Sir — The Helsinki airport has begun a pilot scheme with sniffer dogs who can apparently detect the presence of the coronavirus, thus providing another way of testing. So far the dogs have been able to identify the virus with nearly 100 per cent accuracy, much before a patient develops symptoms. Would this process be found to be medically viable? Could it lead to greater chances of recovery?
Anamika Sharma,
New Delhi
Crucial lesson
Sir — An episode of the controversial Danish television show, Ultra Strips Down, which showed adults disrobe in front of a room full of school-aged children has rightly caused outrage (“Perfectly unacceptable”, Sept 26). The show aims to promote body positivity and debunk the myth of the ‘perfect’ body by allowing kids to see a range of shapes and sizes and encouraging them to ask questions of the nude adults. However, educating one’s child about bodies should be age appropriate. While the show can be educative about different body types, it could also make kids, especially adolescents, feel uncomfortable. Moreover, the sight of adult genitalia could be distressing for those who have experienced sexual abuse.
Although the show has proven to be very popular with Danish audiences — in 2019 it won an award for best children’s programme of the year at the Danish TV festival — it has also been accused of choosing a “vulgar way” to educate children about body positivity. No matter the criticism levelled against the show, it draws attention to a matter of importance. Bullying and body shaming in any form must be equally condemned for its harmful impact on the mind of the individual.
S.S. Paul,
Nadia
Sir — One of the most important lessons that parents should impart to their children is self acceptance, including a positive outlook regarding their own bodies. Yet, as more and more children access social media, they begin to develop their own, warped notion of a ‘perfect body’ that is often heavily edited and airbrushed. Research suggests that children as young as three — this is alarming — struggle with body image issues. It is high time we had an open conversation about body positivity with children.
Rohini Basu,
Calcutta
