Raising a new generation of intactivists?

[tutucrazy]

I have been thinking about this for a long time and wanted to get some ideas going. List some things you are you doing or will do with your children to promote genital integrity throughout their childhood? As intactivist how can we raise a new generation of intactivists?

[QueenOfTheMeadow]

Moving to activism from CAC. Please remember the there is a no debate in activism rule.

[jessjgh1]

I think this is a great idea to discuss. I'm not really sure it totally belongs in activism as probably a lot of us plan on doing our 'activism' through sharing knowledge. And I don't think that's necessarily activism???
For me, my children are so young it seems like such a long time before I will be really discussing things with them.

However, I do want to talk about this to anyone I have a chance to. I might take a less popular 'activist' approach by not focusing directly on circumcision as an issue.
I currently tend to focus on presenting parenting as a 'whole package' product (especially: parenting, birth (gentle birth), breastfeeding, discipline). That way I can talk about parenting in a way that covers more than just one of my issues... And I do truly think that birth is such a spectacular point in time that focusing on birth can be a catalyst. Indeed, supporting women for positive births will allow more of them to fulfill their roles as mothers and protectors and lead them to intactness naturally.

Talking about parenting or birth in ways that includes discussing education, gentile choices, what our culture teaches us, the role of media, etc.... makes it fairly easy to bring in birth practices such as circumcision (or discuss breastfeeding, vaxes, etc. etc).

There are a few good birth videos out there that lead easily to discussion on the practices that are seen because of our culture... I really like this one for the high school to college age- although it primarily would focus on birth (you'd have to then lead up to, so if we do this to mothers, do you think it ends there....)
Trailer for "Laboring Under An Illusion: Mass Media Childbirth vs. The Real Thing
www.birth-media.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9Gd7...layer_embedded
Our Birth Year Network hosted a screening, so I have seen the whole movie, although I guess there was some editing to still be done. It is very current- mentioning Brittany Spears and her sister, for example. (In fact my only criticism was that it was so focused on the 'current' celebrity trends that it could easily seem outdated... although it used many media from when I was in elementary school (Murphy Brown) to current stuff). I also think the way it was presented would be well received.

Then there are a few birth movies that deal specifically with circumcision, such as Gentle Birth Choices and Birth As We Know It.

Just some quick thoughts from me(-: Looking forward to hearing what others will say

Jessica

[Oubliette8]

I think by educating children about their bodies in an age-appropriate manner little boys will grow up to appreciate their foreskins and be able to know WHY a foreskin is a good thing to have. It seems that most men, intact or otherwise, were never told about their bodies, or more specifically, the state of their penises, by their parents. A boy who is left with no information is much more likely to come to his own, wrong, conclusions. If he gets his information on intact genitalia from you, rather than his peers, he's more likely to have the full, correct story, and then, by default, to be an intactivist. Its not a one time talk, but one you have throughout their childhood- starting with simple facts, like, this is your penis, and that is your foreskin, to, (when he asks, maybe about a friend) "all boys are born with foreskins, some boys have an operation to remove theirs, but a foreskin is an important part and so we wanted you to keep yours" and getting more involved as the boy gets older, once he hits puberty covering such topics as retraction, possible foreskin problems and their cures (yeast, what to do if he can't retract etc) and the functions of the foreskin sexually.

For girls, if she has no brothers and the topic doesn't occur before then, I would add it to her sex education, presenting an intact penis as normal and talking about how the foreskin functions etc before bringing up a circumcised penis.

I think a child who is raised so that intact is the norm, and so that they understand how it functions, and they are proud to be intact, is unlikely to perpetuate circumcision on the next generation. -Oubliette

[tutucrazy]

Originally Posted by Oubliette8

I think by educating children about their bodies in an age-appropriate manner little boys will grow up to appreciate their foreskins and be able to know WHY a foreskin is a good thing to have. It seems that most men, intact or otherwise, were never told about their bodies, or more specifically, the state of their penises, by their parents. A boy who is left with no information is much more likely to come to his own, wrong, conclusions. If he gets his information on intact genitalia from you, rather than his peers, he's more likely to have the full, correct story, and then, by default, to be an intactivist. Its not a one time talk, but one you have throughout their childhood- starting with simple facts, like, this is your penis, and that is your foreskin, to, (when he asks, maybe about a friend) "all boys are born with foreskins, some boys have an operation to remove theirs, but a foreskin is an important part and so we wanted you to keep yours" and getting more involved as the boy gets older, once he hits puberty covering such topics as retraction, possible foreskin problems and their cures (yeast, what to do if he can't retract etc) and the functions of the foreskin sexually.

For girls, if she has no brothers and the topic doesn't occur before then, I would add it to her sex education, presenting an intact penis as normal and talking about how the foreskin functions etc before bringing up a circumcised penis.

I think a child who is raised so that intact is the norm, and so that they understand how it functions, and they are proud to be intact, is unlikely to perpetuate circumcision on the next generation. -Oubliette

That is a great point. Parents really need to have those discussions with their children. I agree that many parents just don't say anything or do any educating. I guess in areas where intact is the norm they probably don't think to talk about it. But for parents who don't circ here in the US, talking to our children can mean the difference between raising another generation of intact children or not. Parents with girls need to remember to have this discussion too, I think parents with girls might over look this one.

Originally Posted by jessjgh1

I think this is a great idea to discuss. I'm not really sure it totally belongs in activism as probably a lot of us plan on doing our 'activism' through sharing knowledge. And I don't think that's necessarily activism???

I agree.

For me, my children are so young it seems like such a long time before I will be really discussing things with them.

However, I do want to talk about this to anyone I have a chance to. I might take a less popular 'activist' approach by not focusing directly on circumcision as an issue.
I currently tend to focus on presenting parenting as a 'whole package' product (especially: parenting, birth (gentle birth), breastfeeding, discipline). That way I can talk about parenting in a way that covers more than just one of my issues... And I do truly think that birth is such a spectacular point in time that focusing on birth can be a catalyst. Indeed, supporting women for positive births will allow more of them to fulfill their roles as mothers and protectors and lead them to intactness naturally.

Talking about parenting or birth in ways that includes discussing education, gentile choices, what our culture teaches us, the role of media, etc.... makes it fairly easy to bring in birth practices such as circumcision (or discuss breastfeeding, vaxes, etc. etc).

There are a few good birth videos out there that lead easily to discussion on the practices that are seen because of our culture... I really like this one for the high school to college age- although it primarily would focus on birth (you'd have to then lead up to, so if we do this to mothers, do you think it ends there....)
Trailer for "Laboring Under An Illusion: Mass Media Childbirth vs. The Real Thing
www.birth-media.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9Gd7...layer_embedded
Our Birth Year Network hosted a screening, so I have seen the whole movie, although I guess there was some editing to still be done. It is very current- mentioning Brittany Spears and her sister, for example. (In fact my only criticism was that it was so focused on the 'current' celebrity trends that it could easily seem outdated... although it used many media from when I was in elementary school (Murphy Brown) to current stuff). I also think the way it was presented would be well received.

Then there are a few birth movies that deal specifically with circumcision, such as Gentle Birth Choices and Birth As We Know It.

Just some quick thoughts from me(-: Looking forward to hearing what others will say

Jessica

I am in agreement with this approach which is why I'm currently setting up a chapter that meets to discuss these things. The holistic approach really does help get women thinking about the "norm" vs what is really best for them and their children.

As far as raising my own children. I would like to get them involved in some intactivist movements too. Maybe take them to some events and have good discussions with them about the harms of circumcision (once they are older). I saw a youtube video of a teen girl talking all about the harm of circ. I was thinking, geez she knows more than 90% of adults. I thought it was really need to see someone so young taking a stance against RIC. V. cool.

[AllyRae]

Perhaps the best thing to do is to just not circ...that way in the future, when people want their children to "look just like daddy", they will!

[AdinaL]

It is Activism. Really most activism is sharing knowledge, not grand protests. plus, as Activism is a no-debate zone, you can discuss your ideas without having to defend your position.

[benj]

Originally Posted by Oubliette8

I think by educating children about their bodies in an age-appropriate manner little boys will grow up to appreciate their foreskins and be able to know WHY a foreskin is a good thing to have. It seems that most men, intact or otherwise, were never told about their bodies, or more specifically, the state of their penises, by their parents. A boy who is left with no information is much more likely to come to his own, wrong, conclusions. If he gets his information on intact genitalia from you, rather than his peers, he's more likely to have the full, correct story, and then, by default, to be an intactivist. Its not a one time talk, but one you have throughout their childhood- starting with simple facts, like, this is your penis, and that is your foreskin, to, (when he asks, maybe about a friend) "all boys are born with foreskins, some boys have an operation to remove theirs, but a foreskin is an important part and so we wanted you to keep yours" and getting more involved as the boy gets older, once he hits puberty covering such topics as retraction, possible foreskin problems and their cures (yeast, what to do if he can't retract etc) and the functions of the foreskin sexually.

this is true. it is true for a lot of subjects, but it leaves it mark in subjects that parents find hard to talk about with their children. i was never told why i was left intact until i had children of my own, and if i had been circumcised, i would most likely have circumcised my children blindly. i knew something had been done to other boys but not why. when i was in elementary school i had an incident where i told another boy that his parents cut part of his penis off when he was a baby and then his parents never let me play with him again. i guess they hadn't planned to tell him. i think you should definitely talk about it with girls as well. and you're right, if children do not get the correct information from you...they will get it from somewhere else, usually the worst of all sources, the media and their peers.