10 Names to Give Your Under 5 Daughter for Her . . . You Know

re: 10 Names to Give Your Under 5 Daughter for Her . . . You Know

Anne — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:55:51 GMT

I had pretty much settled on "girl parts" when my 2-year-old started calling that part of herself her "naked." I am generally a stickler for not making up words, for using words correctly, for good grammar, etc., etc., but I like this "mistake" of hers and we're sticking with it for now. Of course, she also thinks her father's penis is a tail...

re: 10 Names to Give Your Under 5 Daughter for Her . . . You Know

Dwtintx — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:14:40 GMT

I think we're also going with "girl parts" and "boy parts" for our 2 yeaar old, and then will get more specific when she gets older. I don't mind using the correct terms, but I did have an issue with the fact that vagina was the inside part and there wasn't a word for the whole thing. I don't think girl parts connotes the discomfort with the area and the words themselves like Manjari's example of "down there." It was a pretty good compromise for me while she's small.

re: 10 Names to Give Your Under 5 Daughter for Her . . . You Know

Manjari — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 22:49:35 GMT

I've taught my daughter to say vagina for the whole area for now, but I guess when she gets older we will get more specific. She has a twin brother, so I guess I was just thinking one has a penis, one has a vagina (even though I know that is only the internal part). I have only just become comfortable using these words, because I spent my life saying things like "down there." I am trying to avoid passing on that discomfort with the actual words.

re: 10 Names to Give Your Under 5 Daughter for Her . . . You Know

Brett Singer — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:51:10 GMT

"You're right, of course, but what's the answer to the opposite question of 'my sister has a vulva, what do I have?'"

I'm working on that list right now...

re: 10 Names to Give Your Under 5 Daughter for Her . . . You Know

Jan — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:33:11 GMT

My 26-month-old is happy with "bottom." It covers the whole region generically (for now) and is understandable (to anyone). She can tell me, "Bottom rash hurt," and it works.

Daddy has started with the "girl bits/boy bits" routine, so I see us going in that direction for a while. When she's old enough to ask for more details, I'll supply the straight medical terms ("that's your labia" etc.)

re: 10 Names to Give Your Under 5 Daughter for Her . . . You Know

Jenny — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:14:36 GMT

We use vulva because everyone in the family is comfortable saying it. Recently we've been using crotch... as in "I fell on my bike and hurt my crotch." It's a little less personal when we're out in public too... "Why are you holding your crotch? Do you have to pee?"

re: 10 Names to Give Your Under 5 Daughter for Her . . . You Know

Miriam Axel-Lute — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:30:41 GMT

Is there anyone out there who uses "genitals"/"genitalia" -- either for themselves or with their kids? I'm curious now.

re: 10 Names to Give Your Under 5 Daughter for Her . . . You Know

Miriam Axel-Lute — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:29:17 GMT

I guess I meant the only gender-neutral term in regular usage with kids.

But perhaps I should have interrogated my dislike of "genitals" and given more consideration to the idea of putting it into less medical use--if it can be done with vagina, I suppose could be done with genitals. It would actually fit the bill pretty well. Hmm.

re: 10 Names to Give Your Under 5 Daughter for Her . . . You Know

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:16:40 GMT

"Private parts" is not the only gender-neutral term. What about "genitals" and "genitalia"?

While the clitoris is the analog to the penis for the most part anatomically, it is not the analog when the context of the comparison regards urination or intercourse.

The use of "vagina" when what is meant is "urethra," "crotch," "labia," "vulva," or "area mostly covered with pubic hair" annoys me to no end.

re: 10 Names to Give Your Under 5 Daughter for Her . . . You Know

June — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:39:31 GMT

btw, can you post a bigger version of that illegible cartoon? It's a classic that says "So that explains the difference in our salaries" but people can't read it at that size/quality.

re: 10 Names to Give Your Under 5 Daughter for Her . . . You Know

June — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:38:04 GMT

Great article! We used "pussy." But we were happy hippies. To "my sister has a vulva, what do I have?" isn't the correct response "testicles"? When the fetus becomes a girl or boy, isn't it true that that tissue develops into either vulva or scrotal skin?

re: 10 Names to Give Your Under 5 Daughter for Her . . . You Know

Miriam Axel-Lute — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:29:01 GMT

I've seen vagina as one translation of yoni and scheide, but have been told by speakers of those languages/students of Hinduism that they are also used more broadly. Then again, I suppose you could say that about vagina too these days. Alas.

re: 10 Names to Give Your Under 5 Daughter for Her . . . You Know

Sarah — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:00:22 GMT

I see yoni and scheide as translating to "vagina" rather than the whole thing.

re: 10 Names to Give Your Under 5 Daughter for Her . . . You Know

Karin — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 23:17:16 GMT

You're right, of course, but what's the answer to the opposite question of "my sister has a vulva, what do I have?"