02-11-95 Women of Achievement and Herstory

         Current U.S. national studies estimate that from 10 to 30 percent of
young girls are subjected to some form of sexual abuse. And although the
statistics are lower for young boys, they are not immune from this
problem.
         According to clinical psychologist Dr. Maxine Murdock, there are
three major categories of child abuse: physical, emotional and sexual.
         When child abuse involves sexual intimacy between the child and his
natural, adoptive, or foster parent, stepparent, sibling, grandparent or
other relative, the crime is labeled incest. 
         Dr. Murdock says there are five things parents can do to help
prevent abuse.
         1. Cultivate open communication from the time children are very
young. Both you and your children should feel comfortable in talking about
their bodies. Children need to learn not only about anatomy, but also about
their feelings associated with various parts of the body. When teaching
children about their bodies, make sure they do not feel that their bodies
are shameful or that bathing and appropriate physical examinations by a
doctor are wrong. Teach that there are special parts of the body to be
protected in special ways, just as we protect our eyes and ears in special
ways. 
         2. Teach children that no one - not even daddy or mother or
brothers or sisters or other relatives - should touch us in certain ways
on certain parts of the body. When the child goes to the doctor, tell the
child in advance what will take place, and always go with the child. 
         3. Teach children that it is all right to say no - even to an adult,
even the father or grandfather. When we teach our children to obey
without question, we may be teaching them to become victims. Abusers can
be policemen, physicians, babysitters, teachers, or any other person in
authority. Children need to learn that they can firmly say no to
inappropriate touching. Teach them to say, 'Don't touch me,' or 'I'll scream
if you don't leave me alone.' Then have them report any such incident to
a trusted adult."
                     (Continued tomorrow)

02-11 Anniversaries -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

         B. 02-11-1802, Lydia F. Child, one of the great writers of the
abolitionist cause, wrote about the terrible fate of babies of black mothers
under slavery but unfortunately, the lines still apply today to those
various anti-abortion agencies which "distribute" new-borns for a price.
         She wrote, "In the North, the pangs of maternity ... meet with the
requisite assistance; and here (in New England), after we have helped the
mother,  we do not sell the babies."

         Event 02-11-1916, Emma Goldman, noted anarchist, is arrested for
publically speaking about birth control.  A New York state code forbade
discussions of health matters in public...and doctors refused to do it in
private.

         B. 02-11-1934 Mary Quant. Remember that "quaint" custom of girls
having to kneel in front of the school principal ?  And they were sent
home if their skirts did not touch the floor?  Mary Quant designed the
miniskirt and develped a fashion empire around the style.  

Quote du jour -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

         "The whole aim of the woman's movement has been to destroy the
idea that obedience is necessary to women; to train women to such self-
respect that they would not grant obedience and to train men to such
comprehension of equity they would not exact it."
         -Carrie Chapman Catt, speech to the National American Woman
	 Suffrage Association, 1902.


(C) 1995 Irene Stuber, PO Box 6185, Hot Springs National Park, AR 71902,
irenestuber@delphi.com. Distribute verbatim copies freely with copyright
notice for non-profit use.