Updated to add: I am printing off a copy of this brochure as I type, so will give an update after reading it. Here it is.Governments all over the world put out tons of these kinds of brochures. I used to peruse the offerings from our very own Department of Education and found some pretty interesting things. (I mean that in a good way.) Never anything like this, from the German Ministry of Family Affairs:
"Fathers do not devote enough attention to the clitoris and vagina of their daughters. Their caresses too seldom pertain to these regions, while this is the only way the girls can develop a sense of pride in their sex," reads the booklet regarding 1-3 year olds. The authors rationalize, "The child touches all parts of their father's body, sometimes arousing him. The father should do the same." Lifesite NewsWhen I was pregnant in Germany, I became interested in the topic of infant massage. So I went to the library to find out more. The first book I came across paid particular attention to the massaging of the genitalia in order to stimulate proper sexual development. So I lost interest in infant massage very quickly. That was nine years ago, so it is not really surprising that this would have gained acceptance in the mean time.
But maybe, just maybe, something was lost in translation? I went searching for a little more information. The press release announcing their availability, free of charge, is dated 2001 and lets us no that the Federal Center for healthy sexual education would like to support parents with difficult topics, including how the parent can accompany the child through the sexual development of their children.
The pamphlets are listed on the BZgA website, with the notice that the publications have been pulled and are temporarily unavailable. This was in reaction to protest from a parent. I am hoping that the reason this took six years is because it took it that long for anyone to read it. Who could read this and not question what is being promoted:
The vagina and especially the clitoris, rarely receive any attention during tender caressing (either from the father or the mother) and make it more difficult for the young girl to develop pride in her sexuality. SpiegelI'm sorry, but parental fondling of the genitalia does not promote healthy sexual development. To their credit, when the complaint was lodged, the brochure was pulled. But did they actually read it before they made it available?
Irene Johns of the Child Defense League says
Although the brochures are meant differently, pedophiles could use them as justification. Ibid.No kidding. It appears that they are training good parents concerned about the development of their children in the art.
Minister of Family Affairs Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) characterized certain statements as "on the border."
A few of the formulations are misleading and have a double meaning. Ibid.Since the brochure is unavailable and I am only looking at some pulled quotes, perhaps this is accurate. But it seems like a lame defense from a governmental entity that knows most people will never actually read the document in question. Forgive the mistrust. The German educational system has already developed a reputation for its sexual education. And therein lies the problem.
The co-author of the Hessian Sexual Education Guidelines stated several years ago, "We need the sexual stimulation of the students in order to bring about the socialist restructuring of society and the do away with the obedience to authority, including the love of a child to its parent. Gruende fuer HomeschoolingAt any rate, the brochures are not presently available...in Germany. But the Swiss Child Defense League has already expressed interest in adopting the suggestions.
There has been an ongoing discussion for years, reports Spiegel. But the original focus group received the brochures positively and praised them for their content and presentation. The government is merely following suit as the morality of the people declines.
Hat tip: Judy Aron and No Apology
