Quote:
Originally Posted by dogsbody70
We are not allowed to take photos of our children in plays, Nativity plays nowadays-- nor video them.
I pass a childrens playground every day but am not allowed to talk to the children-- even though Ipass almost every day when I walk my dogs.
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It's quite interesting really to compare the two cultures. I know here there is such a fear that anything to do with children may be misinterpretted or sexualised, any interaction with children (aside from family) seems to be something to be feared. To add to what you said I know that in schools the teachers can't even hug young pupils or apply plasters if the fall over in the playground, just in case it's misconstrued as being more than it is. In fact they did an experiment a while ago with a child actor on a busy road crying and unsupervised, hardly any adult males stopped to check whether the child was okay, and when interviewed afterwards it was said they feared what people would think of them. . .
I think whilst it's good that there isn't really that kind of stigma in Japan, it seems a little extreme the other extent. . . I agree with some of the other posters that the pictures of children are far too sexualised. No, the child isn't being hurt or put in danger, but the only people who'd appreciate such overly sexual images would be a certain type of person. . . I think it kind of normalises the urges people might have. It's not right to see children as sexual, and if they appear as such and a more dangerous/predatory person sees it then surely it sends out a message that their desires are normal? It seems risky to me, as if it's encouraging the behaviour.