Spanking

Spanking or smacking is a traditional form of corporal punishment, in particular of children but also, especially in the past, of wives and women. Spanking (not beating), by today's definition, consists of striking the buttocks repeatedly, with either an open hand or various implements including a belt, martinet, switch, hairbrush or paddle. However in its most common usage as a means of disciplining children, spanking usually refers to a child laying, stomach down, across the parent's lap -misleadingly referred to as taking a child 'over the knee'- and the parent repeatedly swatting the child's backside. It is generally believed that this is the safest manner in which to spank since striking a standing child could cause back injury. Spanking advocates argue that the buttocks is the safest place to administer corporal punishment since it produces a sharp stinging pain but injury is unlikely. Some child specialists say that if a parent must administer a spanking they shouldn't do it in anger--and only as a last resort when other forms of discpline had failed.

Spanking is generally considered corrective punishment, with no intention of permanent injury; however, such intentions do not always have their desired result. There are questions over what level of pain is appropriate until it crosses the threshold into abuse. Up until the mid 20th century it was perfectly acceptable in most communities for a spanking to cause a child to cry in pain throughout and have trouble sitting down afterward. Many, but not all, people today would find this to be abusive but

Spankings may be delivered over clothing, over the undergarments only, or upon the bare buttocks in increasing order of intended pain, and potential humiliation. Many parents in modern-day Western societies consider the latter to be too humiliating to be appropriate but again not all. There are those who feel that the humiliation of exposing one's bare buttocks is a legitimate part of the child's punishment.

Spanking is a hotly debated social issue in many countries. Questions exist as to whether children should be spanked, whether it is an effective method of discipline, and whether it constitutes child abuse.

The argument for spanking

Those who accept spanking often frame the issue as a matter of parental rights, stating that parents have the right to raise their children in the way they consider most appropriate. They also hold there is little evidence that moderate spanking is harmful. Further, many believe that discipline problems among children have recently increased, and partially attribute the increase to the decline of both parental authority and the use of spanking. Proponents of spanking also argue that moderate spanking is simple and effective, especially compared to non-spanking disciplines proposed by both academic psychologists and parents which may rely upon complicated or unrealistic methods that are often not implemented successfully.

Another argument used by proponents of spanking is that proper and effective spankings cause only temporary pain and no damage. It has been claimed that when parents and children are engaged in a prolonged struggle for authority, the anger and bitterness that results can cause an emotional estrangement that far outweighs any possible negative effects from moderate spankings.

Some advocates for spanking come from a behaviorist point of view, and argue that spanking is a form of operant conditioning, whereby the child associates a certain behaviour with the physical pain and/or humiliation caused by spanking. Since a child's learning process is believed to be less complex than that of an adult, they claim that children are more likely to be influenced by such a conditioning.

Additionally, there is a widespread and deep skepticism among pro-spankers of all the arguments against spanking, and a general feeling that the practice of spanking recalcitrant children has proven its worth over a period of many centuries. They believe that the bias against spanking is arbitrary and an improper application of egalitarian principles to what they claim is an inherently unequal social relationship.

Opponents of spanking frequently compare the 'unequal' justification of physical force against children to past justifications for either slavery or spousal abuse. Advocates, however, point out their doubt that opponents are actually interested in elevating children to the status of adults and claim, therefore, that such comparisons are invalid.

Arguments against spanking

Anti-spanking advocates make a number of arguments against spanking, on a number of grounds: chiefly that spanking is abusive, that it is ineffective, and that it teaches children that physical violence is an acceptable way to deal with other people or "might makes right."

Opponents of spanking note that what is considered chastisement for a child would be considered assault when carried out on an adult. For example, it is now considered domestic violence for a man to physically chastise his wife in many nations. Some hold that, in time, the act of spanking a child will be regarded in the same way: indeed, in some nations this is already the case. (See below.)

The boundary between spanking and abuse is difficult for even traditionalists to define. Two guides are that the parent doing the spanking must not feel anger at the child or satisfaction at the act of spanking, and that the spanking must not leave any marks or injury. Opponents suggest that both of these may be rationalizations, or a slippery slope.

Opponents also hold that spanking is ineffective and that other forms of discipline are more successful at teaching a child to behave properly. Also, unlike taking away a child's favorite toy, spanking is permanent and cannot be reversed if it is determined that it was not actually warranted. Some question the validity of this logic, since time spent without the favorite toy cannot be replaced without the benefit of time travel. However, if the toy is a bike, for example, then the child may be compensated with extra bicycling time on the following day (or something of this nature).

Opponents also claim that spanking teaches children that violence is an appropriate way to treat one who offends. Some consider that spanking, as with clear-cut forms of physical abuse, may perpetuate a "cycle of violence" which contributes to violent behavior in the child as an adult. Children learn by example, and those subjected to physical violence "for their own good" will, the argument goes, learn that this is an appropriate way to treat others who have wronged them. (This argument rests on the premise that spanking is a form of violence, a premise that is questioned by the pro-spanking side.)

Alternatives to spanking

Opponents of spanking state that there are numerous methods of non-violent child discipline which they think are at least as effective as spanking, and without the negative side-effects that they attribute to spanking; see that article for details.

The legal situation

Corporal punishment of children in school is illegal in many western countries; it remains legal in 22 U.S. states, although it is commonly practised only in the South. In each of these states, it is up to each school district to determine whether corporal punishment will be used, in what situations will it be applied, and the manner in which it is given – typically with a paddle. There are states where school officials have lost their jobs for spanking students.

In the UK the Children Bill was passed in 2004. One attempt to make spanking illegal in England and Wales did not pass when a majority of 424 to 75 Members of Parliament voted against the bill [1]. A House of Lords amendment, however, made it illegal to leave any visible marks.

Spanking of children within families is illegal in some countries (for example, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Austria, Germany, Italy, Cyprus, Croatia, Israel and Latvia). Similar initiatives in the U.S. have repeatedly failed. Parental rights groups have formed since the 1990s to prevent spanking from being criminalized.

Canada has tightened its laws as of early 2004 and the laws now say that no infant or teen may be spanked.

Also see

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