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Killing babies is taboo for us, but not for them

The easiest way to humanize something is to show why it's done. Many people live in circumstances that never have to ask whether a baby should live or die. In crafting the story, if the author can adequately describe the circumstances that contribute to infanticide then that will help lead the reader to the same conclusions that the character arrives at.

If the babies are being killed because of resource constraints, then describe in as vivid detail as possible those constraints. If they are killed because of cultural traditions/misunderstandings then describe that culture.

The fundamental problem in describing this is that modern first world societies can "afford" to pay the costs of physically/mentally disabled children and adults. Readers coming modern societies just don't have a good handle on what really deep privation looks like, or the feelings of abject fear at the unfamiliar. It is difficult for them to relate to circumstances where killing a baby (directly or through inaction) is the 'right thing to do'.

There is enough excess resources to support those who may not be able to support themselves. Modern Western society also benefits from a secular approach that looks for scientific, rather than supernatural explanations for phenomena. However, in a society where resources are very tight, or secularized science doesn't exist, the ability to "afford" the extra costs of a handicapped child may not be possible.

Many human societies throughout history have practiced infanticide, for many different reasons. A quick reading through the Infanticide Wikipedia entries shows that it's a very old practice.

There is a fine line to walk on this topic. Advocating infanticide is different than describing it. The author will need to be very careful to describe the practice of infanticide and the reasoning of those who do it, without condoning that behavior.

You want the reader to say, "Oh, I get why you would do that. It's horrific in the extreme but I get why you do it."

Killing babies is taboo for us, but not for them

The easiest way to humanize something is to show why it's done. Explain, through expository, the physical and cultural circumstances that lead a character to kill an infant. This applies to infanticide, fratricide, genocide, regicide, and every other kind of -cide there is. While modern readers may be horrified by the result (perhaps this is the intent), if the expository is sufficiently persuasive, the reader should as least understand why the character takes that action even if the reader doesn't agree it 'the right thing to do'.

If the babies are being killed because of resource constraints, then describe in as vivid detail as possible those constraints. If they are killed because of cultural traditions/misunderstandings then describe that culture.

The fundamental problem in describing this is that modern first world societies can "afford" to pay the costs of physically/mentally disabled children and adults. There are much stronger limitations on what can be done to people in the out-group. Readers coming from modern societies just don't have a good handle on what really deep privation looks like, or the feelings of abject fear at the unfamiliar. It is difficult for them to relate to circumstances where killing a baby (directly or through inaction) is the 'right thing to do'.

Many human societies throughout history have practiced infanticide, for many different reasons. A quick reading through the Infanticide Wikipedia entries shows that it's a very old practice.

There is a fine line to walk on this topic. Advocating infanticide is different than describing it. The author will need to be very careful to describe the practice of infanticide and the reasoning of those who do it, without condoning that behavior.

You want the reader to say, "Oh, I get why you would do that. It's horrific in the extreme but I get why you do it."

Killing babies is taboo for us, but not for them

The easiest way to humanize something is to show why it's done. Many people live in circumstances that never have to ask whether a baby should live or die. In crafting the story, if the author can adequately describe the circumstances that contribute to infanticide then that will help lead the reader to the same conclusions that the character arrives at.

If he babies are being killed because of resource constraints, then describe in a vivid detail as possible those constraints. If they are killed because of cultural traditions/misunderstandings then describe that culture.

Modern first world societies can "afford" to pay the costs of physically/mentally disabled children and adults. There is enough excess resources to support those who may not be able to support themselves. Special programs for handicapped children help teach them life skills. Modern Western society also benefits from a secular approach that looks for scientific, rather than supernatural explanations for phenomena. However, in a society where resources are very tight, or secularized science doesn't exist, the ability to "afford" the extra costs of a handicapped child may not be possible.

Many human societies throughout history have practiced infanticide, for many different reasons. A quick reading through the Infanticide Wikipedia entries shows that it's a very old practice.

There is a fine line to walk on this topic. Advocating infanticide is different than describing it. The author will need to be very careful to describe the practice of infanticide and the reasoning of those who do it, without condoning that behavior.

You want the reader to say, "Oh, I get why you would do that. It's horrific in the extreme but I get why you do it."

Killing babies is taboo for us, but not for them

The easiest way to humanize something is to show why it's done. Many people live in circumstances that never have to ask whether a baby should live or die. In crafting the story, if the author can adequately describe the circumstances that contribute to infanticide then that will help lead the reader to the same conclusions that the character arrives at.

If the babies are being killed because of resource constraints, then describe in as vivid detail as possible those constraints. If they are killed because of cultural traditions/misunderstandings then describe that culture.

The fundamental problem in describing this is that modern first world societies can "afford" to pay the costs of physically/mentally disabled children and adults. Readers coming modern societies just don't have a good handle on what really deep privation looks like, or the feelings of abject fear at the unfamiliar. It is difficult for them to relate to circumstances where killing a baby (directly or through inaction) is the 'right thing to do'.

There is enough excess resources to support those who may not be able to support themselves. Modern Western society also benefits from a secular approach that looks for scientific, rather than supernatural explanations for phenomena. However, in a society where resources are very tight, or secularized science doesn't exist, the ability to "afford" the extra costs of a handicapped child may not be possible.

Many human societies throughout history have practiced infanticide, for many different reasons. A quick reading through the Infanticide Wikipedia entries shows that it's a very old practice.

There is a fine line to walk on this topic. Advocating infanticide is different than describing it. The author will need to be very careful to describe the practice of infanticide and the reasoning of those who do it, without condoning that behavior.

You want the reader to say, "Oh, I get why you would do that. It's horrific in the extreme but I get why you do it."

Killing babies is taboo for us, but not for them

Modern first world societies can "afford" to pay the costs of physically/mentally disabled children and adults. There is enough excess resources to support those who may not be able to support themselves. Special programs for handicapped children help teach them life skills. Modern Western society also benefits secularism that looks for scientific, rather than supernatural explanations for phenomena. However, in a society where resources are very tight, or secularized science doesn't exist, the ability to "afford" the extra costs of a handicapped child may not be possible.

Many human societies throughout history have practiced systematic infanticide. A quick reading through the Infanticide Wikipedia entries shows that it's a very old practice.

Humanizing Infanticide

The easiest way to humanize something is to show why it's done. Many people live in circumstances that never have to ask whether a baby should live or die. In crafting the story, if the author can adequately describe the circumstances that contribute to infanticide then that will help lead the reader to the same conclusions that the character arrives at.

The babies are being killed because of resource constraints, then describe in a vivid detail as possible those constraints. If they are killed because of cultural traditions/misunderstandings then describe that culture.

There is a fine line to walk on this topic. Advocating infanticide is different than describing it. The author will need to be very careful to describe the practice of infanticide and the reasoning of those who do it, without condoning that behavior.

You want the reader to say, "Oh, I get why you would do that. It's horrific in the extreme but I get why you do it."

Killing babies is taboo for us, but not for them

The easiest way to humanize something is to show why it's done. Many people live in circumstances that never have to ask whether a baby should live or die. In crafting the story, if the author can adequately describe the circumstances that contribute to infanticide then that will help lead the reader to the same conclusions that the character arrives at.

If he babies are being killed because of resource constraints, then describe in a vivid detail as possible those constraints. If they are killed because of cultural traditions/misunderstandings then describe that culture.

Modern first world societies can "afford" to pay the costs of physically/mentally disabled children and adults. There is enough excess resources to support those who may not be able to support themselves. Special programs for handicapped children help teach them life skills. Modern Western society also benefits from a secular approach that looks for scientific, rather than supernatural explanations for phenomena. However, in a society where resources are very tight, or secularized science doesn't exist, the ability to "afford" the extra costs of a handicapped child may not be possible.

Many human societies throughout history have practiced infanticide, for many different reasons. A quick reading through the Infanticide Wikipedia entries shows that it's a very old practice.

There is a fine line to walk on this topic. Advocating infanticide is different than describing it. The author will need to be very careful to describe the practice of infanticide and the reasoning of those who do it, without condoning that behavior.

You want the reader to say, "Oh, I get why you would do that. It's horrific in the extreme but I get why you do it."