Proper names for privates (maybe nsfw for sensitive filters)

[jennlin]

I just read some interesting FB discussion regarding vagina vs vulva. My parents never used proper names when talking to me about my girly parts, and up until very recently (say...20 mins ago?) I called it all my vagina--knowing that I had separate parts that had names too, and that vagina was also the actual opening...I just assumed it was a "vagina area" and that vulva was just another term....

What is your opinion on using proper names (vulva, vagina, clitoris, labia) and for boys (penis, testicles). How important is this? Why can't I just call it a peepee?!!?

The discussion was about "shaming women" into ignorance, anti feminism, etc. strong, deep, hippie stuff. Not sure if it's because of the nature of the FB group I'm in, or if it REALLY is that important.

[shevacc]

Meh, we call it her hooha so you can guess where I stand. Honestly, I figure it's important to have discussions about genitalia at a level that kids understand. We'll teach her the proper names and labels for things as she gets older. But really I think the biggest problem is not talking about it at all.

[dana86]

Yeah, I think a little later on we will talk more about it since she is at a stage where new things like that she thinks is funny and just goes on and on about it. I don't need her talking to the guy at the check out at the grocery store about her vagina and sissy's vagina. So either when I think she can be responsible about it or she starts asking more about different parts we will just keep it simple.

[toratoratori]

I have friends who are so into calling things by their proper names that when they took their son to the doctor and the doctor told him she needed to look at his "private parts," he had no idea what she was talking about.

We'll use cutesy terminology until our kids are old enough to understand the real words and how to use them responsibly, like PPs said.

For the record, I started calling mine a "bajingo" after hearing the term on Scrubs. I just think it's a fun word.

[karebear219]

We just call it lady parts or boy parts and girl part. Bkb often asks to touch our private parts so we discuss that they are private parts etc. Sometimes vagina and penis come up, but not often.

[mrslefty]

I use vag and peen but we'll probably just use vagina and penis/testicles with babylefty. I don't see a need to cutesy them up. He can use slang terms when he's old enough to have a filter.

[georgeharrison]

We say wiener and nards. Tman doesn't know/care what girl parts are called yet. But, he does think I go #1 out of my butt.

[ilovebed]

When Blb is taking a bath I tell her to wash her bottom and that includes everything. Haha. I would probably just call it her vagina but not yet. If I had a boy I would say penis and testicles so i don't know why I feel differently about girly bits. As a general rule I'm a big fan of giving kids accurate information about their bodies and reproductive system...but at a time when they can understand it.

[MamaMaui24]

Another app lurker, I remember from Oprah Dr. Laura Berman talking about using proper names from day 1 because IF a child was ever in a potential sexual abuse situation, they would know what body parts an adult was talking about. (Like a creeper saying "do you want to see my penis?" And the kid not knowing what that was because they know it as peepee/weewee, whatever.)

She has a book too:

Talking to Your Kids About Sex: turning "the talk" into a conversation for life... www.amazon.com/dp/0756657385/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_3vf4tb08MARKT

[picksthemusic]

For now we're calling it 'pee pee' for her general vulvular area (she really has no concept of a 'vagina', so we'll add that in a year or so as appropriate), and we just say 'bottom' for her butt/anus.

I feel for now, that's age appropriate. When she is older (say a year or two), we'll call them by their proper names. It's just the medical person in me - that's what they're called anatomically, so as her comprehension grows, so will the vocabulary we use to name the parts. When her brother gets here, we'll be calling his penis a penis, and his scrotum a scrotum. For now she calls J's penis a 'pee pee' if she happens to see it (shower, etc).

Also, she calls my breasts (and her nubbins) boobies (she also calls J's nipples 'boobies', haha).

I feel the feminist stuff can come later, when she can actually comprehend it. I don't ever see us 'shaming' her about her body, or its parts. We'll be open and honest about what her body does, its functions, and how wonderfully awesome it is. But at age-appropriate times when she can understand these concepts.

[picksthemusic]

Aug 4, 2014 18:18:08 GMT -5 dana86 said:

Yeah, I think a little later on we will talk more about it since she is at a stage where new things like that she thinks is funny and just goes on and on about it. I don't need her talking to the guy at the check out at the grocery store about her vagina and sissy's vagina. So either when I think she can be responsible about it or she starts asking more about different parts we will just keep it simple.

This is us, too. M will say hi to the hostess at the restaurant and then say, "Go poopy!" So... yeah.