Updated to add: I am printing off a copy of this brochure as I type, so will give an update after reading it. Here it is.
Governments all over the world put out tons of these kinds of brochures. I used to peruse the offerings from our very own Department of Education and found some pretty interesting things. (I mean that in a good way.) Never anything like this, from the German Ministry of Family Affairs:
“Fathers do not devote enough attention to the clitoris and vagina of their daughters. Their caresses too seldom pertain to these regions, while this is the only way the girls can develop a sense of pride in their sex,” reads the booklet regarding 1-3 year olds. The authors rationalize, “The child touches all parts of their father’s body, sometimes arousing him. The father should do the same.” Lifesite News
When I was pregnant in Germany, I became interested in the topic of infant massage. So I went to the library to find out more. The first book I came across paid particular attention to the massaging of the genitalia in order to stimulate proper sexual development. So I lost interest in infant massage very quickly. That was nine years ago, so it is not really surprising that this would have gained acceptance in the mean time.
But maybe, just maybe, something was lost in translation? I went searching for a little more information. The press release announcing their availability, free of charge, is dated 2001 and lets us no that the Federal Center for healthy sexual education would like to support parents with difficult topics, including how the parent can accompany the child through the sexual development of their children.
The pamphlets are listed on the BZgA website, with the notice that the publications have been pulled and are temporarily unavailable. This was in reaction to protest from a parent. I am hoping that the reason this took six years is because it took it that long for anyone to read it. Who could read this and not question what is being promoted:
The vagina and especially the clitoris, rarely receive any attention during tender caressing (either from the father or the mother) and make it more difficult for the young girl to develop pride in her sexuality. Spiegel
I’m sorry, but parental fondling of the genitalia does not promote healthy sexual development. To their credit, when the complaint was lodged, the brochure was pulled. But did they actually read it before they made it available?
Irene Johns of the Child Defense League says
Although the brochures are meant differently, pedophiles could use them as justification. Ibid.
No kidding. It appears that they are training good parents concerned about the development of their children in the art.
Minister of Family Affairs Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) characterized certain statements as “on the border.”
A few of the formulations are misleading and have a double meaning. Ibid.
Since the brochure is unavailable and I am only looking at some pulled quotes, perhaps this is accurate. But it seems like a lame defense from a governmental entity that knows most people will never actually read the document in question. Forgive the mistrust. The German educational system has already developed a reputation for its sexual education. And therein lies the problem.
The co-author of the Hessian Sexual Education Guidelines stated several years ago, “We need the sexual stimulation of the students in order to bring about the socialist restructuring of society and the do away with the obedience to authority, including the love of a child to its parent. Gruende fuer Homeschooling
At any rate, the brochures are not presently available…in Germany. But the Swiss Child Defense League has already expressed interest in adopting the suggestions.
There has been an ongoing discussion for years, reports Spiegel. But the original focus group received the brochures positively and praised them for their content and presentation. The government is merely following suit as the morality of the people declines.
Hat tip: Judy Aron and No Apology
Principled Discovery is a place to stop and discuss news and information related to faith, family and particularly education. Pour yourself a cup of tea and join the conversation! 
Sounds like a pedophile’s dream: Step by step instructions and the justification that it “benefits” the child.
I’m going to be ill.
No kidding, Janine.
Hmmm, I’m feeling pretty good about living in Canada right now. A place where we know it’s wrong to sexually stimulate children. Wrong, wrong, wrong! What is wrong with those Germans?
Hurray for the protester!
I’m speechless…I don’t know what to say.
I’m so shocked my mind is grappling to believe that it’s actually true. How scary.
“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing” - Edmund Burke.
Where are all the good men and women in Germany?
Fleeing to nations that allow homeschooling?
I don’t know, Embejo. I couldn’t quite believe it, either. I’m with Shawna. But that is why I looked up after seeing the LifeSite report.
I’m glad they pulled it, but I am very curious how you can put these (and other) quotes in context to make them sound ok.
This doesn’t totally shock me as much as it should. The way I see the world going, it is only a matter of time before pedophilia is the next societal taboo that is knocked down. I was in a discussion forum that said we should teach kindergartener about sex ed including the risks and benefits of sexual intercourse and what their sex organs are there for.
They weren’t talking about basics such as appropriate touch and so on.
I agree with you, B. We have the same kinds of things available here. I found a paper by some researcher about how traditional views on sex are repressive and we should be looking for ways to encourage children to explore and experience this aspect of their bodies. Not the “don’t be ashamed” kind of approach, but actual sex between children.
The only real difference is that our government is not yet offering it for free from their websites.
It wouldn’t surprise me if some of these researchers are getting federal funding of some sort…but I’d think it would make headlines.
I think.
Thanks for this one. I’ll be following it through to find out what is behind it.
The quotes suggest that this was not merely a “lost in translation” mistake or an “editing overlook”.
To my knowledge, across our developed countries, Sex Ed and Sexuality Ed DOES NOT ever condone the purposful sexual stimulation or exploitation of a child.
This brochure is abhorrent and a terrible misuse of government voice and money - even though it is a foreign government and I have no influence on it.
Thanks so much for this. I’m going to link to it in our Safety Talk forum over at Imaginif.
Hey Dana
just in case you want to follow any discussion, here’s the link to this article in our forum: http://imaginif.com.au/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1186625502
Thanks, Megan! I will definitely check it out. Germany has had some “interesting” things come up in the way of sexual education in the past. It is a very different country with a very different culture, especially in regards to sex.
I agree that I don’t see how this could be put in any sort of context that makes it ok. Unless there are some negations missing.