Bad touching

"Bad touching" is a propaganda term used to teach children to think of touching as being either good or bad depending on whether it conforms to government-imposed standards of propriety. The "Underwear Rule" (endorsed by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) is that the parts of their body covered by underwear are private and "that no one should ask to see or touch their private parts or ask them to look at or touch anyone else's" except for doctors, nurses, or family members under certain circumstances. The NSPCC recommends that children remember PANTS: "Privates are private"; "Always remember that your body belongs to you"; "No means no"; "Talk about secrets that upset you"; and "Speak up, someone can help".

Criticism

The principle "privates are private" contradicts the principle "your body belongs to you" because it prevents the child from exercising true self-ownership by making his own decisions about who (if anyone) to allow to see or touch his private parts. The principle "speak up" does not inform children that their speaking up may cause unpleasant outcomes such as a beloved family member's going to prison for a sex offense and being permanently banned by the court from contact with the child, possibly resulting in the child's being placed in a foster home. Like any relationship, a sexual relationship with a child will not always be full of bliss for both parties, but exercising discretion about with whom to talk about these problems could be more in the child's best interest than ending the relationship, especially in a way that has such potentially dire consequences for both parties.