Trauma: A Publication and Presentation by Leeanne Morris
Introduction to Leeanne Morris and Her Work
This January we were pleased to begin the new year on a high note as we learned that one of our new Trustees, Leeanne Morris successfully published a recent study into the lived experiences of men who have undergone genital cutting performed without informed individual consent.
A Focus on Qualitative Research
The study is part of a growing corpus of literature that has focussed on the qualitative experiences of men. Notable amongst these recent works include the insightful publication by Hammond et al in 2023;
‘Foreskin Restorers: Insights into motivations, successes, challenges, and experiences with medical and mental health professionals.’ – T. Hammond et al. (2023)
Upcoming Presentation – 23rd March (Rescheduled)
For those of you that are interested in Leeanne’s work, we encourage you to attend our upcoming talk on circumcision and trauma.
This event is free to members of 15 Square and will cover the impact and effects of trauma, and the relationship to circumcision. If you would like to attend the event, you can sign up as a member by clicking this link.
Membership includes other meetings and benefits, such as regular online meetings and access to our peer support groups.
The Psychological Dimension of Genital Cutting
To appreciate the full consequences of circumcision it is essential to acknowledge the psychological dimension. This is under-researched, under-appreciated, and there are some harrowing first hand stories that are openly available, yet largely unacknowledged in academic literature until recently. It is reassuring to see psychology professionals recognising the prospect for circumcision related traumatic experiences, as most trauma aware psychologists or psychotherapists appreciate that trauma can originate from many experiences. Compounding this, it is not only the experience itself, but the reaction to the experience in later life upon reflection. This has been echoed by high profile individuals that have acknowledged varying forms of dissatisfaction, concern, or psychological impacts including Tom Rosenthal. Other high profile individuals have spoken out about the practice including best seller author; Gary Shteyngart, Actor; Russell Crowe, Comedian; Jason Manford, Actor/Thespian/Philanthropist; Alan Cumming, Podcast Host and Comedian; Joe Rogan, and many others.
Broader Context of Genital Cutting Trauma
With the procedure generally being performed in childhood, individual feedback is rarely sought or acknowledged. The psychological impact of other genital surgeries has also been under-studied without a definitive causal relationship between psychological issues and female/intersex genital cutting. Despite this, we readily accept that it is sensible to presume a relationship based on the lived experiences of women and members of the intersex community. The public have less reluctance to acknowledge the possibility of trauma in these cases.
Leeanne Morris presenting her work in 2023 at 15 Square’s Annual General Meeting & Conference
A Call For Further Research
We are glad to celebrate this recent publication, and deeply appreciate the interest that she has taken in this subject after discovering men’s stories.
To this day, there have been few long-term satisfaction studies exploring satisfaction and general sentiment of circumcised men. This latest piece of research is further justification to implore medics, parents, academics, and researchers to consider the psychological impact of removing genital tissue without consent. It also demonstrates that there is an area of research that has been understudied, though we have noticed an appetite to explore this area within the realm of psychology.
Looking Ahead with Leeanne Morris
It is wonderful to have the expertise of Leeanne steering 15 Square in the right direction, and we are excited to work together on further initiatives addressing the psychological impacts of circumcision.
15 Square Dedicated Support For Circumcision Harm
Our Together, Not Alone meetings are for members to learn more about our work, current progress, updates, and provide an opportunity to share any news from around the world. Attendees are welcome to ask any questions or discuss any issues that are important to them.
These meetings are a reminder that there are hundreds of organisations worldwide, and countless men and women that recognise, understand, and support us. You can find out more about Together, Not Alone Meetings by following this link to the FAQ.
...Learn More About the Ethical Arguments
15 Square aims to educate, understand, and support people from all backgrounds whilst promoting awareness and informed consent. We believe that allowing non-therapeutic infant circumcision on boys whilst banning other types of genital cutting is an unfair double standard.
You may be interested in the following articles: