The history of circumcision goes back thousands of years. In some contexts it was used as a method of marking particular ethnic groups and religions. Sometimes this was enforced by dominant groups who were prejudice towards the circumcised minorities, and at other times it was enforced by the circumcised communities themselves.
In Medicine, it has been used as a medical prophylactic to prevent health problems. Some of these are somewhat genuine reasons, others were peculiar outdated superstitions. Other uses have been as a genuine medical intervention, an intentionally painful endurance test, a method of sexual control, a punishment, a cosmetic procedure, a class and status symbol (marking lower and classes and upper classes depending on era and culture) and as a way for surgeons to test their proficiency.
With the exception of surgical interventions and pain endurance tests (such as some African tribes), these use cases almost always involved imposing circumcision upon a child rather than a consenting adult.
To learn more about the modern history of circumcision and the unethical/bogus reasons given for circumcision, you can click the links below for information about the changing stance of professionals regarding circumcision.
