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Raisa Cacciatore vs. transgender people

Raisa Cacciatore is a Finnish child psychiatrist, author, and anti-transgender activist. Cacciatore spoke at the 2024 conference held by anti-trans hate group Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine (SEGM). Cacciatore is a collaborator with anti-trans psychiatrist Riittakerttu Kaltiala and has published in the anti-trans journal Archives of Sexual Behavior.

Background

Raisa Suvi-Maaria (Alatalo) Cacciatore was born May 1, 1956 to Eloranta “Lea” Tuulikki Alatalo (1916–1962) and dentist Orvo Johannes (Jussi) Alatalo (1918–1983) in what is now Vantaa, outside Helsinki. Cacciatore’s parent Lea died when Cacciatore was five years old. Cacciatore has lived in Tikkurila, Vantaa, Sörnäinen, Malmi, Haukilahti, and Kauklahti. Cacciatore describes a “quite free” upbringing.

Cacciatore earned a medical degree from University of Helsinki in 1985, then completed specialist training in psychiatry in 1998. That year, Cacciatore began working for the Väestöliitto [Finnish Family Federation] and has developed child sex education programs there as a specialist physician in the seksuaaliterveysklinikan asiantuntijalääkäri [sexual health clinic].

Cacciatore has held appoinments working with young people at Auroran sairaala [Aurora Hospital], Helsingin yliopistollinen sairaala [Helsinki University Hospital] (HUS), and public health agency Folkhälsanin. Since 2008, Cacciatore has been a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Group on Sexuality Education and helped develop the European Standards for Sexuality Education. In 2017, Cacciatore completed specialist training as a youth physician and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) specialist.

Cacciatore researches the steps of sexual development in children, anger management, and self-esteem. Caccitore has proposed 11 steps of sexual development, which may not occur sequentially.

Cacciatore has been married twice and has two children from the first marriage while living in Italy. Cacciatore and current spouse Petri Heimonen are based in Espoo.

Anti-trans activism

Cacciatore presented at the 2024 conference held by anti-trans hate group Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine (SEGM). Cacciatore’s presentation was on sexual development from birth to adolescence.

References

Gronow, Kira (May 2, 2026). Tämä ei käy: Lastenpsykiatri Raisa Cacciatorella on vastaus siihen, mistä nuorten lisääntynyt pahoinvointi johtuu. Haluammeko me itsekkäiden ihmisten yhteiskunnan vai empatiaa, hän kysyy [This is not working: Child psychiatrist Raisa Cacciatorella has the answer to the growing problem of young people feeling unwell. Do we want a society of selfish people or empathy, she asks.]. Helsingin Sanomat https://www.hs.fi/elama/art-2000011927880.html

Kantomaa, Raija (September 30, 2017). Raisa Cacciatore: Oikea tieto seksuaalisuudesta ei pilaa lasten viattomuutta: “Jos pimppi tai pippeli hävettävät, lapsi ei opi olemaan tyytyväinen kehoonsa” [Raisa Cacciatore: Correct knowledge about sexuality does not ruin children’s innocence: “If a pussy or a penis embarrasses, a child will not learn to be happy with their body”]. MTV Uutiset https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/raisa-cacciatore-oikea-tieto-seksuaalisuudesta-ei-pilaa-lasten-viattomuutta-jos-pimppi-tai-pippeli-havettavat-lapsi-ei-opi-olemaan-tyytyvainen-kehoonsa/6583174

Kuva, Ahvenniemi (May 6, 2015). Lastenpsykiatri Raisa Cacciatore: “Äidin unohtaminen on ollut tapani selviytyä” [Child psychiatrist Raisa Cacciatore: “Forgetting my mother has been my way of coping”]. Kodin Kuvalehti https://www.kodinkuvalehti.fi/artikkeli/lue/ihmiset/lastenpsykiatri-raisa-cacciatore-aidin-unohtaminen-ollut-tapani-selviytya

Selected writing by Cacciatore

Cacciatore, R., Öhrmark, L., Kontio, J., Apter, D., Ingman-Friberg, S., Jokela, M., Sajaniemi, N., Korkman, J., & Kaltiala, R. (2024). What do 3–6-year-old children in Finland know about sexuality? A child interview study in early education. Sex Education, 24(3), 291–310. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681811.2023.2188182

Cacciatore, R., Ingman-Friberg, S., Apter, D., Sajaniemi, N. & Kaltiala, R. (2020). An alternative term to make comprehensive sexuality education more acceptable in childhood. South African Journal of Childhood Education 10(1), a857. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajce.v10i1.857

Cacciatore, R. S.-M., Ingman-Friberg, S. M.-L., Lainiala, L. P., & Apter, D. L. (2020). Verbal and Behavioral Expressions of Child Sexuality Among 1–6-Year-Olds as Observed by Daycare Professionals in Finland. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 49(7), 2725–2734. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-020-01694-y

Cacciatore, R., Korteniemi-Poikela, E., & Kaltiala, R. (2019). The Steps of Sexuality—A Developmental, Emotion-Focused, Child-Centered Model of Sexual Development and Sexuality Education from Birth to Adulthood. International Journal of Sexual Health, 31(3), 319–338. https://doi.org/10.1080/19317611.2019.1645783

Books

  • Cacciatore, Raisa; Max Karukivi (2014). Mieletön fiilis [Amazing feeling]. Tammi, ISBN 978-9513171773
  • Cacciatore, Raisa (2011). Pelastakaa pojat [Save the boys]. Minerva Kustannus, ISBN 978-9524925006
  • Cacciatore, Raisa (2011). Aikuisen naisen seksi [Adult woman sex]. WSOY, ISBN 978-9510367353
  • Cacciatore, Raisa (2010). Portaita potkin [I’m kicking the stairs]. WSOY, ISBN 978-9510360545
  • Cacciatore, Raisa (2010). Ihanat ipanat [Stretch out]. WSOY, ISBN 978-9510337356
  • Cacciatore, Raisa (2009). Kapinakirja. Kasvattajan käsikirja koululaisesta aikuiseksi [The Rebellion Book. An Educator’s Handbook from School Child to Adult]. Väestöliitto, ISBN 978-9522260284
  • Cacciatore, Raisa; Korteniemi-Poikela, Erja; Huovinen, Maarit (2009). Miten tuen lapsen ja nuoren itsetuntoa [How to support a child’s and young person’s self-esteem?]. WSOY, ISBN 978-9510321553
  • Brandt, Pia; Korteniemi-Poikela Erja; Huovinen, Maarit; Cacciatore, Raisa (2009). Hei beibi, mä oon tulta! [Hey baby, I’m on fire!]. WSOY, ISBN 978-9510268148
  • Cacciatore, Raisa (2008). Kiukkukirja. Aggressiokasvattajan käsikirja vauvasta kouluikään [The tantrum book. An aggression educator’s handbook from baby to school age]. Väestöliitto, ISBN 978-9519450605
  • Orkovaara, Pirjo; Cacciatore, Raisa; Furman, Ben; Hirvihuhta, Harri; Hämäläinen, Anu-Maaria; Kekki, Marjo; Korteniemi-Poikela, Erja (2008). Dynamo. Terveystietoa 7.-9.-luokkalaisille [Dynamo. Health information for 7th-9th graders]. Tammi, ISBN 978-9512657643
  • Cacciatore, Raisa (2008). Huomenna pannaan pussauskoppiin!: eväitä tyttönä ja poikana kasvamisen haasteisiin syntymästä murrosikään [Tomorrow we’ll be put in the kissing booth!: tips for the challenges of growing up as a girl and a boy from birth to puberty]. WSOY, ISBN 978-9510329573
  • Cacciatore, Raisa (2007). Aggression portaat: opetusmateriaali kouluille [Stairs of aggression: teaching material for schools]. Opetushallitus, ISBN 978-9521334283
  • Cacciatore, Raisa (2007). Sukupuolitaudit [Sexually transmitted diseases]. Kustannus Oy Duodecim, ISBN 978-9516561038

Resources

Wikipedia (fi.wikipedia.org)

Raisa Cacciatore (raisacacciatore.fi)

Väestöliitto [Finnish Family Federation] (vaestoliitonblogi.wordpress.com)

Ahlback Agency (ahlbackagency.com)

  • Raisa Cacciatore
  • ahlbackagency.com/author/raisa-cacciatore-erja-korteniemi-poikela

Tammi Publishing (tammi.fi)

Facebook (facebook.com)

X/Twitter (x.com)

YouTube (youtube.com)

ResearchGate (researchgate.net)