Spanking Spanking Zircon Category="Corporal punishments"

: This article is about the punishment. For spanking as erotic activity, see Erotic spanking; for punishment as an erotic activity, see BDSM.

Spanking (or smacking, whacking, whipping, etc.) is a traditional form of Corporal punishment, applied on the Buttocks.

What and how

Definitions

Spanking (not any beating), by today's definition, consists of striking the Buttocks repeatedly, usually as a Corporal punishment, with either an open Hand or various implements including a belt or strap, various types of whips (see flagellation) such as Martinet and Tawse (traditional in France resp. Scotland), switch or other form of rod, paddle (the US favorite), some curious devices as produced for US masonic lodge initiations (such as the electric so-called Spanker, and trickster 'paddling machines'), or still various 'household' objects (see Pervertible) such as a slipper (common in Commonwealth domestic discipline, also said when other footwear is used), a wooden spoon, or the Hairbrush.

In North American English, all posterior discipline is usually known as "spanking". In British and Commonwealth English "smacking" or “whacking” is used as the general term; with "spanking" usually referring to bare hand discipline (as opposed to implement-specific forms such as Caning, Birching and slippering), though the American generalisation became acceptable recently, and to Erotic spanking. However when the butt suffers on onslaught from footwear on the foot (not wielded by hand) the term Booting is commonly used in stead of spanking.

There are many alternative terms, often linked with an implement (such as belting, caning, whipping), but also sometimes used more generally (such as thrashing, dressing-down, whacking, wupping) or using terms for a stroke, such as swat (hence swatting), lick (hence licking) and less common ones including onomatopoeias such as "pop (hence the word pun 'pop culture')", while there are still other terms for hits (e.g. blow, stroke; cut refer to the effect) - nearly all those terms can of course also apply to beatings on other parts of the body, and even though a term as hiding or tanning suggests administering on the bare these can also be used more generally. Next there are descriptive terms for spanking using a synonym of buttocks and a generic term for (corporal) punishment, such as posterior chastisement, stern discipline, sometimes specifying the degree of nakedness of the spankee, as in panties-down, bare-arse, or bare-bottom punishment.

It is striking how the (mainly informal) terminology is determined by the punisher's point of view, with terms such as lesson, medicine, therapy, (woodshed) treatment), even helping, and even -in se unnecessary- adjectives such as firm, (jolly) good, healthy, sound, well-deserved, even (long) overdue; if the spankee is taken notice of, then as helplessly suffering the painful effects, as in : blistering, grilling, roasting, humbling
Several languages exclusively use words that directly indicate the buttocks as the anatomical target zone, either plainly as the French fessée (from fesse = buttock) or somewhat ironical, such as the Dutch billenkoek (buttocks + cake); a similar word pun in English is posterior alignment.
Sometimes there is another specific term for a spanking on the seat of the trousers, as the Dutch pak voor de broek ('load (of swats) for -i.e. on- the pantaloons'). On the other hand expressions for a bad beating -not necessarily only for a spanking- can precisely refer to the preliminary baring, as 'a dressing down' and the Dutch verbs afranselen ('take off the (back)pack') and aftuigen ('unharnass', i.e. divest).
Similarly there can be analogous words for spankers, as the Dutch bilslager ('buttock beater') and the French (Frère) Fesseur ('(brother) spanker'), both referring to a cleric, especially in the Jesuit order, specifically charged with the professional administration of spankings on the (typically bared) buttocks of naughty pupils in reputedly strict catholic schools; the clergy seems to have had a real reputation as bodily chastizers (there was a tradition of 'mortification' of the flesh, including self-flagellation, not only as penance), for in Paris's St.Lazaire prison the rod was administered on the bare buttocks of criminals by a member of the Lazarist order referred to as the Père fouettard ('whipping father') as allegedly happened to the writer Beaumarchais.

Scope of punitive use

The two subsections group the various spanking spheres for convenience: the 'domestic' model spanks in a paternalisic mentality, intending or at least claiming to (re)educate the spankees, often 'for their own good', while the 'judicial' model essentially aims to enforce the social code, be it the (formal or customary) law or a substitute order, 'for the common good' (raison d'état, social cohesion, public safety and morality...)

Domestic model

Spankings are administered in particular to children by their educators, i.e. mostly (biological -, step-, adoptive - or foster) parent or guardian and school -, orphanage etc. staff, but also, especially in the past, to other persons considered as legal (and/or moral) minors (sometimes illegally still treated as such), including:

wives (by their husbands) and women in general (though girls are less often spanked in traditions where boys are, or at least less often on the bare bottom)
servants (especially domestics, not by coincidence also called (house)boy or maid; the British Lord Chief Justice declared their corporal punishment, like children, indisputably justified in 1795);
slaves in the broad socio-economic sense, not just on plantations and in households; even in various postcolonial countries, underage and/or illegal workers, even structural debtors, are still (often illegally) punished, even beaten, at the boss's displeasure in sweatshops, prostitution (the client may even be allowed to spank just for his pleasure) etc.;

as divinity is often seen as the wise, ultimate 'paternal' authority, its will is often law for the faithfull, and may be enforced -to save the mortal from its wroth, even eternal damnation- by penitence, a word meaning punishment, which can take many forms, also corporal; while self-inflicted flagellantism rarely aims as low as the buttocks but rather at the back for practical reasons (and modesty if performed in public), the sinner who is painfully 'helped' by another believer (often clergy) can well be made acutely contrite in the rear;
in the minds of colonial authorities, most adult autochtonous freemen were long considered culturally 'immature' and in need of paternalistic education (and sometimes forced religious conversion), justifying harsher and more humiliating discipline (even when no longer acceptable in the mother country)[], and often it was in line with traditional justice, which often left in place under Indirect rule, and ironically only replaced by western style justice after decolonization, as a symbol of the nation’s independence, or the end of Apartheid.

However the practice has been adopted elsewhere. It is often copied from domestic discipline, as in fraternites and sororities (originally living units where seniors and/or staff wielded the paddle rather like parents at home), and sports and other teams (though now nearly only as 'play' in Hazing and rarely as actual coercive sanction) and other initiation context, as with recruits (in military, police and some other professions).

Judicial model

Although non-erotic fiction usally shows or sais corporal punishment for adults as administered above the waist, in most cultures and legal systems it was as least as common to administer on the buttocks, i.e. as a spanking, most forms of judicial and prison beatings (convicts by definition are at the mercy of the auhorities; even today severe punishments, even the dreaded judicial 'Singapore' cane, are awarded to enforce internal prison rules in various countries).

For obvious practical reasons adults are rarely spanked over knee or lap, rather bending or bound over some object or construction (closely resembling the child's exposure, without the skin contact that is often undesirable or even indecent for the official spanker), in fewer cases standing or hanging (as usual for punishment above the waist) as against a wall or whipping post.

The very parallel with child discipline is part of the deliberate use of Public humiliation as part of punishments. Hence, the condemned is often bared, completely or partly to expose the buttocks, or only covered for modesty, with little protection against the instrument; this is still usual under sharia in many countries. While even the back is sometimes left clad for an islamic whipping, as in Saudi Arabia, in (ethnically mainly Chinese) Singapore and (muslim) Malaysia it is more common to cane the bare buttocks.

Often the strong arm of the law -mainly (para)military and police, not seldom charged with the physical execution of corporal punishment- and some similarly hierarchical organisations, has particularly strict internal discipline, usually enforced internally (as by court-martial, or in 'minor' cases simply by the superior officer), which in many traditions entailed punishing the culprit's (often bared) tail-end;
- especially navies, where order must be maintained in confined spaces at all cost, are renowned for stern discipline, and some measure of it not unknown in merchant naval traditions either, but usually only 'boys' (including midshipmen, though) were spanked, adult sailors rather had their back and/or shoulders lashed;
- in general the treatment of boys under arms has at least a measure of the paternalistic 'educational' discipline, often meaning they are more likely to have the bare bottom punished;
- when martial law is imposed (formally or de facto), at home (as in Pakistan under sharia-zealous president general Ziah- /pkjur1.htm) or under military occupation, such harsh practice is often extended to the civilian population (more difficult to control and/or less respected) as well, even limiting normal process of law; while regular corps discipline is generally conducted within quarters or correctional facility, to 'whip' the masses into obedience public administration is often preferred for maximized deterrence; yet in some cases the accusations of 'war crime'-type abuse are somewhat hollow in sofar as the occupied country often already used similar physical coercion, e.g. Korea publicly caning the criminal's bare behind over a bench before and during the Japanese rule /krjur1.htm

Judicial corporal punishment is making a comeback in a surprising number of post-colonial, non-islamic countries, including the Cat o' nine tails in various Antillean Commonwealth nations.
Furthermore there is a wave of reviviving or beefing up of (re)legalized traditional justice, as by tribal chief's courts, and their customary punishments not infrequently include spanking, sometimes even carried out by the regular police force.
Even where corporal punishment remains illegal, or is very restricted, it rather often is a common weapon for so-called vigilante justice, sometimes tolerated or even legally legitimated by the authorities (as in various parts of Africa, e.g. Botswana), sometimes practiced by rebels (as in Nepal), often remarkably popular with the general public or a large section where official 'modern' western-style justice seems unable to stem crime, as in South Africa.
Finally, there are cases of 'Summary justice' which don't even fit the vigilante logic, but stil intends to enforce a social order by improvised corporal punishment, such as some Bolivian bus drivers using a belt on strike-breaking colleagues on the streets

Position

In its most common usage as a means of domestic corporal disciplining, spanking usually refers to a child lying, stomach down, across the educator's lap - misleadingly referred to as taking a child 'over the knee' (OTK), though literally that is also possible - and the parent or teacher 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 are the safest place to administer corporal punishment since it produces a sharp stinging pain but injury is unlikely; indeed even the terrible judicial cane in, say, Singapore is applied right there, with protective padding just in case the back, especially the kidneys, get accidentally hit.

However there are alternative positions, mainly used for adults (rather too big and/or heavy to put over lap or knee, so the spanker may find it more difficult to hit with full force; also the phyiscal contact with the spankee, who if male often gets (semi-)erect as an involuntary bodily reflex, may be considered unpleasent and/or indecent) but also for more grave and/or formal discipline, even of minors, using an implement.

One option is to have the spankee standing, usually against a wall, tree, or pole. While this means the buttocks are not raised or tensed, which reduces the impact of the hits, and thus the intended pain, severe blows may hurt the spine as it is not free of the body weight as in resting positions; leaning can largely remediate this, especially if the support has a slight inclination.

If the spankee is made to bend over from his standing position, the painful and humiliating exposure is improved, but the spine risk remains. Especially when bending so deep as to (be be able to) grab the ankles or touch the toes, maximizing exposure even beyond the OTK level, forceful blows may well make the spankee loose balance and fall, again an uncontroled injury risk.

A spankee lying down, on the contrary, is safest from injury, and the least exposed. As a patient well beneath him is unpractical for the spanker, except if the implement is quite long and flexible as a whip, the spankee is often lying on a rather high surface, such as on a table.

Still another position is hanging from a beam etc., normally tied down, often by the wrists. Again the spine is safe, the posterior exposure reduced, but here the weight on the arms is a discomfort, increasingly painful with duration, in fact also used as a corporal punishment in itself (here accessory), the wrists may be cut by the caughs or ropes. A variation is hanging upside down, tied by the ankles; similar in effect for spanking, except the legs thus carry the weight, rather devised for a Falaka (beating on the foot soles).

An alternative method is to have the spankee (adult or minor) bending over an object. This is rarely done for a hand spanking, but often for serious discipline using an implement, as it frees the hand(s) of the spanker to wield it with greater force, or even take a run (some claim this to be mere show).

As long as it is strong, big and stable enough to hold the spankee and his weight, almost anything can be used as such a pervertible, though a smooth surface is preferable to avoid scaving injuries; however the ritual character of repeated spanking often leads to a firm preference for a fixed spot (as in the expression the woodshed treatment) and object.

Especially in the informal (e.g. domestic) context, often furniture is used, such as a a bed, chair or stool, poof, ottoman or sofa, table, (work - or other) bench; another example is retained in the expression 'over a barrel' (meaning at somenone's mercy, literally at the spanker's to whom the posterior is perfectly exposed).

Variations of positions bending over a support for spanking include:

the spankee standing on both feet (or kneeling), bending over to rest only the hands on the support (limited exposure and support)
the spankee kneeling on a high support (e.g. ottoman or bed) and stooping over to place both hands on the floor below (raising the buttocks particularly high, while allowing 'comfortable' support but little spine relief)
the spankee standing (or kneeling) with the belly resting on the support (very 'comfortable' and safe, less exposed), as in the military tradition of formal spankings of boys, mainly in the Royal Navy (but also in some army units with artillery) were known as "kissing the gunner's daughter", i.e. bending over and resting the abdomen on (a cloth over) the barrel of a cannon ('gun') to receive lashes with a cane (far more frequently used informally, often on the spot or in the gunroom), birch (also the only formal instrument in schools and specific trainings ships) or cat o' nine tails (abolished 1862), either on the seat of the trousers or baring the bottom, so traditional that aboard ships where no operational artillery mouth was present a practice gun was used. However for less formal chastisement the miscreant's stern was similarly exposed by bending or being tied over a nautical capstan or bitt(s) - both also publicly on deck - or inside, e.g. 'brought to the chest', or even ordered to grab his ankles on the spot.

A spankee is said to be horsed, past participle of the verb to horse (to mount), when either -and thus the expression is used absolutely- hanging by the arms from the neck and over the back of another person (e.g. a classmate) or on the shoulders of two or more colleagues, who thus act as the horse, offering the thus firmly tensed and exposed backside posterior as a conveniently raised target to receive severe punishment, mainly flagellation (such as tawsing) or caning, often wholly or semi-divested (as for a traditional school birching)

The same term can be applied when or positioned over a punishment horse (to bend over and possibly be tied to during the administration of to the. The word and varies synonyms (such as the 'gray mare' used for strapping in the Colorado State Prison in Carson City) refer to the shape resembling an equine; often this is in fact a contraption already known as horse in its original, non-punitive use, such as the vaulting horse (or its smaller version, the vault buck - usually available in schools and athletic clubs; by the way in some languages, e.g. the German bock meaning buck (he-goat), similar constructions are named after other animals), sawhorse etcetera. This is also true of some names of similar apparatus such as the birching donkey and the (small) pony, but these are usually specially constructed for institutional use of posterior discipline. As legislators frequently (e.g. in the British empire) failed to prescribe precise apparatus, a myriad of contraptions have been used under even more names, such as whipping horse, caning bench, flogging frame, tresle etc.

A variation that can apply to nearly every support or other apparatus (some models have permanent strapping devices or holes for body parts included) is whether to tie the spankee down; this is not only done to prevent flight attempts or as a symbolic subjugation, but mainly to assure that the exact, well-exposed position is maintained, thus allowing the spankee to concentrate on the pain, paradoxically also sometimes granted as a mercy when a hit in invalid position would not be counted or even punished with extras

With nearly all the mentioned positions, one more parameter affects the efficiency of the position: the further the legs are apart, the more the buttocks are tensed, the extra sensitive crack in between more exposed and often the genitalia (if divested) embarrassingly visible. This is why experienced discipliners often stipulate the spankee must assume such a position, e.g. each limb along a leg of a punishment horse or lie or stand spread-eagled (as on a saltire cross).

Procedure

Some child specialists say that if a parent must administer a spanking, it should not be done in anger (indeed discipline must be rational and consistent, not emotional satisfaction) - and only as a last resort when other forms of discipline have failed. They say that for a spanking to be educational it must be perceived as logical and just: the spankee must know what exactly it is for, the severity fitting the 'crime,' preferably according to previous warnings; and the threat should be systematically carried out, not whimsically, nor the severity altered without justification. Especially with young children, it should follow quickly upon being caught, and some warn against consecutive comfort such as hugging as that might confuse the child, maybe even lead it to think that the beating (and the crime leading to it) earned it the affection. Some recommend preceding the spanking with an explanation to the child of exactly why the spanking will happen - or in the case of older children, having the child explain this reason to the parent - so that the child understands what the misdeed was.

Spanking is generally considered corrective punishment, without 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, even leaving stripes or bruises for days, sometimes even lasting scars. Today some (including courts in some countries) consider even mere redness of the skin abusive, though others would call it effective discipline.

Spankings are delivered over a diaper (nearly only in playfull context emphasizing humiliation, not painful enough for real punishment), over Clothing (may be specified, e.g. sport kit; otherwise arbitrarily unequal protection may be unfair, especially in an institutional context with rules for the number of strokes), over the undergarments only, or upon the Bare buttocks in increasing order of intended Pain (though tight trousers and a wedgie can make a blunt implement, as a cane, feel even worse), and potential Humiliation; the latter is greatly increased by witnesses, such as the household, the class, or even a school assembly.

The removal of the clothing by the spanker may be seen as humiliating as the child is made to experience being undressed by someone other than oneself. It also procures a feeling of helplessness in that the child is no longer in control of the situation.

Most educators in modern-day Western societies consider avoidable humiliation inappropriate. Others consider the humiliation of exposing one's bare buttocks a legitimate or even essential part of the punishment, as the desired psychological effect is to deter, more than inflicting pain as such.

As a rule the humiliation resulting from a punishment diminishes as it is used more frequently: suffering the same fate as (nearly) all one's peers is far less embarrassing then being (nearly) the only one to be made to bend over, with trousers down.

Furthermore the deterring effect of pain can be lessened or even outweighed by macho pride in 'taking it like a man', as attested by the documented pleas of British Royal Navy captains to have corporal punishment under regulations prescribed to be publicly administered on the 'bare stern' and with another instrument then used on the bare backs of adult sailors, because they believed discipline was badly served as cocky boys considered a 'man's punishment' a virile badge of honor, worth the physical pain.

Controversy

Spanking - like corporal punishment in general - is a hotly debated social issue in many countries. Questions exist as to whether children should be spanked (see the sections below), whether it is an effective method of discipline (and if so how it is best done, see above), and whether or at what point it constitutes child abuse.

Arguments 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.

Some advocates of spanking refer to Bible verses mentioning "the rod", and assert that spanking is therefore an acceptable punishment from a Judeo-Christian moral or religious point of view. Some attribute the quotation "spare the rod and spoil the child" to the Bible; in fact, it comes from a poem by Samuel Butler. The Bible verse itself reads, "He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him. Proverbs 13:24 (NIV)"

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 ("might makes right"). It is also possible that this may contribute to physical abuse in cases of bullying at school and physical abuse on siblings in family battles that occur between the children. Many cases of bullying at school has been linked to physical abuse cases.

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 or for a woman to physically chastise her husband 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 commonly accepted 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. However, it does not seem to be possible for the parent to avoid showing anger or for the child to believe that the parent is not angry at them, as it is reasonable to assume someone is angry when they are hitting you.

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. Spanking may lead, it is argued, to psychological damage and even possible PTS syndrome-related effects due to prolonged fear, feelings of mistrust and being un-loved, alike with bullying at school or other forms of abuse.

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 the deliberate infliction of physical Pain "to teach them a lesson" will, the argument goes, learn that this is an appropriate way to treat others who have wronged them.

There is a significant risk in regards to trust of a parent. If children feel that they are being threatened by this form of chastisement, it is likely that they may have difficulty believing that the parents are there to protect them because of the claim "I would never hurt you" has been violated. This may impair their ability to follow their parents or do what they advise and to listen to them.

There are possible physical risks involved which have not been proven. Mainly these risks concern the physical effects of hitting someone, especially when implements such as paddles are used. The buttocks are a sensitive area and are close to the kidneys or spine. Hitting the wrong area may cause harm to these organs.

Additionally, risks may occur when the child resists its punishment and tries to get away in an angry or other emotional state. This may result in accidental injuries such as falling down flights of stairs and running out into traffic, tripping up over things laid out on the floor, and even possibly hitting the parents back causing a possible reactions that results in them being further punished in similar and more dangerous ways. In such cases, they may begin to fight dangerously, and the result is most likely to be serious injuries on the younger opponent.

For children with afflictions such as epilepsy, asthma, un-diagnosed medical conditions such as heart rhythm disorder ("arrythmias") a spanking may aggrevate their condition which may be lethal. It is known that epileptic patients that are exposed to stress can be more likely to convulse for instance. Anything that produces physical stress on the body can do harm.

Opponenents of spanking also point out that many biblical references to "the rod" are in context of the shepherd and his sheep, and that the rod was used by the shepherd to guide or protect his sheep, rather than to hit them..

It has been proven that children have a greater sensitivity to pain than adults. This is something that people may deny; it is, however, attested by neurological studies on neuronal stengthening and pain in brain development.

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.

Minimal use of spanking

Despite the intensity of the controversy over spanking, positions between the two extremes are also common. Many parents believe that spanking is not inherently abusive and can sometimes be an effective form of discipline, but also believe that it should usually be avoided. Some, for instance, use spanking only when a child does something dangerous and it is critical that an immediate, lasting impression must be made. Others point out that individual differences in Temperament have a great effect on the way children respond to discipline, and criticize both extreme positions on spanking as taking a "one size fits all" approach. They argue that spanking may be the most effective form of discipline for some children, but that it should only be used on those particular children who respond well to spanking and do not respond to alternative methods of discipline.

The legal situation

Corporal punishment of children in school is illegal in many western countries; it remains legal in roughly half of the 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 by a paddle. There are cases where school officials have lost their jobs for spanking students.

In the UK the Children Act 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 . 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.

Non-punitive spankings

As spanking, combining physical discipline and buttocks, always aroused attention, it is no wonder that it entered spheres of life distinct from punishment. Apart from the erotic and from fraternity/sorority type initiations, which have their origin in educational (domestic of boot camp) types of discipline, these include recreation and folklore, as in:

Playful enactment

Child's play often imitates real life, especially featuring part of daily life, even the most unpleasant.

Thus it has been recorded by a captain in the Royal Navy that boys on board often enacted the beatings they were subjected to in reality, both the 'day to day' caning and the truly painful and humiliating public administration of a flogging with the boy's pussy (lighter version of the cat o' nine tails) talking turns in the actual position on deck, sometimes including the lowering of the trousers (but using a cane for lack of a cat)!

Birthday spanking

This is a curious custom in certain circles, to allow a number of others (e.g., father at home, teammates in a club, classmates in certain training institutions) to administer a spanking to the bottom of the birthday boy or girl), as an annual Rite of passage and probably a matter of bonding - the same procedure is also used as an initiation or part of it, e.g. during Hazing.

In large groups this may well take the form of a spanking tunnel, which is a double row of spankers (a characteristic of running the gauntlet) the spankee has to run through, or crawl on hands and knees, the butt (sometimes bared) exposed to hand slaps or even to implements such as paddles (sometimes also called a paddle machine).

In either case it is usually kept mild, more horseplay than punishment.

Spanking booth

This carnival attraction is a disciplinarian variation of the kissing booth, where the volunteer(s) (sometimes rather assigned, e.g. pledges as part of Hazing) must earn the donations (either for charity or the funds of the organizing society) by enduring swats, for example with a paddle, usually bending over and/or in riduculous and/or exposing costume. The rules may or not prevent an actual painful 'punishment' of the innocent bottom.

External links

World Corporal Punishment Research (corpun.com) - objective website with large, constantly improved documentation, especially on child discipline
The Center for Effective Discipline (StopHitting.com)
Project NoSpank (NoSpank.net)
Is Corporal Punishment An Effective Means Of Discipline? (American Psychological Association)
Corporal Punishment Articles (APA Psychological Bulletin Journal)
Physical Punishment (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Spanking (Focus on The Family)
cp_prosecutions group at Yahoo! Groups - a pro-family rights activism group

Plain Talk About Spanking - an online anti-spanking booklet (Project NoSpank)