title: A cut above: circumcision as an ancient status symbol.
abstract: Circumcision is the only surgical procedure imbued with multiple sacred meanings across many cultures. Though countless medical benefits have been attributed to circumcision, it is an operation that historically has had greater symbolic significance than medical utility. We examine how the symbolic significance of circumcision influences how it is performed in a medical context.
authors.affiliation: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA. davidkaicher@hotmail.com
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Kaicher
authors.forename: Kenneth G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Swan
mesh_terms: D002944:Circumcision, Male / Q000266:history*; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013561:Symbolism