Masculinity and Embodiment in the Practice of Foreskin Restoration

Abstract

Male circumcision is one of the most widely practiced surgical procedures in the U.S. Thus, it may come as a surprise for some to learn that there is a movement of (mostly) men fighting against the surgery, and a portion of these activists advocate methods of foreskin restoration. For men dissatisfied with their circumcised state, foreskin restoration, especially of the do-it-yourself, nonsurgical variety, offers an opportunity to reconstruct the altered body. The aim of this paper is to explore the body politics and aesthetics of men who pursue foreskin restoration, the organizations that support them, and the tools they use. Ultimately, I hope to lay bare what restoration really is and does for the men who practice it.