About the Project & Methodology

Conducted by "The Accidental Intactivist," this comprehensive, anonymous survey aims to gather a wide spectrum of firsthand experiences and diverse perspectives concerning male genital anatomy, the practice of routine infant circumcision, and its lifelong physical, sexual, emotional, and cultural impacts.

The research seeks to move beyond simplistic narratives, challenge pervasive myths, and foster a more informed, globally relevant, and nuanced public understanding. Data gathered will inform future educational resources, articles, and guides designed to support bodily autonomy and evidence-based decision-making.

The survey is designed to capture a rich tapestry of experiences and perceptions, focusing on several key areas:

• Lived Experiences: Detailed accounts from intact, circumcised, and restoring individuals regarding physical sensation, sexual function (including orgasm quality/duration, lubrication needs), body image, and psychological well-being.

• Parental Decision-Making: Factors influencing parents' choices regarding circumcision (medical advice, cultural/religious norms, perceived benefits/risks, societal pressures).

• Cultural Narratives & Misconceptions: Common societal beliefs, stereotypes, and assumptions about intactness versus circumcision (hygiene, health, aesthetics, pleasure).

• Anatomical Awareness: Understanding of specific genital structures (e.g., foreskin, frenulum) and the physical outcomes of circumcision (scarring, skin mobility).

• Bodily Autonomy & Ethics: Reflections on consent, children's rights, and the ethical implications of non-therapeutic infant surgery.

• Impact on Allies & Observers: Perspectives from partners, parents, healthcare professionals, researchers, and advocates.

To achieve our goal of gathering nuanced, high-quality data, the survey was designed with several unique structural features:

• Global & Regional Focus: Comprehensive demographic data including country of birth/residence, race/ethnicity, education, socioeconomic status, and religious background allow for robust correlational analysis across different cultures.

• Cultural Context Gateway: A key branching question directs participants down pathways relevant to their upbringing (i.e., in a culture where circumcision is the norm vs. where intactness is the norm), ensuring questions are framed appropriately for their lived reality.

• Specific Religious/Cultural Context Sections: Optional sections for Christian, Jewish, and Islamic perspectives allow for a deeper exploration of how faith traditions inform views on this topic.

• Pre-Status Experiential Baseline: A unique section where all participants reflect on sensation, orgasm, and body image before delving into their specific anatomical status pathway, allowing for less biased comparative data.

• Qualitative & Quantitative Data: A mix of open-ended questions for rich narrative insights and multiple-choice/scale questions for measurable data.

• Anonymity Assured: No personally identifiable information is collected with responses.

• Fills Knowledge Gaps: Addresses often overlooked aspects of male sexual experience and the nuanced impacts of circumcision beyond simplistic pro/con binaries.

• Challenges Misinformation: Provides a platform for real-world experiences to counter myths and outdated justifications.

• Informs Advocacy & Education: The aggregated, anonymized findings will be a valuable resource for creating more effective and culturally sensitive educational materials and strengthening advocacy efforts for genital autonomy.

• "Peer Review" of Cultural Assumptions: Seeks to understand the depth of societal normalization and the factors contributing to the prevalence of RIC, comparing experiences in both circumcising and non-circumcising cultures.

• Empowers Voices: Offers a structured, anonymous way for individuals from all perspectives to contribute their truth to a vital conversation.