As I signed up to bloggers against hunger I was asked to blog this. Did I miss something or is there another mothers day? I guess not and that somewhere else in the world its mothers day at a different time than ours. Has got me thinking that next mothers day I won't wait for my son to bring me breakfast in bed or buy me a present but instead we will think about what we could do to help other mothers who have to decide each day; "Do I eat or does my child?" That must be a heart breaking decision. You know that if you die your child will very likely not survive but how could you just let that little life so connected to you slip away in your arms.
15 May 2010
World Food Programme new vid
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Taking a course in the anthropology of childhood this last year, I wanted to comment on how some cultures deal with this issue. For the most part, only very rich cultures (eg- ones that can afford to feed their children) place much value on the child. In my professor's book "Changelings, Chattle, and Cherubs" he repeatedly emphasizes the most places have the child work (People actually have higher lifestyles with more children- as often seen in Early American Farmers) And otherwise, viewed as a "changeling"... a non-human entity that they care for, but have very little attachment to. The result of this, is in places where the mothers can't afford to feed their children- it's often not the burden between feeding your child or feeding yourself, but rather entire cities of orphaned children. Even the governments don't place a huge value on the children. Ukraine, for example- has areas where they routinely exterminate the street children problem.
ReplyDeleteAs I'm reading your blog, I encourage you to read up on how things like this are affecting the various cultures. (For example: Schooling, something you had a video on in another post is very harmful to many 3rd world countries, as it leaves the new generations unable to deal with their environment. They can't find jobs, they're not accepted by their community, etc.)
Also- you commented on the rope and choke technique. I would not advise tattooing :P here is a brief link. http://www.wikihow.com/Measure-Body-Fat-Using-the-US-Navy-Method However- it's highly used not because it's super-accurate, but because it's super-simple. Around the Waist and the narrowist, around the hips at the widest (sometimes may be lower than your actual hips on some women) and around your neck at the narrowist. One reason I would NOT get a tattoo is because as you loose/gain weight- that line where you would do it would change because your body is changing. Also- this is actually designed for another person to do it on you (if you do it on yourself, especially around the waist- it will increase the inaccuracy) Just be consistent.
Okay- Going to shut up now. Have a wonderful day (and very interesting blog FYI... making me think about changes I'd like to do in my own life) I love your philosophy- (although disagreeing with your technique)
Thanks for the comments and information. The Starvation Diet is very much processed and personal learning based, It set off from a simple idea about redirecting my attention so that I can at once loose weight and help others. New complexities pop up all the time for me the blog aims to present these as they pop up and still remain simple enough for people to hook into. Its also an artistic journey, I think art allows us to try things out which may not have the same scientific rigour but provoke debate. There are many things I will try and find them ineffective. The tattoo thing is almost a comment on the ineffectiveness of ways of measuring your weight. There is also a part of the project where I weigh myself on other people's scales. This is obviously not a consistent way of measuring my weight as each scale is different. It is however a way of getting exercise, building community and questioning the idea of private ownership. In the same way the process of getting a tattoo allows me to comment on things outside of the initial aim of measuring my body. It is also a comment on the commitment to run the project for life. Its not a recommendation for others. Its the part which normally causes the most negative comment and that almost makes me more likely to do it as it obviously creates a strong reaction in people. Tattoos are about commitment and constant reminders.
ReplyDeleteWith regards to the attitudes to children that is really interesting. I wonder if I was placed in a below subsistence level with my son I would stop cherishing him? I was reading some stuff for a heritage project I'm doing about the Black death. It told of children left to die alone due to their parents fear of catching the plague themselves. Severe poverty may make you more pragmatic. I am however still in doubt about if this stands for every person in a poor society. I have always found Maslow's hierarchy of need a difficult one to swallow. The idea that you will only develop love, self confidence e.t.c when your basic needs are met. Seems a bit condescending to think that materially less well off people don't have these attributes. I don't know I can judge if other people have feelings of love towards their children I can only identify through my own feelings. Perhaps that is wrong and is a reason for going and meeting people from different places. Maybe then the empathy would be better because It would be based on what I see there rather than what I project from myself. Was chatting to somebody the other day and were saying that studies often focus on the worse in people, people gone bad and why did it happen, rather than on those who despite adversity develop admirable characteristics. It seemed to us that to be good despite bad circumstances is more interesting and would be really useful to study somehow.
Interested to know what changes you have been thinking about in your own life and how this fits with your studies in Anthropology. Where do your studies leave you in regards to the ideas of aid for example?