Castration
Samantha Johnson
[Abstract] Full Text [PDF]
Introduction
[...] "neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my Sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut
off."
Isaiah 56:3b-5
There are numerous reasons why people are castrated. Some are fetishistic, some to calm a anti-social desire for example (chemical castration of sex-offenders) and for some it is imposed on them for example the treatment of homosexuals during the Third Reich, the eunuchs of the harem, or the castration of singers (castrato).
For many there is a transgender reason a disgust with or discomfort of possessing testicles
(body dysmorphism) or poverty, eunuchs can become sex workers. Some get sexual stimulation from the thoughts of having castration done on themselves and
other individuals and some perform self-castration.
Eunuchs
Refers to a male harem attendant in certain Asian courts and was derived from the Greek word eunoukhos, 'a castrated person employed to take charge of the women of a harem and act as chamberlain.' The Greek word is derived from eun, 'bed,' and ekhein, 'to keep' Usually castration involves the removal of the testes before puberty thus preventing the male physical changes; reduced muscle mass, the voice
does not break, the penis is
smaller, facial and male body hair does not develop. The eunuch is likely to put on weight
as that of a genetic female, develop a thin layer of fat under soft skin, and have extra weight around the hips
and stomach. Male Pattern Baldness is unlikely to develop and they may have
increased life expectancy. However, osteoporosis would likely develop
prematurely.
Castrato
The term usually identified now for the pre-pubescent eunuch is the castrato. A male castrated after puberty will already have all of the secondary sexual characteristics of a man and will be indistinguishable from any other except for a lack of testes but he would experience
flushes as his body withdraws from testosterone. Those castrated after puberty,
often retained their sex drive.
Alessandro Moreschi (1858-1922) - The
Last Castrato.
Prof. Moreschi was born in Montecompatrio (near Rome) and died in Rome, where he was the last castrato He sang in the Vatican under Leo XIII who had banned the practice in
1878.
Process
The process for creating eunuchs remained relatively unchanged. The boy or man was held down. A thin cord was knotted tightly around his genitals, and, with a sharp razor, the organs were amputated. The wound was then cauterised by the application of either a red-hot poker or molten tar. He was deprived of water for several days to prevent urination, which could cause infection. Then he was forced to drink enormous amounts of water, until the pressure in his bladder punctured a hole in the layers of scar tissue. The fatality rate was as high as 90 %. Chinese eunuchs often also had their penis as well as there testicles, completely "shaved off", which was considered more effective. Using only hot chilli sauce as a local anaesthetic, the Chinese operation was one swoop, using a small, curved knife.
This practice continues to this day!
Eunuchs often rose to high positions. Muslim rulers employed eunuchs mainly as harem officials but this was far less common than is generally believed; however, the sale of young males to be eunuchs was an important element of African trade.
The voluntary practice of castration for religious celibacy appeared early in Christian history particularly in the third century, but it was not officially approved of by the church and was eventually denounced, however from Constantinople spread the custom of using eunuchs in choirs. In the opera seria of the eighteenth century the male heroes' roles were sung by castrati, and the papal choir used castrati until the beginning of the nineteenth century.
Hijra - India and Pakistan
The hijra community is a group based on
communal religious and social orders.
The groups accept no men or women and are mainly drawn from South Asian MTF
transsexuals. In some areas of South Asia our traditional role is as religious
performers.
Hijra, India.
Castration after puberty can enable the Hijra
to retain feelings of sexual arousal and orgasmic capabilities. The surgery can
lead to a fuller expression of her sensuality. Hijra can have strong feelings of sexual arousal in the inner remnants of their genitalia
despite lacking the external neo-clitoris tissue of modern SRS, they retain the internal portions of the erectile corpora cavernosa and of course the prostate, with its spasmodic
capabilities. Although Hijra lack vaginas, many greatly enjoy penetrative anal sexual activities with men. Because of their complete external emasculation, Hijra genitalia look very convincing .
Every person in the community has a teacher
or spiritual guide who is an older, more experienced hijra, (guru). They are
responsible for the welfare of their chela, or student.
Relationships maybe based on Mother-Daughter
relations, Sister-Sister relations and live in 'houses' or organized groups or
kingdoms overseen by the heads of houses or 'naiks'. They are are allowed to
have contacts outside the groups, and some individual hijras have numerous
non-hijra friends, but social isolation, the communal life, and the lesser
importance of 'friendships' in Indian social life means that most hijras
mostly see other hijras.
Hijras are forbidden to have contact with
their birth families. This rule has become rather flexible for hijras
struggling with unaccepting families, those with positive relationships can
freely visit.
Forced Castration
Castration was used by the Nazis like a prophylactic or therapeutic means for eradicate homosexuality or to rehabilitate.
The Nazis forcibly castrated
homosexuals
In 1935, the penal code is modified to allow the "voluntary" castration of the sexual delinquents condemned to the title of Paragraph 175. May 20, 1939, Reichsführer-SS Himmler authorizes the forced castration of the sexual delinquents. Their assent is not required, because these prisoners know that they could be released once the intervention carried out
successfully.
However, following the second world war the
Nuremberg Code made experimenting on individuals without their consent
illegal, this later was replaced by the Declaration of Helsinki.
The rise in transgender knowledge and safer
surgical procedures has led to more people happily consenting to what we now
call SRS (sex-reassignment Surgery) and procedures are available that do not
include vaginoplasty, and as such purely cosmetic and not so far removed from
the practice that has taken place for thousands of years. Although modern
pharmaceuticals can assist in the reduction of osteoporosis.
Today
The rise in the internet and fetishistic imagery
has now encouraged a global interest in castration and genital mutilation.
Online websites such as BME Body Modification Ezine show many images of
castration and genital remodeling.
The
following hyperlink links to a website outside Transgender Zone and contains
images that some may find upsetting!!!
Body Modification Imagry
http://www.bmezine.com/service/samples/tour4.html
