Subscribe to RSSWhere Do Babies Come From?*
That is probably the question most parents try to avoid at all costs, and kids, once that question materializes in their heads, do not rest until they get an answer. Some of the answers involve flowers and bees, others involve a stork, and of course, we all have heard “Ask your mother.”
When I was in primary school, I had a weekly class called “I am a woman” –I went to an all-girls school. This class was about women’s reproductive system, the process of pregnancy, what happens during menstruation, and where babies come from. In second grade, I had my first class about reproduction, and the image that comes to my mind when I think about that class is a cartoon of two machines –a male and a female machine. The male machine was a mechanical device, like a large compressor, with levers, gears and belts; the female machine was an electrical device with bulbs, switches, fuses and a small screen on the front showing a big red heart. Both machines were connected by what seemed like a vacuum hose, going from the center of the male machine to the center of the female machine, below her heart. Using this analogy of the machines as humans, my teacher explained about the seed and the sperm (or “male liquid”), and how the “male liquid” travels to the female’s egg, and together created a baby.
The image was simple, and even though it did not involve humans; it was not confusing because the teacher’s explanation was thorough. She also made clear that it was just an analogy.
I am very fond of my memory of the “love machines;” however, I do not have a particularly interesting memory of how I learned about HIV/AIDS. When I started working for Transdiaspora Network, to get more connected to its cause and to relate to the teenagers in our programs, I tried to remember my experience in learning about HIV/AIDS, and I noticed that no one ever taught me what it was about. I learned about HIV/AIDS mostly from news, TV, articles, and even from myths and beliefs such as “Don’t drink from there, you can get HIV.”
I want to share this story with you because I feel it’s a good example of how creativity and learning can work together successfully. That is what Transdiaspora Network (TDN) does: it proposes an innovative approach to talk about HIV prevention through storytelling, dance and photography, and I’m very happy to be a part of it.
Share your story with us. How did you learn where babies come from? Contact us.
*Written by Federica Rangel, TDN Communication Coordinator
As you gear up to support the causes you love this holiday season, please consider making a gift to Transdiaspora Network (TDN) and help us to continue developing our culturally-sensitive prevention programs where at risk teens are finding their voice, and using it to protect their bodies and their futures. For more information about TDN and its programs, or to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit us online at www.transdiasporanetwork.org. Support prevention. One teenager at a time!
18 People have left comments on this post
Dec 6, 2010 - 01:12:36Hey….nice article. I once embarrassed my parents by asking them where babies come from while my dad’s boss was having dinner at our place. Another time, it was during my great grandmothers 90th birthday just as she was about to cut the cake. I have been given many different theories from fairy tale stuff to science fiction gadgets, but I say that the best way for a boy to find out is by getting someone pregnant.
On a more serious note, AIDS/HIV is an important issue and kids must be aware of these things from a young age. Nice idea to make this learning process more fun and more natural.
Cheers.
I think people do not talk about it anymore and I think your blog rises HIV awareness. Congratulations to Federica Rangel for being part of this noble cause. Clearly, I cannot remember when was the first time someone told me about HIV. I was in seventh grade when our health teacher told our class about it. I was curious about HIV but the teacher’s explanation was vague. One of the students asked “What if one of your family members is HIV positive can I still use his/her bar soap?” Obviously, this was a difficult subject for the teacher and she was unable to answer questions. Finally, it was during a biochemistry class in college when I fully learned about it. By the way, I liked your analogy and drawing about “Where do babies come from?” In general, it is my belief that we all need new methods of how to inform people about HIV. By using “storytelling, dance, and photography” are excellent ways to express HIV awareness. Federica, I wonder if today’s children are learning about it the way our generation did. Do you think its the parents or the school’s duty to inform children about HIV?
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