Home punishments (boys 3)

 

Chile, end of 80s thru 90s

(original in Spanish, gracias, Coke)

 

"At home, mi father was the one in charge. Sometimes he traveled, but when back my mother made me tell him anything I had done wrong, (not going to school, bad grades, not obeying), because she didn’t punish me, but for just some scolding or the like.

At that moment, after “confession”, my father sent me to my room, pulling down my trousers and waiting for him face down (if I’ve tried to get away, it would be worse, so I preferred going by myself for something that was, by then, unavoidable).

He then arrived with a cable or electrical extension doubled up at the middle, and, calmly, he flogged my buttocks, my thighs. How it stung on my skin in those moments!

Usually, there were no more than ten lashes, but once, when I lied to my father in something, I can tell, without counting, that I got more

This happened from when I was 5 or 6, until I was 16.

Coke"

 

Published: 08/27/04

South Africa, small rural town, late 70s to early 80s

(Thanks, Greg)

"I grew up in a small country town in rural South Africa. It was very conservative, and most people believed that corporal punishment was just a natural part of any kid's upbringing. There was no hesitation, and if I was playing at a friend's house, it was just understood that his parents would have permission to use CP on me if required.

 

It was called "getting a hiding" - probably because the original instrument was a piece of tanned leather hide, hence the word "hiding". The word is still in common use. At home, the preferred instrument was usually a leather belt.

When I got a hiding at home, it was either from my mom (with a flat rubber-soled sandal) or my dad (with a leather belt).

Usually the hidings given by my mom were with me running through the house to try and get away.

 

She would eventually catch me by the arm and hold my arm high while taking off her sandal, and giving me a few whacks (usually at least 5) on my thighs and bottom.

When I got a hiding from my dad, it was more formal - I had to go to the room and lie over the edge of the bed. He would get a special leather belt that was set aside for giving hidings.

 

I had to pull my pants down and let them lie over my ankles, and then bend over the bed, whereupon he would give me several hard strokes with the belt - usually 6 or 8. It stung a lot and made red stripes, but not nearly as much as the cane at school.

 

I recall sometimes talking to my friends about how they got hidings at home.

Greg"

 

 

Published: 08/27/04