History of castrating young boys?

The practice of castrating young boys, particularly singers known as "castrati," was common in the 18th century, especially within the Catholic Church. These boys were castrated before puberty to prevent their voices from deepening, allowing them to maintain a soprano or contralto voice range. This practice allowed them to continue performing in choirs with unchanged high-pitched voices. The term "il castrato" refers to these male singers who underwent this process, which was seen as an honor at the time, despite the severe physical and psychological effects it had on them. The discussion also touches on castration in the context of Michael Jackson and a theory regarding chemical castration to maintain his high-pitched voice 1.