Belting (beating)

Belting is the use of belts made of strong materials (usually leather) as a whip-like instrument for corporal punishment (see that article for generalities). Although also used in educational institutions as a disciplinary measure, it has most often been applied domestically by parents. This practice has now been abolished by most schools, at least in the Western world, as it is seen by many as an abusive and excessive punishment. The instigator might use their own belt (always at hand) or the one worn by the person to be punished. In other cases, especially in an institutional context, a separate belt is kept (e.g. in the head's office) solely for disciplinary use, and possibly displayed, again as a warning. The difference with a strapping, although in practice both terms are also used unprecisely as synonyms, is that a strap is harder, made from heavier and/or thicker leather, and may be specially made for discipline and have a handle (notably a prison strap), unlike a 'real' belt. They can be used for beating children. The beating is usually administered to the bare buttocks or back or both of the recipient who bends over furniture or the punisher's lap. A belt might be used to lash in three ways: doubled by holding both ends in one hand, this halves its length (necessary in case of bending over knee or lap) but increases its effective thickness, both making it behave more like a strap. single, while holding the buckle or wrapping that around the fist; its weight is reduced which results in uneven impact, the severity increasing towards the tip of the belt. least common but most severe, holding the buckle-less end, so that the buckle can 'bite' the flesh particularly hard. In domestic discipline it was mainly used by fathers (or males...