‘The First Rip Off’: anti-circumcision activism in men’s magazines

ABSTRACT

This article explores the rise of ‘intactivism’, a social movement which positions itself as being against circumcision, in the pages of Hustler magazine. Intactivism has largely been studied in terms of letters to the editor of newspapers and online engagement, but in this article I explore pornography. Drawing on archival research, this article considers articles published in Hustler in the 1970s, as well as the letters that were submitted to Hustler about the articles. As such, this article broadens the scope of analysis for scholars of anti-circumcision to include the pornographic, about which very little has been written.

KEYWORDS:

• Anti-circumcision activism
• circumcision
• foreskin
• Hustler magazine
• intactivism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 In issue 3, readers are introduced to Vulva Girl, who, like Foreskin Man, saves children from female genital mutilation.

2 Pornographic texts have an interesting role to play in debates over circumcision, including female circumcision. In 1973, in the first year of its publication, Playgirl magazine published an article endorsing female circumcision, in which the author, Catherine Kellison, speaks of ‘greater sexual sensations, closer communication with one’s partner, higher levels of orgasm’ (1973, 76). Later in the article, Kellison notes that ‘female circumcision is strictly done for pleasure. And it works in most cases’ (1973, 124). To be certain, Kellison here is not speaking about female genital mutilation, but rather about circumcision as an elective surgery. After doing research, she elects to have the surgery done, and admits that:

there were no start, bells, or strains of angelic chorus in the background. I saw no fireworks, heard no organ music, and was still aware that I was where I was. But the orgasm as I had known it, had suddenly been elevated to a new position of glory and lofty power.

She concludes: ‘So it would seem that this wonder of modern science, coupled with True Love and total Trust might be a step in the right direction’ (1973, 125). For more information, see Kellison (October 1973). Likewise, in 1975, Viva magazine published an article on female circumcision, which included the subtitle ‘Operation Orgasm.’ The article begins by noting that ‘some scorn it as a fad or a male-masterminded myth, but for many women it has proven to be the biggest sexual boon of their lives’ (Schultz 1975, 53). In the article, readers learn about the procedure, in relation to male circumcision,

During her next gynecological exam, she mentioned ‘this frigidity’ to her doctor, who suggested that circumcision might solve her problem. Doris agreed to try it, and allowed the doctor to remove a tiny snip of skin from the prepuce, which covers the tip of the clitoris just as the male foreskin covers the tip of the penis. (Schultz 1975, 53; original emphasis)

Doris is able to tell readers that:

I get incredible feelings of exultation and ecstasy that were never there before. Now, at last, I am truly having fun in sex, experimenting with positions so that we can best stimulate my clitoris. I even plan my housework and the children’s schedules to allow my husband and me as much time as possible for sex. (Schultz 1975, 53)

The article, of course, provides critiques noting that ‘much of the controversy around circumcision stems from its cruel history’ (Schultz 1975, 104). For more information, see Schultz (March 1975, 52–53 and 104–105).

3 If a million readers read the August 1975 issue, by 1979 the periodical had even more readers. Dennis R. Hall, writing in the early 1980s, has noted that ‘a recently published estimate put the monthly sales of Hustler magazine at 2.5 million copies’, adding that ‘with the recent publicity arising from publisher Larry Flynt’s religious conversion and shooting, sales are now doubtless closer to 3 million, which likely represents a readership of 7 million people’ (1982, 150). I cite this here to give an understanding of the breadth and popularity of Hustler. This magazine was not read by only a handful of people, but, rather, millions of readers. Unlike other pornographic texts, say Honcho or Stallion, both of which have published articles on the politics of circumcision, Hustler’s readership was significant. For Hall, ‘Hustler is the indisputable king of the mountain of sexual publishing in America in the 1970s’ (1982, 150).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Canada Research Chairs [Grant Number 950-230022]; Brandon University Research Committee [Grant Number 22031]; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada [Grant Number 430-2016-00059].