Mothers Against
Membership Information

The common thread among members is a stand against non-religious routine infant circumcision. You may declare your membership simply by announcing your commitment to this cause in our Guestbook. You may "join" simply by vowing to yourself that you will communicate about this issue to whoever you know that might benefit from this information or who might pass it on to expectant parents seeking information as they try to make an informed circumcision decision.  Whenever possible, we ask all members to please pass out the MAC web page address to expectant parents, childbirth educators, ob-gyns, pediatricians, gynecologists, nurses, midwives, birthing centers, hospitals, baby stores, etc.  People who argue they don't have a computer can usually access the web through their local libraries at no cost.

Another option is to join AgainstCirc, an e-mail group that is united on this issue. This list is UNMODERATED. Although MAC is referring you to the list, MAC does not always agree with and is not responsible for many of the comments and opinions that are expressed there.  

What types of people join?

Mothers and fathers of intact children and expectant parents,
circumcised men who recognize there is no need for circumcision,
men who are happily intact,
men interested in or who are undergoing restoration,
men who regret having become circumcised later in life,
parents of children who've experienced wrongful circumcisions or complications,
medical professionals, midwives, childbirth educators,
jewish people who've chosen against the tradition, and
people who wish to expand their efforts in educating expectant parents and childbirth professionals online and off.

If you find later that you don't want to be on the list, unsubcribing is easy.

As long as the practice continues in this country, fully informed consent should be mandatory. Mothers Against Circumcision openly declares it is totally anti-circ and is committed to providing accurate and fully documented information to medical and childbirth professionals and to expectant parents to enable them to make informed decisions. Pro-circ arguments can be obtained from those who hold that position.  Parents can then sort through it all and make their decision.

Whether you join the movement or not, we all have the same goal -- educating all concerned so that parents automatically choose to leave their newborn sons intact.

I feel that some of us go through stages as we enter the fight against circumcision. Often we begin with outrage -- using words that only incite and alienate others,  like mutilation and child abuse. People who have already circumcised their sons are not going to "come around" if they are judged, attacked, told they are *uninformed* and talked to as if they've done some horrible thing. Once we calm down, hopefully we all come to realize this attitude is totally ineffective. Thankfully, I learned very early on from Ken Derifield, The Intact Network.  He pointed out the obvious. "You can catch more flies with honey."

It takes a lot of character for a parent who's already had circumcision performed to willingly look at it and ultimately realize that their baby was harmed unnecessarily. An attack will only steer them away from delving into this. It will spark defensiveness. We want to convert parents who've done it as well as parents deciding now. Inflammatory Remarks, Hostility = Alienation.  This type of communication only hinders the movement. We have to lure them in gently.  

Your personal opinions, your judgments (on their own) are not strong enough to reel anyone in. Leave them out.  Do not allow yourself to become emotional.  State only facts. They speak for themselves. Support everything you say with sources.

For those expectant parents who say they're going to circumcise their sons, you are not going to change anything if you say they are uninformed or uneducated.  Some people may very well be, but you can't treat them that way. If they are open to information, provide it.  To keep communication lines open, always be civil, calm, courteous and respectful.  It is the only way to get points across effectively.

Some highly educated people choose circumcision. Some people believe the studies and reports out there stating that circumcision does prevent disease and is beneficial. You cannot attack them for what they believe. All you can do is point them toward contradictory evidence that will hopefully convince them that circumcision is not necessary for any reason.

If you intend to discuss circumcision with others, please also read:
Communicating Strategies in Educating Others at the Circumcision Resource Center.
Thanks to member, Judy Phillips, for bringing this article to our attention.

If you've decided not to join Mothers Against Circumcision, thank you for considering it.  If you're still interested in helping in some way, see How You Can Help  at NOHARMM. This site was designed not so much to convince the general public about the undesirability of circumcision, but to be a resource for activists (to which, of course, they can direct members of the public and the media for valuable information).

Please take a moment to sign the MAC Guestbook.
Feedback from others who've been here can also have an effect
on expectant parents trying to make this difficult decision.
If you are in a position to contribute money, click here for donation information.

How I Joined the Movement Against Circumcision Mary G. Ray Return to MAC Homepage

Created 10/23/98
Last Update:  10/13/00