If “vagina” is controversial, how about “scrotum?”
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- March
- 8
Given the furor, I thought we should revisit the decision by some children’s librarians across the country to not buy an award-winning children’s book because it contains the word “scrotum.”
The context isn’t like that of the Vagina Monologues, which really uses its word as a weapon.
“The Higher Power of Lucky” tells the story of a 10-year-old girl. In the beginning of the book, she overhears people talking about a snake-bit dog and is interested by the unfamiliar word that describes the location of the injury.
Here’s the problem: the book by Susan Patron is aimed at readers younger than 10.
It won the Newbery Award and then the blogosphere went crazy as many school and children’s librarians said they wouldn’t feel comfortable reading it out loud and wouldn’t buy it.
My colleague Scott Elliott, a journalist for the Dayton Daily News with one of the first and best newspaper blogs on education, was surprised to find himself seeing the librarians’ point. He says he wouldn’t read the book to his young kids.
I think I disagree.
Well, I admit I probably would have stammered over the word. Maybe I would have handed it to my kids when they were young and let them read it themselves and then ask about it. It’s just that they came home with so many awful terms and awful misunderstandings from elementary school! And I’m talking first and second grade. A book like this could have provided some useful context.
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on Thursday, March 8th, 2007 at 12:56 pm by Lanning Taliaferro.
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i dont understand? i have a scrotum and a penis. what will i tell my boys? yes when they were very young we called it the baby. so as to be polite.
but now that they are older 6+ why not call it for what it is?
scro·tum /ˈskroÊŠtÉ™m/ Pronunciation Key – Show Spelled Pronunciation[skroh-tuhm] Pronunciation Key – Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun, plural
ta /-tÉ™/ Pronunciation KeyShow Spelled Pronunciation[tuh] Pronunciation KeyShow IPA Pronunciation, -tums. Anatomy.the pouch of skin that contains the testes.
[Origin: 1590–1600;
You know Lanning, you could draw a lot of ire from the readership suggesting (appropriately) that the use of the word vagina in the Vagina Monologues is “a weapon.” Everyone has been focusing on the word and not the clearly sexual context.
Now, the use of the word scrotum is necessary in this book because without it there isn’t a story; i.e., coming of sexual age. However, that doesn’t mean that the story is either good or, more importantly, appropriate for children’s publishing.
What I cannot seem to figure out with the vagina and scrotum discussions is why people don’t understand that the use of clinical, or any terms for that matter about genitalia is not appropriate for “polite” company. A classroom setting specific to sex ed or with your buddies is fine. But among a group of complete strangers is inappropriate at all times.
be thankful you live in a school district where
this is considered a controversy.
there are schools where this would not lead to
a suspension – and neither would threatening the teacher or
fighting in class or cursing at the teacher and leaving the room without permission.
A controversy like this is a luxury that not all school districts have.
This issue in my mind has less to do with the taboos associated with genitalia, than it has to do with the students breeching an agreement. Right or wrong, the school decided the word was inappropriate in the presence of young children. the students agreed not to use it, then intentionally did so anyway. Now they are screaming about their civil rights. I’m happy they are proud of their vaginas. Im sure many of their classmates are equally proud of their penises. However, in a civil society, if one’s words or actions in a public forum cause others to be uncomfortable, then dont use them, or act that way. That is being courteous. Doesnt matter if its the “V” word, or the “N” word, being shirtless in a restaurant, or flying the confederate flag over your state capitol. Since each of these things can offend others, you should be courteous enough to refrain.
not appropriate? I am sorry I rather hear someone say he injured is penis than the other colloquial terms.
and please define “polite” company… If there’s a discussion and the need arises that someone has to mention genitalia for whatever reason whats the problem?
Every one poops is great reading too. how do explain rectum or anus? slang and negative use is what demeans the word not the company.
We should be thankful for Principal Rich Leprine for making a decision that he felt was for the good of the community. Mr Leprine then wrote a clear explanation as to why these students were suspended, insubordination of a school ruling not the content of a poem. Who governs our public schools, the students or the administrators?? I would not want my teenage daughters discussing the empowerment of Vaginas on the television. I am not afraid to use the word vagina but I dont see the need to go to the media and announce it. We should be standing behind Mr. Leprine not condeming him!! We could use more value minded principals like Mr. Leprine. These students knew what was going to happen and chose to do it anyway. They should take their punishment and move on so we all can.
I was the first to say they are both wrong. the students for not keeping their promise and the principal for making them promise. His request was ludicrous, however they a bided then turned on their promise. He is being condemned for being repressive in his views of verbage. The kids for being liars.
Polite company is a common figure of speech. It’s beyond a shame that I have to define it for you, so I won’t. I’m sure Google can help you out there.
When I’m not in polite or mixed company (i.e., among friends) I personally prefer to hear and use slang terms; maybe that’s just me being a guy. But I also know when not to refer to any reproductive organ; e.g., I would never dream of using any genitalia term in front of one of my customers – for any reason. A school production audience should be treated as polite company and Leprine’s actions are justified.
Hey I think the girls did nothing wrong! They used the proper termiology, so get over it!! why make a big deal, its nothing its a word, show me physical or mental damage from the word! GIRLS I SUPPORT YOU FULLY! ANDREW WIESE IS THE NAME! NEED ANY HELP FIND ME ON MYSPACE OR FACEBOOK!
since when is vagina slang?
then you cant do a reading of see dick or jane. cause guess what dick is?
when does it stop?
The grandstanding students will get their fifteen minutes of fame on the tabloid show where moms come from the midwest to stand out in the cold and hold up signs that say things like, “cheese rules”.
That this event may be construed as meaningful in terms of women’s rights is pathetic. In the context of our rap-accepting culture, with its flagrant denigration of women and the universal acceptance of same, including in wealthy suburbs like Lewisboro, what’s the logical next step along the path of ‘celebrating’ female empowerment?
The answer is obvious: a teenage scrotum should meet up with a vagina and end up in the ultimate expression of power, the abortion of a fetus. Hooray for the girls!
anyone got any opinions about the book?
I’m getting it (the book). No problems with reading something like that to my kids. Nadia has “Everybody poops” and “The gas we pass”. Scrotum, vagina are body parts just like arms and legs and should be treated as such. Just by making these words an issue is whats screwing up our society. Vocabulary exists to comunicate. A rose is a rose…
well said Alicia.
It’s depressing to see the repressed attitudes here about what “polite” people can talk about. Polite people mind their own business, and don’t tease others for using educated words. If someone is embarrassed by clinical talk, then the onus is on them to excuse themselves from the situation, or the grin and bear it.
The student were not allowed to publicly perform the play without reading the passage exactly as intended. Surely the teachers knew of this licensing issue?
Let’s keep discussion of the book here, and discussion of the John Jay students attached to those specific posts, shall we?
Again, scrotum is a correct, scientific term. Why is it controversial for children to know, read, and hear the accurate, clinical terms for their genitalia? We personally haven’t used the word “scrotum,” but my young children (three and six) know that boys have testicles. I will have to glance through the book to see if it is appropriate to read to my children, but the factors in my decision will be things like bigotry and violence. The fact that the word “scrotum” appears is a non-issue to me.
You guys are trying to compare arms, legs, and elbows to a vagina. They are totally different things. Do you cover up your elbow when you are in public? NO Do you cover your arms in legs in public? NO. Do you cover up your vagina in public? YES.
Seriously people, get real. Do you want me running around naked?
Well, the context for both of these words was not public appearance or conversation. One’s a quote from a play and the other is a book.