INTIMACY AND PRIVACY
FUNDACIÓN RANA
Closely related to knowledge of the body and intimate parts, intimacy plays a key role in the prevention of sexual abuse in childhood and adolescence.
Intimacy is an abstract concept linked to a person’s personal space—both physical and emotional. It is an inherent part of every individual, who has the right to care for and protect it. It refers to everything one does not want to share with everyone, that belongs to a more private sphere and provides safety and privacy. This concept is expressed in different areas:
- Bodily: the right to decide who can see or touch our body (for example, respecting that Joan wants his father—not a friend of his mother—to help him change clothes).
- Emotional: the freedom to decide with whom you share how you feel (respecting that Paula prefers to tell her family about a problem at school once she gets home, needing time before talking about it).
- Spatial: the right to have personal spaces or moments (respecting that Toni wants the door closed while he is in the bathroom).
- Digital: control over personal information on the Internet (respecting the digital footprint we may create for our child on social media).
In Tropicalia Island, we can identify everyday situations that focus on intimacy: choosing a swimsuit, fear of sleeping, Mango’s decision to explain how he feels or to share emotions with his family. Despite its abstract nature, we can convey clear messages related to:
- Setting boundaries: you can say NO to someone if they want access to your body or do so in an uncomfortable way.
- Ownership of body and emotions: your body and your feelings are yours. You can decide who gives you a hug or with whom you share how you feel; no one can force you to do anything, even if you are a child.
- Mutual respect: just as you have the right to be treated with care and listened to, you must also respect what others express.
During the reading, what questions can we ask ourselves?
- Mango is afraid of the dark and feels embarrassed to tell the Banyadorus Petitus. Can he keep it to himself? If he wants to share it, do you think he would feel comfortable talking about it with others?
- What do you prefer: sleeping on the beach or in your room? Which space at home do you like the most? And at school?
- Imagine that the Banyadorus Grandus have a camera that takes photos underwater. Would it be okay for them to take photos of you naked?
- Would it be okay for Lichi to kiss you every time they see you if you don’t like it?
Often, we work on the concept of intimacy through everyday conversations. But if you would like a specific resource, the book Tu cuerpo es tuyo by Lucía Serrano is a clear, simple, and highly illustrative option.