The Chron has a front page story on the efforts to ensure that care takers for the children removed from the fundamentalist compound are culturally sensitive to them and their background. It contains a draft of a "cultural awareness guide" that provides a blow by blow account of how a group of children can be conditioned by a group of adults. It includes a glossary covering the terms they are likely to use and what they may mean.
It's a great read, Here are few highlights:
-Have a deep instilled fear of the outside world.
-The safety of the family is first priority.
-Universal/communal parenting: many adults serving in parenting roles.
-Puberty is considered the onset of adulthood.
-Males’ dominant females.
-Their Prophet or President is seen as a persecuted martyr.
-Distrust of all outsiders especially of government and the criminal
justice system.
-Adults are monitors and censures of the children’s behavior and will
discourage any disclosures. Older children will take on the monitoring
role when adults of the community are not present.
-Children have received formal coaching on how to behave themselves.
-Electronics, including TV and radio, are prohibited. However, many
women and older boys have had cell phones.
-Minimal outside source of media, including books with factitious characters.
-April 6th (Joseph Smith’s birthday) is their only significant holiday.
-Children, while in care, especially young boys, have made
derogatory remarks to staff of color.
-The children appear to cooperate but may not. They will demonstrate
politeness but may disclose little and/or contradictory information.
Children in care were initially extremely compliant, but are beginning
to “act out” after separation from parents
-Children are socialized to believe that sexual activity with adults is positive.
-The color “RED” is not acceptable for clothing
-Children, while in care, have made negative comments concerning women
wearing jewelry.
-Boys, while in care, have been upset that men are not clean shaven,
and are not wearing long sleeve shirts.
-Members of the Fundamentalist Latter-day Saint sect believe they are
following the true Mormon faith. They claim their authority to practice
plural marriage comes through early LDS Church leaders. The FLDS
Church teaches that a man must be married to three or more wives for
eternal exaltation.
-Lost Boys: Young, unmarried men who are exiled from fundamentalist
communities. They usually have little education and few skills to help
them live on their own. Some are more susceptible to drug abuse and
other problems because they have been told they are going to hell.
Some have been told they were asked to leave for being a bad influence
but most believe it is because they are competition to older men who
are looking for wives.
Just out of curiosity, how might this story be playing out if Mitt Romney was
still running for president?
