Comments on: Questions http://karenrayne.com/2008/11/04/questions/ Fri, 18 May 2012 00:44:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: karenrayne http://karenrayne.com/2008/11/04/questions/comment-page-1/#comment-3850 karenrayne Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:15:01 +0000 http://karenrayne.com/?p=470#comment-3850 Ha! Indeed, Bob, indeed. Yes, I'm guessing the penis thing is two-year-old learning about body names and how they relate to gender. Children tend to know what gender they are (girl or boy) by the time they're 18 months, and then over the next 18 months they learn what that means in terms of physical body parts and social stereotypes. By 3 most children have internalized most of societies expectations and stigma about gender. In any event, it sounds like it's time for some body part naming in the bath one night soon. Be sure and show her her clitoris and that her vagina goes up and then name the exterior as her vulva - it will make your conversations about any issues she's having much clearer. :) Ha! Indeed, Bob, indeed.

Yes, I’m guessing the penis thing is two-year-old learning about body names and how they relate to gender. Children tend to know what gender they are (girl or boy) by the time they’re 18 months, and then over the next 18 months they learn what that means in terms of physical body parts and social stereotypes. By 3 most children have internalized most of societies expectations and stigma about gender.

In any event, it sounds like it’s time for some body part naming in the bath one night soon. Be sure and show her her clitoris and that her vagina goes up and then name the exterior as her vulva - it will make your conversations about any issues she’s having much clearer. :)

]]> By: Bob http://karenrayne.com/2008/11/04/questions/comment-page-1/#comment-3849 Bob Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:10:19 +0000 http://karenrayne.com/?p=470#comment-3849 If Freud was "full of crap", does that mean he was "anal-retentive"? My daughter is 2, so I'm guessing that this whole penis thing is meaningless. But I do find it funny that my friend's daughter said the same thing. If Freud was “full of crap”, does that mean he was “anal-retentive”?

My daughter is 2, so I’m guessing that this whole penis thing is meaningless. But I do find it funny that my friend’s daughter said the same thing.

]]> By: karenrayne http://karenrayne.com/2008/11/04/questions/comment-page-1/#comment-3848 karenrayne Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:37:47 +0000 http://karenrayne.com/?p=470#comment-3848 Well, Freud was full of crap, that's for sure. How to talk with your daughter about penises and vulvas and other sexual anatomy really depends on her age and how she is living her experience of having a penis. In addition to her age, this is the ultimate question: Does she feel like she's a boy or does she feel like she's a girl? Because these two different scenarios call for very different interactions. Well, Freud was full of crap, that’s for sure. How to talk with your daughter about penises and vulvas and other sexual anatomy really depends on her age and how she is living her experience of having a penis.

In addition to her age, this is the ultimate question: Does she feel like she’s a boy or does she feel like she’s a girl?

Because these two different scenarios call for very different interactions.

]]> By: Bob http://karenrayne.com/2008/11/04/questions/comment-page-1/#comment-3847 Bob Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:27:16 +0000 http://karenrayne.com/?p=470#comment-3847 8. Is there actually such a thing as "penis envy"? My daughter is convinced that she has a penis, and a friend's daughter is not only convinced that she has a penis, but that her mother has one as well. 8. Is there actually such a thing as “penis envy”? My daughter is convinced that she has a penis, and a friend’s daughter is not only convinced that she has a penis, but that her mother has one as well.

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