Hrm, that's an interesting question. Of course today I'm glad my parents made me (well, I eventually consented, after much pressure) get braces when I was in middle school. But there was a lot of pain and frustration involved, and I suspect that the "jasper jumpers" they installed for a year either caused or contributed to my jaw-joint problems. Of course the orthodontist denied this could be the case, and I know correlation does not equal causation, but it was pretty suspicious that I started getting jaw pain and joint wackiness soon after installation. Guh.
Interestingly, my younger brother didn't get braces, although I think he was briefly offered but not pressured like I was. Dad said it was more important for girls to have pretty teeth than boys. Maybe he was right, but I find that sorta sad.
As for circumcision, I know boys can be dirty (hee hee, I never said *I* wasn't a tad sexist), but I think circumcision is kinda outdated. Let a man choose. Anecdotally, I know a fellow who chose to get snipped at around age 18 because his foreskin was causing masturbation to be painful. Now THAT is a good reason to have the procedure.
braces
Date: 2007-06-19 01:37 pm (UTC)Interestingly, my younger brother didn't get braces, although I think he was briefly offered but not pressured like I was. Dad said it was more important for girls to have pretty teeth than boys. Maybe he was right, but I find that sorta sad.
As for circumcision, I know boys can be dirty (hee hee, I never said *I* wasn't a tad sexist), but I think circumcision is kinda outdated. Let a man choose. Anecdotally, I know a fellow who chose to get snipped at around age 18 because his foreskin was causing masturbation to be painful. Now THAT is a good reason to have the procedure.