The Case Against Circumcision

Nature does exquisite work.

View in Browser  Monday, May 12, 2025 The global circumcision rate is 30 percent. Do you know what it is in America? About 70 percent. The only places on earth with higher rates than the U.S. are nations much poorer than ours that demand from their young boys a blood sacrifice. So, why is it still incredibly common here? It's a question I never considered until longtime Esquire writer Scott Raab wrote this story, an impassioned and deeply informed argument for ending the practice in America. Whether or not you agree with Raab, the story will certainly make you look at circumcision in a new way. – Michael Sebastian, editor-in-chief   Plus: The Office spin-off, The Paper, is coming sooner than you think The best small watches for the discerning collector Is Donald Trump's 100 percent tariff on movies even possible? The Case Against Circumcision Why do we still engage in the ritual, nonconsensual genital mutilation of newborn boys? Nature does exquisite work. Behold: the foreskin.   Not mine, which was cut off on my eighth day of life outside the womb, and probably not yours, because the circumcision rate in the U. S. is estimated to be 70 percent, ranking way up there among Tanzania and Chad and the Republic of the Congo and Burundi, places where older boys are cut at puberty as a manhood ritual.   Here, year after year, more than a million healthy baby boys get cut right after birth for no religious or therapeutic reasons at all. These newborns aren't ill; their reproductive equipment is intact. All of it. That isn't the problem. Circumcision's the problem. READ THE STORY What Was Behind Tiger Woods's Surprise Visit to the White House? The oft-injured golfer, now dating Don Jr.'s ex-wife, was spotted stopping by to see his pal the president. Charles P. Pierce breaks down what he calls "a swerve in pop culture that I seriously did not anticipate." >> Taylor Sheridan gave a commencement speech at the University of Texas at Austin: The Yellowstone creator told an audience of young graduates to go out into the world and "prove them wrong." Josh Rosenberg writes about how the moment was a major milestone for the in-demand TV writer >> The Last of Us is Having A Serious Identity Crisis Episode 5 is a little bit of a grab bag of everything season 2 has thrown at us so far—Wolves, Seraphites, Ellie and Dina's romance, and nasty brushes with the evolved clickers. And it's not necessarily a good thing. The Last of Us is clearly still struggling to find its identity in its post-Pascal reality. The Last of Us video games had the same issue after Joel's death, but I'm feeling the story's identity crisis a little more this time. There's simply no replacing an actor of Pascal's caliber, as much as I've enjoyed Bella Ramsey and Isabela Merced's performances this season. By Brady Langmann The Ralph Lauren Sale Section Is Our Go-to for Summer Style If you're in the market for timeless classics that will be in your closet for decades to come, we can't think of a better place to shop than Ralph Lauren. While America's heritage brand isn't afraid to take big swings, its core offerings focus on well-made, quality pieces designed to be your go-tos for work, rooftop happy hours, and all of those damn weddings you're getting invited to. The store's sale section is currently stacked with beloved classics—including the perfect button-down and that iconic polo shirt—at up to 40 percent off. We've rounded up the best finds. By Gibson Johns Follow Us Unsubscribe | Privacy Notice | CA Notice at Collection Esquire is a publication of Hearst Magazines. ©2025 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This email was sent by Hearst Magazines, 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019-3779