creates a situation where sadness, disappointment, frustration, anxiety, tiredness, unmet needs, etc. are all expressed as anger, because expressing them as what they are is "unmanly". As a result, a lot of men genuinely struggle to recognize their emotions because they're discouraged from developing emotional fluency as children. This is so common it actually has a name- "normative male alexithymia".

That said, I don't think anger issues are something that their partners (especially their female partners) should be expected to put up with. It's on those men to do the emotional work that's necessary to unlearn the toxic ways that they were raised and to learn how to handle their emotions in a healthier way. When I was on dating apps, I used to have "has been to therapy" as a green flag on my profile, with the idea that men who have been to therapy are more likely to have the tools to handle their emotions, so maybe that's a good place to start if you're searching for a potential partner.

[gatheringbones]

[“This is how childhood works for so many men, and John was no different. His father valued “discipline,” much as my grandfather, who punished my dad when he was a kid, and beat into John the sense that to be a man was to be unemotional, and that any violation of that expectation was to be met with retribution.

That violence then serves as the acceptable means of communication for men, which is problematic because, as one of the world’s foremost experts on violence, Dr. James Gilligan, has maintained, “the emotion of shame is the primary or ultimate cause of all violence.” Because men are taught that they should not have emotions, and that any violation should result in violent reprimand, they are caught in a perpetual cycle. They socialize their children with violence, thus perpetuating the violence moving forward. Then, when they suffer inevitable strain due to their inability to hold themselves up to impossible standards, that shame manifests itself in violence.

They are left with only the ability to express themselves through anger and violence because, as Victor J. Seidler writes in Unreasonable Men: Masculinity and Social Theory, “a whole range of ‘softer’ emotions like sadness, tenderness, fear, are often displaced into anger because this can be seen as affirming rather than threatening our masculine identity.” With emotions like sadness, tenderness, and fear being gendered, not to mention a whole range of more complicated actions that rely on those baseline emotions’ being not only accepted but put into action, like empathy or intimacy, men who practice traditional masculinity are left with little way to express themselves other than to lash out. In fact, a term has been coined to explain the condition: normative male alexithymia. The argument here is that men have been taught and conditioned so much to hide and deny their feelings that they’ve actually lost the ability to communicate them, meaning they are more likely to express themselves through anger and violence than words.

Again, this is in no way an excuse for what my stepfather, John, did. If I were to see him in real life now, I’d love nothing more than to beat the living hell out of him. In researching this book, I was reacquainted with an intense hatred I’d held for years, and wanted to find him and seek retribution for what he had done to my mother and me, but it’s important to examine the factors that contributed to his behavior in an effort to address these issues in a real and meaningful way because, as long as we raise our boys to believe that emotions are unmasculine, or that they are signs of weakness, and as long as we use violence as a means of enforcement, we’re going to continue raising men who abuse their partners and their children, and who often react to economic shame by enacting violence against others.

John was a living embodiment of just how messed up a working-class man could be. He went to a job he hated, suffered indignities he couldn’t process psychologically for fear of being less of a man, and then brought home that stress and took it out on his family. In the process, to make up for his own inadequacies, he controlled his wife socially and economically, ensuring that his male privilege and patriarchal entitlement, those saving graces of an untenable masculine system, were still entrenched. He suffered in silence and then made damn sure those around him suffered as well.”]

jared yates sexton, from the man they wanted me to be: toxic masculinity and a crisis of our own making

#jared yates sexton #gender stuff #currently reading #cw abuse

[padawanlost]

I know about the tusken raiders whole shebang. But Anakin killing innocent kids? Just seems so OOC to me. Definitely a part of his story and how he truly transformed, morally especially. But now in the final season of tcw... it just feels iffy to me

Anakin killing innocents is not OOC because he didn’t do it because he enjoyed it, desired it or even planned it. it was never premeditated. His crimes were the result of his inability to deal with reality in a healthy, productive way. Anakin slaughtered the tusken raiders because he had no other idea of how to deal with his grief and anguish. Most people who have experienced such cruelty and injustice have felt that desire to take matters into their own hands. Most people know better than to act on such impulses. Anakin didn’t. Without anyone there to help him, he acted the way he *felt* was right. 

Anakin Skywalker experiences these five stages when his mother is kidnapped and killed by Tusken Raiders,6 and we can trace his actions through each stage. He is in denial as he pleads for his dying mother to “stay with me, Mom.” He quickly moves into the anger stage and slaughters everyone in the Tusken Raider camp. Later, when Padmé brings him food, Anakin declares, “Someday, I will be the most powerful Jedi ever,” able to protect those he loves. Unfortunately for Anakin and everyone in his path, he does not reach the stages of depression or acceptance. Instead, he remains in the bargaining stage, which eventually leads him to side with Emperor Palpatine to prevent the death of Padmé.[…] Anakin Skywalker’s trajectory is that of chronic dysfunction. His losses affect him throughout his lifespan and guide his choices. His lack of resilience prompts him to act out his anger and hurt. The pain he experiences eventually leads him to embrace the dark side and become Darth Vader.

Although research has been conducted on the emotional mechanisms of loss, ongoing research is proceeding apace. A disorder currently being researched for inclusion in the diagnostic manual used by psychologists is called persistent complex bereavement disorder (PCBD). In PCBD, the feelings associated with grief last longer than expected for the bereavement process. Though the time frame is longer, PCBD involves the same symptoms as bereavement. PCBD may also be diagnosed when the loss is traumatic in nature. If the trauma leads to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a person might exhibit symptoms of both PTSD and PCBD. In that case, PTSD is a reaction to avoid reminders of the trauma and PCBD is a preoccupation with the loss.

[...] Grief, for men, can be complicated by a phenomenon known as normative male alexithymia, a mild condition wherein men are unable to put feelings into words. This stems from the socialization of men to eschew emotions for fear of appearing weak or vulnerable. Instead, vulnerable feelings are channeled into “acceptable” male emotions, such as anger.

[…] Men’s inability to voice their feelings and societal pressure to act in a masculine fashion directly interfere with the processing of grief. During grief, a time of intense sadness and loss, men who have learned to avoid these very feelings may suffer difficulty coping or recovering. Out of fear of these feelings, some men seek to avoid experiencing them at all by engaging in behaviors such as substance use or by channeling those feelings into the more “appropriate” emotion of anger, which may lead to hate, suffering, and the dark side.[Dark Side of the Mind: Star Wars Psychology. Grief and Masculinity: Anakin the Man by Billy San Juan]

Anakin killing innocents because he enjoyed killing innocents would’ve been OOC. Anakin killing innocents due of a lifetime of untreated traumas and pressures makes perfect sense for the character.

#ask #anon #anakin skywalker #sw meta #meta: anakin #txt

[islamicrays]

Society tells men they can't express emotions besides anger, and that's a men's issue more people need to address.

We're under constant pressure to emulate the “Marlboro Man”; tough, independent, and perpetually stoic character. This applies to men all over the globe. This results in a condition called Normative Male Alexithymia (NMA), where men bottle their emotions and fail to express them productively thanks to societal factors.

To my fellow men, it is absolutely critical that you admit to yourself that it's ok to feel sad, happy, or sensitive. Act accordingly – seek help when needed and express yourself to your friends, family or therapist.

Qasim Rafique

#ummah #mentalhealth #selfimprovement #hope #quotes #relationship #men

[radiqueer]

‘male normative alexithymia’ is such a depressing set of words 

#what am i reading? #mental illness #misandry #feminism and men #original

[lastsonlost]

Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg heads a coalition between the Conservatives and the Progress Party, which is the third largest party in the country with 29 of the 169 seats in parliament.

The party leader, Siv Jensen, told the Aftenposten newspaper that she was against forbidding circumcision.

The reportedly last-minute and chaotic voting schedule meant that the proposed compromise - banning state funding for circumcision - failed.

Ms Jensen insisted the move was not designed to target minorities and that her party had consistently defended Israel.

The vote in Norway comes a day after Belgium’s Parliament of Wallonia voted in favour of banning ritual slaughter, which would affect Jewish kosher and Muslim halal rituals. It comes into effect in September 2019.

“This is very sad,” Ervin Kohn, a Jewish community leader in Norway, told Aftenposten.

“They [the Progress Party] must know they won’t get a majority for this in Parliament. It seems like they want to send a signal that we are unwelcome in the country.”

He tweeted encouragement for Norwegian voters to support “any other party” in the election this autumn.

Another opposing voice came from Rabbi Menachem Margolin, general director of the European Jewish Association. He wrote a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to call for collaboration between European Jewish organisations and government to prevent the proliferation of anti-Jewish legislation.

“I have no doubt that the State of Israel – the state of the Jewish people – cannot remain indifferent to it, and I call on you to exert all your political influence in order to prevent the exclusion of Jews from life in various European countries,” the letter read.

At its national conference, the Progress Party also voted against the wearing of hijabs in public schools. The move follows the party’s third deputy, Aina Stenersen, calling last September for the ban of full-body swimsuits worn by some Muslim woman.

FrP’s former leader, Carl Hagen, wants to ban municipal employees in Oslo from wearing the hijab and other religious symbols.

The party also voted in favour of dual citizenship, and is assured of a majority vote in favour of the measure in Parliament. If someone holds dual citizenship and is found to have violated asylum or immigration regulations, the party argued it would be easier to strip that person of Norwegian citizenship and deport them.

FOR MORE ON WHY CIRCUMCISION IS FUCKED......STRAPPED IN!!

Intactivist linksThis list is mostly an effort to consolidate old bookmarks and fix links I'd bookmarked that were broken. It'll be updated as I find new links, or have to fix broken links. Be aware that links to images or videos are probably NSFW, given that this is a discussion involving genitals.

My writing on the topic:

No Justification for routine neonatal circumcision, part 1, fallacious medical arguments

No Justification for routine neonatal circumcision, part 2, unmerited social support The first article includes a lot of links to information supporting the assertions I've made.

Those links are also included among the links below on this page.

Videos:

Doctor Discusses Circumcision Controversy

The Prepuce Anatomy and Physiology of the Foreskin Video I originally had linked here was removed from youtube, but this one is excellent.

Child Circumcision: An Elephant in the Hospital   ♦

Whose body, whose rights

Difference Between: Male & Female Circumcision

Discussion after screening of the movie "Cut."

Related to Cut, the Film: Debate with Rabbi Shmuley Boteach Eli Ungar-Sargon offers facts and logic; Rabbi Shmuley preaches, ridicules, and mocks, even after hearing evidence.

Brian D Earp, scientist and ethicist; discusses why there's no moral difference between male and female circumcision. ††

More from Brian D Earp on comparing male circumcision to female circumcision †††

Brian D. Earp; Female genital mutilation and male circumcision: toward an autonomy-based ethical framework

The Penis - Sex education 101  ††††

Water Bear Brigade: Circumcision, male and female

Doctors on Circumcision:

doctorsopposingcircumcision.org/

Doctors Opposing Circumcision HIV Statement

Medical Association Position Statements

Doctors Opposing Circumcision - Publications

Medical Organizations Statements on Circumcision

How the circumcision solution in Africa will increase HIV infections

Circumcision as a prophylactic against STIs and cancer

NORM COHEN: Circumcision AIDS Fraud

U.S. Navy Finds That Circumcision Does Not Prevent HIV or STIs

Male Circumcision and the HIV/AIDS Myth

Circumcision and Sexually Transmitted Infections

Circumstitions.com: Circumcision and the HIV prevention myth

Circumcision in HIV-infected men and its effect on HIV transmission to female partners in Rakai, Uganda: a randomised controlled trial

PrePex in Rwanda: Male Circumcision Associated with Higher HIV Transmission and Higher Profits

Sub-Saharan and African randomized clinical trials into male circumcision and HIV transmission: Methodological, ethical, and legal concerns

STD prevalence over time: Europe vs U.S.

American Cancer Society: Penile cancer and circumcision

Circumcision the most common risk factor for hepatitis B & C infection in men in Nigeria †

Phimosis: Is circumcision necessary?

Anatomy and function

Functions of the Foreskin: Purposes of the Prepuce

Fine-touch pressure thresholds in the adult penis

Study: Circumcision Removes Most Sensitive Parts

Damage

Leaked Audio Shows Doctors’ Association LYING About Effects Of Circumcision On The Penis

Ritual circumcision and risk of autism spectrum disorder in 0- to 9-year-old boys: national cohort study in Denmark

Adult Circumcision Outcomes Study: Effect on Erectile Function, Penile Sensitivity, Sexual Activity and Satisfaction

Alexithymia and Circumcision Trauma: A Preliminary Investigation

Circumcisionharm.org

Male circumcision and sexual function in men and women: a survey-based, cross-sectional study in Denmark Circumcision was associated with frequent orgasm difficulties in Danish men and with a range of frequent sexual difficulties in women, notably orgasm difficulties, dyspareunia and a sense of incomplete sexual needs fulfillment.

Estimated U.S. Incidence of Neonatal Circumcision Complications (physical only) Affecting Males Born between 1940 and 1990

100+ circumcision deaths each year in United States

Lost Boys: An Estimate of U.S. Circumcision-Related Infant Deaths

Toddler's tragic death after circumcision

Baby dies in circumcision

A Gallery of Botched Circumcisions[NSFW]

Male Circumcision: Pain, Trauma and Psychosexual Sequelae

Study Links Circumcision to Personality Trait Disorder

Other Research:

72 peer-reviewed studies

Circumcision and law

Is circumcision legal? Does it matter?

Changes in the practice

Circumcision: Then and Now (How the procedure has become more dramatic)

Timeline of the medicalization of circumcision **

From Ritual to Science, the Medical Transformation of Circumcision in America

Mythbusting

Myths about Circumcision You Likely Believe

More Circumcision Myths You May Believe: Hygiene and STDs

NoCirc PA (archive) Myths vs Facts

Follow the money:

Circumcision: Who Profits?

Wrinkle Treatment Uses Babies' Foreskins

Interest in circumcision more than foreskin deep

Sale of Neonatal Dermal Fibroblasts is quite lucrative.

Hair Loss Treatment Uses Baby Foreskins

Human Foreskins are Big Business for Cosmetics

Babies’ foreskins used to make cosmetics. Is this ethical?

The Foreskin Mafia

American Bias (1) (2)

Circumfetish

NoCirc.com Articles on Circumcision

For Jewish Readers:

How “Cut” Saved My Son’s Foreskin: A Movie Review By Diane Targovnik

Cut, the film Q & A

Jewish Circumcision Critics Integral in National Circumcision Debate

Jewish Circumcision: An Alternative Perspective by Jenny Goodman, MD.

On Alternative Rituals by Ronald Goldman, Ph.D.

Jewish Intactivism: Circumcision Resources

Jewish Intactivism Part II

Jewish Intactivism Part III, More Jewish Parents Are Skipping Circumcision, Keeping New Sons Intact

Jewish Voices: The Current Judaic Movement to End Circumcision: Part 1

Jewish Voices: The Current Judaic Movement to End Circumcision: Part 2

Jewish Voices: The Current Judaic Movement to End Circumcision: Part 3

Jewish Circumcision Resource Center

Jews Against Circumcision

Beyond the Bris

Brit Shalom

What is a Jewish Bris Shalom (Covenant Without Cutting)? A 'Bloodless Bris' is Becoming Popular Among American Jews How Judaic is circumcision? An Israeli Hebrew scholar on Biblical intactivism.

100+ Rabbis and Celebrants who lead intact covenant ceremonies worldwide.

Song for a Brit Shalom.

Bris B'lee Milah Ceremony

A Bris Shalom Ceremony

Judaism, the Foreskin and Human Rights.

Rabbis on a Brit Shalom / Covenant without Circumcision

Humanistic Jewish Movement is Increasingly Intactivist

Jewish Ethical Advancement, the Foreskin, and Human Rights | Part 1.

Jewish Ethical Advancement, the Foreskin, and Human Rights | Part 2.

Jewish Ethical Advancement, the Foreskin, and Human Rights | Part 3.

Israeli Intactivist Groups (Mostly in Hebrew)

Israeli Association Against Circumcision / Intact Son

Protect the Child / Eran Saddeh

Kahal (Jewish & Israeli Parents of Intact Sons)

Intactivism Spreads in Israel. This Time by Jews. (Israeli Intactivist Ads)

Jewish Intactivist Resources and Groups

Cut: A Movie by a Jewish Intactivist.

Questioning Circumcision. A Jewish Perspective By Ron Goldman, Ph.D.

Beyond the Bris Weblog by Rebecca Wald.

Jews Against Circumcision (Bay Area)

Jewish Intactivist Families: Jewish Parents' Experiences Keeping their Sons Intact.

Jewish Family in Vancouver Canada Opts for a Brit Shalom

A Jewish Father's Brit Shalom Journey

Laura Stanley: A Jewish Woman and Midwife Denounces Circumcision

Tikkun: Michael Kimmel: The Kindest Un-Cut: Feminism, Judaism, and My Son's Foreskin

Circumcision Questions (Letter from an Intact Jew). | Published in the Northern California Jewish Bulletin.

Jewish Daily Forward: Outlawing Circumcision: Good for the Jews? By Eli Ungar-Sargon. Published in the Jewish Daily Forward.

Dear Elijah: A Conservative Jewish Father's Letter to His Intact Son | Published on Peaceful Parenting.

Stacey Greenberg: My Son: The Little Jew with a Foreskin

The debate on neonatal male circumcision isn't and shouldn't be about women, but here are some links for those who think it should.

How Male Circumcision Harms Women

Why feminists should be anti-circumcision

Similarities in Attitudes and Misconceptions toward Infant Male Circumcision in North America and Ritual Female Genital Mutilation in Africa

Neonatal circumcision vs female circumcision - though comparison should not matter to the discussion on the right or wrong of performing circumcision on infants, here are some links for those who think it should.

FGC vs MGC

Difference Between: Male & Female Circumcision

On the Good for the goose, good for the gander front, many arguments used to support neonatal circumcision are the same arguments used to support female circumcision

Female circumcision does not reduce sexual activity

The Association between Female Genital Mutilation ( FGM ) and the Risk of HIV/AIDS in Kenyan Girls and Women (15-49 Years)

Yes to female circumcision?

Medical benefits of female circumcision

INDONESIA: Health official claims 'female circumcision is not genital mutilation'

Two studies have reported that FGC is associated with decreased risk of HIV.

*Note - many of these links I obtained either from

this page

or by researching broken/outdated links on it. I've put them here to have them in a place that's easy to find. I will update this page as I run across new links.

#circumcision

[autismandhyperreality-blog]

Autism. A person centred analysis.

Autism. What are we? Studies on chimps have shown that if they exist in groups of over 100 members then social cohesion breaks down and the individuals lose their identity within the group. The human mind isn't as clever as it seems. The introduction of T.V and the internet has tricked the brain into believing that we exist in a group of billions of individuals. It has a knock on effect on other psychological conditions. If you look at T.V and everyone is beautiful your brain, subconsciously, makes that standard the norm. That's partly why there has been a spike in "mental health" conditions globally over the last 50 years, as our perceived reality isn't our actual reality. An autistic brain is designed to be autonomous. The brain is the mirror reflection of the universe. It is designed that way to interface with our environment. Like 1 paper cup fitting inside another. If one cup is flattened it will not fit. Autistic people are attempting to unflatten the cup and make sense of their perceived environment. The human population has expanded to the point where it has upset nature's balance. For humanity to survive and function in such large numbers, nature can use natural selection to allow the advancement of neuroAtypical individuals whom are better suited to large population densities. The brain itself may also adapt spontaneously to cope by altering the way it functions. I see in hyper reality and have alexithymia, so i am more or less immune to peer pressure and i do not draw my identity from a social structure. To act autonomously the brain may alter hormone levels related to social  bonding and emotions as these serve no purpose in large groups. That in turn will affect reproduction and reduce population size. Many people with an A.S.D have issues such as polycystic ovaries in women or epididymitis in men. Studies on gay men revealed that not all of them have a hormone imbalance but some do. What if those gay people were also on the spectrum as sexuality, for the reason i mentioned, is linked to autism. Is it all connected? Human beings must begin to live in a more natural way. They are interrupting the pattern*( see explanation of pattern below) of life and autism is nature's response. I'm trying to determine if hormone manipulation can correct autistic symptoms in more severe cases such as myself. I consider myself a victim of evolution.

Autism is probably more prevalent in males as the female gender is nature's base setting and "male" has to be "added" so it is easier for nature to intervene at that point. Women also have other skills to promote bonding, for example, better linguistic abilities, that are not hormone driven. This may explain why women present better than men and often go “undiagnosed.” What i mean is that the brain is designed as the perfect jigsaw piece to fit the universe and we construct reality based on that. The universe, through perception, is created individually but usually has a common theme amongst individual people. If we perceive it in a different way to which nature intended, then it breaks part of the jigsaw piece so they do not fit together. This means the perceived and actual realities cannot exist in symbiosis. The brain adapts by altering its regulation in an attempt to compensate for the unnatural pattern created by humanity existing outside of the natural order. We are just an animal after all.

When you are autistic it is like a zoo. I live in the penguin enclosure. The problem is that i'm not a penguin im a camel. No matter how many adaptations are made, that environment will never suit me. I need to create a world with sand and palm trees not ice and water. Do not underestimate the rôle played by hormones. They are the very thing which creates humanity. They are the essence of our “soul.”

Basically, an autistic gene is nature's safeguard to prevent population explosion and maintain balance. The gene is like an actuator in electronics. Switching the fridge light off when you close the door.

I do not have the ability to connect with other people or society. A computer without a modem can’t access the internet. I don’t know how to access collective human consciousness in the same way, so, what am I?

The human brain is more than a biological organ. To understand its workings, to understand what makes us “human,” we must look at it from a microscopic level. The brain and body are designed to exist in perfect balance, but what if that balance is thrown off? Could even subtle changes have a major impact on who we are? Researchers have  noted that there is a colocalization of the UBE3A gene, generally attributed to autism and the AVP gene, attributed to the regulation of the hormone vasopressin.

Interestingly, the rôle of vasopressin appears to be extensive within the human body.

“Autism” is an extremely varied condition and has many possible root causes. I have used myself as a case study in an attempt to find answers and improve my condition.

I’m a forty year old white male of British descent. I have been labelled as “Autistic.”

I have a mild form of craniosynostosis which is abnormal bone development/growth. I noticed during my research that vasopressin has a rôle in bone development and wondered if hormone changes due to an issue in my pituitary gland had caused this. On looking further, there was also a correlation between vasopressin and sleep. It regulates R.E.M sleep on a 24 hour cycle. I have no discernable sleep pattern and often do not sleep for long periods of time (I have been awake for two days as I write this.)

Researchers have noticed a high frequency of autistic individuals also have type 2 diabetes. Vasopressin is a pituitary hormone which acts to promote the retention of water by the kidneys and increase blood pressure. My mouth is often dry and I have suffered migraines since childhood. Could irregularities in the production of this hormone cause fluctuations and increase vascular swelling,impacting my nerve endings and, therefore, contribute to the processing issues I’m experiencing?

It has also been noted that there may be differentials in vasopressin V2 receptors between sexes. There are differences in the way Autistic symptoms affect males and females and I’m wondering if this is why men and women whom are affected present in a different way. As it is a hormone it may also have an impact on regulation of androgens and oxytocin. It has also been noted that there is a higher frequency of polycystic ovaries and epididymitis in female and male Autistic subjects respectively. Is there a connection?

I have had instances of epididymitis and cysts in my scrotal area and subsequent investigation (sti checks and ultrasound) have identified no root cause. Is there an anomaly on a genetic level affecting my production of vasopressin, oxytocin etc?

It has also been noted that vasopressin (AVP) induced motor effects when introduced into the cerebral ventricles. Could an issue with this hormone then account for a high rate of Apraxia amongst Autistic individuals?

I also identify as a gay male. The correlation between sexuality/sexual orientation and autism is well documented and I’m wondering if this is also connected to hormone related issues? (From a microbiological perspective not an ABA therapy one!!)

I have a processing disorder. As these hormones help maintain synaptic integrity, I’m wondering if irregularities in their production/functionality are affecting the degradation and creation of old and new pathways respectively.

Hormones are also attributed to social bonding and interpersonal relationships. Many people on the spectrum, including myself, struggle with these. I have Alexithymia and lack the ability to recognise emotions in myself and others.

I believe my condition and other forms of “Autism” warrant further investigation from a genetic and hormonal perspective.

I do not recognise “Autism” as a diagnosis for any individual. It is a mere blanket term to describe a collection of conditions and is often confused with neurodiversity or neuroAtypicality. There are millions of people suffering through Autistic symptoms globally and i believe we need answers not a label. The medical community must approach each case individually and make any medical intervention person centred.

We deserve answers, not a label. A label of Autism is putting a bandaid on a cut to stop the bleeding, when the cut requires a suture to close it permanently. Treat the cause, not the symptom.

Pattern- Balance. It is a fundamental aspect of nature and our perceived reality. Philosophers and mathematicians have long argued over the meaning of life. Buddha understood balance and its purpose within our universe. Einstein understood relatively. We need to meet in the middle. One of the problems faced in theoretical physics is the unification of gravity with the other forces. It doesn't seem to fit. How can scientists then begin to fathom a unifying field theory if they cannot reconcile this? The answer is simple. So simple, people overlook it. Balance. Gravity, expressed through the deterministic approach of general relativity, exists in macroscopic terms, unlike quantum theory, which deals with microscopic forces. Gravity isn't a force, it is the opposite. Gravity is the result of balance within the universe itself. That's why, theoretically, it can exist multi-dimensionally. Gravity is the result of a perfectly aligned and designed universe, it is what allows matter to have form and is an expression of the other forces. Do not view the universe in terms of objects but in terms of balance. Gravity is the answer, not part of the question. (The Higgs boson is the particle which allows the construct of matter and form, gravity allows its realisation in a physical universe.)

#autism #neuroscience #biology #endocrinologist #neurodiversity #actuallyautistic