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Should we freely write about private parts in mainstream media?
Made Popular Jul 1 2008
Yesterday, Uganda’s leading daily front page headline was screaming “Mother cuts off suspected defiler’s penis”
Only the last bit of the headline had my concern. Could not the writer substitute penis for another word? Is it alright, if we freely write about our private parts in media read by our own children or use the more formally accepted words? Are we safe writing about “Sex” or “penis”? Would it be equally alright to write about the female’s equivalent of “penis” as is written in this paper on the frontpage?
So many of the local cultures in Uganda are greatly offended by headlines screaming what they regard as taboos. Sex education is always passed on by the auntie or uncle in the family and not even by the parents. To girls its always in the secrecy of the auntie’s bedroom and this happens just a few weeks before marriage.
It is becoming quite acceptable in this country to have a headline like that now, but a few years back, there would be an uproar from moral activities about openly writing about penis or even the word sex! The daily would be asked to publish an apology sometimes or the journalist reporting given a punishment of sorts.
We surely growing higher and higher and higher indeed!
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Sharmila Chakravorty
sweety-pie-rims.blog..
Jul 1 2008
Bombay,
India
Thats a very valid point?
Comment Link
(Global Perspectives)
Not only ”freely.” We should be obliged to write them out as they are. Penis, vagina, sex, copulation, etc are scientific terms.
It’s in double speak that prejudices arise. And we all know that prejudices beget bias, and bias begets injustice.
I say, call a spade a spade! Freedom starts there.
It’s in double speak that prejudices arise. And we all know that prejudices beget bias, and bias begets injustice.
I say, call a spade a spade! Freedom starts there.
(Global Perspectives)
Everything doesn’t work with everyone the same way. Why then, Symonds was offended when Bhajji called him names, which would have been acceptable if directed towards an Asian, or more specifically , an Indian. He was even slapped a punishment for this.
Be careful with words..
Be careful with words..
(Global Perspectives)
Today’s media is serving exactly what modern society want to read and see..
(Global Perspectives)
We all cover certain parts of the body with clothes and do not take any special effort to cover the other parts. Culture and decency require this from all civilized people. The same way, the names of certain parts of the body have to be used only while one is away from those who are not directly concerned of the particular talk/article - adults, children and normally those of the opposite sex.
There is no harm in using euphemistic terms to refer to the parts in question during a discussion or in writing, even in the presence of children and others. It is only like covering certain parts of the body with clothes.
Actual words can be used in privacy, just as a person belonging to either sex does not cover up any part of the body from a doctor who examines the person.
There is no harm in using euphemistic terms to refer to the parts in question during a discussion or in writing, even in the presence of children and others. It is only like covering certain parts of the body with clothes.
Actual words can be used in privacy, just as a person belonging to either sex does not cover up any part of the body from a doctor who examines the person.
(Global Perspectives)
When a country has as high a rate of AIDS and other STDs as Uganda, it’s time to forget puritanism and start speaking frankly about sexuality.
(Global Perspectives)
@Philippe
In other words, forget about tabloids or pornographic material, let all this be displayed out there to kids and everybody who cares because we are forgeting puritanism?
@Grace, I agree, call a spade a spade BUT only in certain circumstances. Don’t tell while talking to your little kids (if you got any) to carelessly use such words, as you write, around. It would not be an amusing situation, now would it?
In other words, forget about tabloids or pornographic material, let all this be displayed out there to kids and everybody who cares because we are forgeting puritanism?
@Grace, I agree, call a spade a spade BUT only in certain circumstances. Don’t tell while talking to your little kids (if you got any) to carelessly use such words, as you write, around. It would not be an amusing situation, now would it?
(Local Perspectives)
John, I can see where you’re coming from with your viewpoint, but really if you don’t teach children about these in the plainest and most scientific manner, sans any connotation, they are bound to learn it somewhere else - sooner or later.
So, better teach them yourself before others get to their minds.
So, better teach them yourself before others get to their minds.
(Global Perspectives)
You can carry on pretending humans don’t have genitals if it makes you feel better. I suppose the only alternative to that is forcing your children to watch pornographic movies, at which point all morality will collapse and everyone will be having sex in the streets in a mad orgy of lust. Don’t worry though, God will step out of the clouds at that point and destroy everyone.
(Global Perspectives)
Maybe am pretending but if you agree that we should freely use such words regarding our genitals, then why do we have porn magazines high on top of shelves in the supermarket? Why do we rank media as kids, +18/adult?
Would you mind if your 10 year old kid picked up a playboy and said ”Daddy, i would like to take this home?” I bet you would go like, ”Ya Junior, that’s good stuff for you, take it to the counter!!”
Would you mind if your 10 year old kid picked up a playboy and said ”Daddy, i would like to take this home?” I bet you would go like, ”Ya Junior, that’s good stuff for you, take it to the counter!!”
(Local Perspectives)
Should we freely write about private parts in mainstream media?
Why not???? Of course, we must. Sex education and knowing about our bodies is critical for survival these days especially when countless STDs, HIV, teenage pregnancy is taking epidemic proportions.
Why not???? Of course, we must. Sex education and knowing about our bodies is critical for survival these days especially when countless STDs, HIV, teenage pregnancy is taking epidemic proportions.
(Global Perspectives)
No scientific evidence or otherwise has proved that if we do, there is a reduction in the countless STDs, HIV or teenage pregnancies!
You would expect the developed countries to have no persons suffering from such diseases since they are better informed but, take for instance the US, its only getting worse!
You would expect the developed countries to have no persons suffering from such diseases since they are better informed but, take for instance the US, its only getting worse!
(Local Perspectives)
In the case of the US, John, the AIDS rate is decreasing among whites and increasing among blacks. Let me quote some of the relevant article to you:
According to the CDC [Centre for Disease Control], black men are over 14 times more likely to be diagnosed with HIV/AIDS than white men. Black women are over 20 times more likely to be diagnosed than white women.
Other studies show that the rate of blacks who have HIV/AIDS and don’t know it is higher than whites as well. One CDC study reported by CofCC.org in the past showed that 50% of gay black men who have HIV/AIDS in the Atlanta area have not been tested and do not know they have it.
In Washington, D.C., for example, one in every 16 people between the ages of 18 and 44 is infected with HIV, Primm said. In Harlem in New York City, he noted, one in seven black men is infected, and in Manhattan, one in 14, between the ages of 34 and 45.
For years scientists, such a Prof. Rushton, predicted the rise of AIDS among American blacks. They were denounced as “racists” for saying that black AIDS rates would continue to rise. Now the rate of AIDS among blacks is approaching rates in some 3rd world countries.
In Washington DC, which is 60% black and 7% Hispanic, one out of every 16 people between 18 and 44 are infected.
One in seven black men in Harlem and one in fourteen black men in Manhattan between the ages of 34 and 45 are infected.
-
So you are partially right, sexual education alone is not the answer. There is something more required, it would seem.
According to the CDC [Centre for Disease Control], black men are over 14 times more likely to be diagnosed with HIV/AIDS than white men. Black women are over 20 times more likely to be diagnosed than white women.
Other studies show that the rate of blacks who have HIV/AIDS and don’t know it is higher than whites as well. One CDC study reported by CofCC.org in the past showed that 50% of gay black men who have HIV/AIDS in the Atlanta area have not been tested and do not know they have it.
In Washington, D.C., for example, one in every 16 people between the ages of 18 and 44 is infected with HIV, Primm said. In Harlem in New York City, he noted, one in seven black men is infected, and in Manhattan, one in 14, between the ages of 34 and 45.
For years scientists, such a Prof. Rushton, predicted the rise of AIDS among American blacks. They were denounced as “racists” for saying that black AIDS rates would continue to rise. Now the rate of AIDS among blacks is approaching rates in some 3rd world countries.
In Washington DC, which is 60% black and 7% Hispanic, one out of every 16 people between 18 and 44 are infected.
One in seven black men in Harlem and one in fourteen black men in Manhattan between the ages of 34 and 45 are infected.
-
So you are partially right, sexual education alone is not the answer. There is something more required, it would seem.
(Global Perspectives)
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