The decision to circumcise a baby boy is very personal -- sometimes religious, sometimes not -- and one that many parents spend a long time debating or discussing with medical professionals prior to making the call.
Like lots of moms and dads, Orange Is the New Black star Jason Biggs and his wife Jenny Mollen made the choice to have new baby Sid circumcised. If you know anything about these two or follow their frequent Instagram and Twitter postings, you are well aware of the fact that they both possess an identical sense of humor -- one that appreciates a dark joke or two. I wasn't at all shocked when they shared photos after the procedure, along with funny quips about it. But their lack of seriousness about the hot topic caused an absolute uproar among some parents, who are accusing them of mutilation.
Jenny, who like her husband Jason is Jewish, posted the following comment on her Instagram account after Sid's circumcision*:
Today was not a good day to be Sid's penis.
The new mom also posted a photo of the family wearing Jewish prayer shawls* with the caption: "Right after we decided not to bury the foreskin in our backyard for fear that Teets might find it and bring it into the bed to sleep with us. That's so Teets!"
*It seems that the Instagram posts have been taken down.
I wonder if Jenny or Jason predicted what would happen next: the comments section next to their posts transformed into an unlikely forum where some parents attacked the couple -- and each other -- for their views on circumcision.
"X_kimberr" wrote: "Only ignorant piece of s*** "parents carve their religion and opinions on innocent baby boys." Another user named "kellysmarr" shared: "Do you not believe boys should have the same right to intact genitals as girls? Btw there are no pros to male genital mutilation either. That's all myths that have been debunked time and time again."
Some users tried to defend the couple. "Mrsltd" wrote:
Until circumcision is illegal I dont think all the mom shaming does any good. We shame each other for everything. Co-sleeping, spanking, breastfeeding, circa, vax, no vax. And all of us are the same. We all love are babies and go to sleep every damn night worried if we are raising them right. Women dont support each other anymore. All we do is shame and judge. Sick of it.
Hallelujah. "Mrsltd" can say that again! I feel it is incredibly smart to weigh both the pros and cons of circumcision. There are several good ones on each side of the debate -- but why is it not possible to do that without feeling the need to shame other moms into seeing things "your way"?
I get why Jason and Jenny's odd humor may draw unwanted attention to them, but they're like every other couple on earth who want what's best for their child. Maybe they were using humor to get through a stressful and difficult day? They -- and all moms and dads -- deserve compassion, empathy, and respect for the hard choices they make to protect their babies and do what's right for them.
How do you feel about circumcision? Did you have to deal with criticism when you decided to either circumcise or not circumcise your child?
Images via Instagram