This gives me a notion that’s hard to express, but I’ll try.
On the one hand I just want to just echo what the others have so rightly said: that I’m speechless, I’m at a loss to understrand this, this is so unimaginably brutal, it’s the fruit of a generation of legal baby-disposal via abortion, “what’s she guilty of, except procrastination,” etc.
On the other hand, I want to say I think the normal, healthy animal instincts in the human species are surprisingly weak. Instinct seems to decree, in other species, that the healthy female mammal will keep her babies in her den or nest or hidey-hold, clean them, suckle them, and defend them from danger. But in humans, this instinct has the power of a “suggestion” rather than the power of a “command,” -— even, a disappearingly weak suggestion in some people.
And so I want to say that as a culture we have to re-commit ourselves to the strengthening of the good animal instincts.
By this I mean strengthening masculinity in boys and femininity in girls, male-female mating through (to use the feminist’s scornful term) “priviliging heteronormativity,” And then strengthen female nurturant behavior by encouraging little girls to play with dolls (not Barbies and Bratz, but real baby-dolls that look soft and huggable and kissable); even, to raise our children at home so that they SEE infant-nurturing happening on a daily basis, lots of it, rather than raising them in daycares and preschools or with the electronic nannies of plug-in entertainment.
It looks like I’m coming full-out in favor of what has been called “gender stereotyping” and against the gender-free, “Free To Be You And Me” autonomy/androgyny thing that has consumed child-culture for the past 40 years.
My argument wanders. I’m reaching, here, maybe over-stating. But still. Does this make even an iota of sense?
Carolyn
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Yes, it does.
You are right on the mark as far as I am concerned. But I am an old fogey.
Well put. I am with you.
When resources are scarce other mammals do kill and possibly eat their newborns. Maternal instincts in animals go both ways.
The cases in the article have something in common. An environment perceived by the mother as not conductive to having and raising a child.
Absolutely. Repolarization is essential - but a generation of feminist-trained educators and politicians may have to die off first.
” I think the normal, healthy animal instincts in the human species are surprisingly weak.”
Gotta disagree there. The instinct to care for offspring is very strong in man compared to other species. Humans generally provide extraordinary care to their young. It is comprehensive and of long duration. It is necessary, of course, to support the rather long maturation of an animal whose brain takes up so much volume and energy.
Very interesting thoughts.
I agree that cultural support for our best instincts - to care for those in need, whether that’s infants, the elderly, or the sick - is sadly lacking.
I suppose that to some extent, these instincts are correlated with traditional sex roles, but I don’t think so strongly that I’d make that a focus. I find in my family that everyone - boys and girls - wants to cuddle the babies and visit the elderly. (Cleaning up after the sick is not as popular.)
My mom told the story of holding her firstborn and being alarmed by how fierce she felt...no one, ever, was going to hurt her baby. I didn’t have that type of reaction, but I did start crying and wanted to protect her from everything horrible in the world. I know that the first words I said, without thinking, to my second born were “It’s okay, mama’s got you.”
There is something incredibly sick about a culture that can force these basic instincts out. There is no reason why we can’t respect the differences between men and women and celebrate them. I mean, isn’t that what diversity is all about?
Another old fogey chiming in here. You are SO right.
You're not over-stating. You are so right!
Both my boys and my girl learned to love and protect small things --babies, kittens, puppies-- as they were brought up at home. (Sure, siblings fight and children roughhouse with pets, but if they have loving parents they're corrected when they get too rambunctious.)
On the other hand, children brought up in day care centers learn only the law of the jungle.
Is it surprising we have so many brutal crimes carried out by juveniles, when such a large percentage of them have grown up in day care? No, it is not.