Where does feminism stand on the smacking of children?

[JC544D]

Where does feminism stand on the smacking of children?

Is it a feminist issue?

Not sure where feminism stands but it's a definite no from me.

Why, where do you stand on the smacking of children?

Would you like to explain why you think that it might be a feminist issue, OP?

Feminists aren't one homogeneous group.

It's not a feminist issue.

I suppose there is some broad commonality in that physical violence is all too often used to control women. Obviously that's always a bad thing, and the greater the power differential the worse it is. So, physically punishing children is abhorrent imo.

"AlisonDonut
Why, where do you stand on the smacking of children?"

I think it should be banned in England, like it is in many countries around the world including Scotland and Wales.

I suppose there is some broad commonality in that physical violence is all too often used to control women. Obviously that's always a bad thing, and the greater the power differential the worse it is. So, physically punishing children is abhorrent imo

I’m a feminist and I agree with the above but there is no single view on any issue in feminism

Why is smacking children specifically a feminist issue OP?

I suppose Feminism generally stands on the side of basic human decency and as you know we teach children from about 18 months old that 'you don't hit' so id hope that most Feminists (and humans in general) would be against smacking.

It's abuse of a smaller, weaker person, an adult hitting a child is like a man hitting a woman. Perhaps worse, as difficult as it is for a woman to leave, the child doesn't have that option at all.

"BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz
Why is smacking children specifically a feminist issue OP?"

I don't think it is, it's certainly not specifically a feminist issue. I was just interested to hear whether there was a broad general view on the issue among feminists. Hence the question.

Why not give us your opinion on the topic?

I'd presume that most feminists I know are very anti-smacking, because I think most people I know are anti-smacking. But I don't think you can expect a consensus on what feminists think about it, because you don't even get a consensus from feminists even about many things which are directly related to feminism - they aren't a hive mind!

"AlisonDonut
Why not give us your opinion on the topic?"

I already have.

I think smacking should be banned in England like it is in many countries in the world including Scotland and Wales.

Ok great. Thanks for the info.

Oh I didn’t give my actual opinion. I consider myself a feminist and am totally against smacking. I agre it should be banned. I'm intrigued to know what made you specifically interested in feminist views on this, OP. Did you expect feminists generally to agree with your view or have the opposite view?

The OP woke up and thought 'i do wonder what those feministy people think about...smacking".

As if feminists would ever be for smacking kids. FFS.

Snacking tho, amirite?

AlisonDonut

Do you think the current government in the UK should ban the smacking of children, like the current Scottish and Welsh governments have done?

Personally I think they should.

Smacking doesn't help children.
It's basically an act of revenge by the parent, when they're a shit parent who can't tolerate normal childhood behaviour.

In my opinion.

Well Feminists are people so just like any group of people I imagine they have a variety of opinions on it.
I disagree but I’m not sure that it’s because I am a feminist

Fairislefandango
"OP. Did you expect feminists generally to agree with your view or have the opposite view?"

I had no idea, hence asking the question. As a guess I'd say the general view would be for a ban on smacking.

It's just that several self proclaimed feminist politicians in England don't seem to be very vocal about the issue. I just found that odd. Maybe its because as people say in the thread, 'its not a feminist issue', I accept that.

It's just something I feel very strongly about and wish that some politicians would be more vocal about it.

I guess it was rather a sweeping question to ask such a broad church of people involving so many opinions, I accept that.

well...I think there is probably a consensus, as we are seeing, I can't imagine a feminist who would condone smacking, but it doesn't really seem to be a feminist issue to me. I can image a tangential way of coming at it in that women are generally tasked with the upbringing of children, and judged accordingly, so we might have an opinion from that angle I suppose.

er, imagine, not image

I can see how smacking is a motherhood issue and therefore a feminist issue.

I'm not an authority on the subject in anyway whatsoever but I'd pretty much assume most feminists would be anti-smacking.
I couldn't fathom a feminist argument for pro- smacking to be honest.

I think the reason why it's not on the forefront of feminist debate at large, is because smacking in the UK is already illegal with a slight caveat that in practice makes smacking, even in demanding circumstances, extremely taboo.

It's not really done, so it's not a huge pressing issue.

Child abuse is obviously a very pressing issue and one that feminists talk about (painfully) a lot.