Most Interesting Part of This Class

I think the most interesting parts of this class were the supplemental videos and the required film assignments. The intervention videos were the best. They were very engaging. I was personally interested in the health of these individuals. I will definitely be watching on television. It helped me to understand addiction. People don't decide to become addicts, it happens because of underlying emotional and social issues. And then, they lack the power to quit on their own. It's not that they want to hurt their family. They just can not quit on their own. I think many people with addicts in their lives mistakenly think that the addict can change behavior easily. Family members become personally offended by the behavior that's caused by the addiction.

The video, Born in the Brothels, really emphasized that child prostitution and trafficking is a complex problem. A simple solution is not possible. In order to address this problem, the social and economic oppression of women at large in the population must be addressed.

I think this is the main theme of the course. Women endure social and economic oppression that negatively affects all aspects of their life. Once women are educated and empowered, addressing such issues as health and violence will be much simpler. Basically, cultural norms will have to change in many communities. But, this has been done before and can be done again. It just takes, time, diligence, and effort.

FGM-- Female Genital Mutilation

Female genital mutilation is the custom in many countries. In my view, it's an oppressive custom. I was first introduced to this by the Oprah show a few years ago. At the time, I think there was African woman seeking asylum because she feared that the procedure would be performed against her will if she returned to her own country. It was a hot news topic for a while, but I don't remember the outcome of the immigration situation. I do remember the explicit video of a genital mutilation. It was performed by a local elder woman with no medical procedure. The victim, yes I call her a victim, was a teenage girl. She was held down by other women in a bed and the procedure was performed with a large dirty rusty knife. It was shocking. They admonished her for crying. Can you believe that? No anesthesia was used and she was scolded for crying and screaming. It's nightmarish to think that a girl would have to face this situation and lack the power to say no.

This is absolutely a form of collective violence against women. But, the procedure is usually performed by elder women. These women undoubtedly have undergone the procedure themselves in the past and know the pain and complications that the young girls will face. But these women are mandated by their culture to perform this "rite". Why do women accept such things? I was hesitant about speaking out against FGM because it is a cultural practice. I thought maybe I was being a bit ethnocentric about the situation and I needed to employ cultural relativism. But the story about Agatha, the African woman who worked to stop this practice in her community was encouraging. I believe that when cultural practices are in question, it is important for the women in these communities to find strength and mobilize if only in a small way. They have to let the world know that FGM goes beyond a cultural practice. It is forced, undesired, and oppressive. Currently, more and more women are condemning this practice within their own communities. They are asking for help and the world should respond.

Smoke Free Campus?

The question posed is should TWU be a smoke free campus. Yes, I think it should be. However, I must confess that my opinion has changed over the years. When I was in my twenties and relatively rebellious, I would have answered that question with a resounding "NO". I believed that smoking was a right and that making public smoke free was an intrusion on my freedom, even though I didn't smoke.

But, now I realize that smoking in public places encroaches on the freedom of the general public.

There are many reasons that smoking should be outlawed on campus.

1) Its unsightly, cigarette buds are discorded on the ground and it's just nasty.

2) Smoke is irritating to some peoples respiratory systems.

3) Second hand smoke is a health hazard.

4) Colleges are supposed to be positive environments that promote education and the holistic wellness of the student. Smoking has negative health affects and should not promoted in anyway by a educational body. This is the same as alcohol use or drug abuse.

5) Designated smoking areas are covered outside areas that unfairly can't be enjoyed by nonsmokers without exposure to harmful inhalants.

I am residential student. In fact, I have only been to the campus once. But, I have worked in places where smoking was allowed in designated areas. The smoke was really not contained. People smoked on the way into buildings, left cigarette buds lying around, and reeked of smoke. As long as smoking is legal, everyone has a right to smoke if they want to, but no one should have the right to adversely affect the health of another individual.

With the Future in Mind

With My Future In Mind

This subject is very relative to my life in the current moment. I am nearing my mid thirties and things are changing. Physically my body is not responding as it used to and I am suffering from some past neglects of which I won’t mention. If I would have known in my teens or early twenties, I probably would have lived a different life. As a teen, you feel invincible and in your twenties you feel like you are perfect and will remain that way forever. Well, the jokes on me. Here are few things I would change and I think most Americans would do the same if they had a chance.

Avoided sunburns and worn sunscreen.

Passed on the pizza and burgers.

Visited the dentist a little more often.

Had regular health checkups.

Exercised more and participated in sports.

One major problem we are facing today is addiction: addiction to fast food, bad dietary habits, sedentary lifestyles, and addiction to the present by placing our health on the back burner to deal with later. If we had mad a few minor changes in youth, our nation wouldn’t be facing health crisis such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes. But now that we are older, we have to back track and try to change our bad habits because we are finally manifesting the fruit of our ill choices. It’s hard to change or break a twenty-year-old habit. Just as a smoker. I hope the youth of today are learning from our mistakes or at least that we are teaching our children how to live a healthier lifestyle.

Obstacles to a Healthy Diet and Exercise

I grew up in a household in which a healthy diet was not a concern. My mom was a stay at home mom and she cooked everyday. But our meals were hardy country meals not necessarily nutritious. I am sure that my mom thought they were nutritious but she didn’t know any better. We did have vegetables everyday but the main entrée—the meats were fatty cuts.

And now I am a mom. I am responsible for planning and cooking meals. I’m a great cook but I learned how from my mom so I am limited. I really don’t know how to cook a good nutritious meal. Sure I can cook spaghetti, gumbo, ettoffee, roasts, stews, and the likes, but I don’t know how to cook low fat meals. My vegetable recipe knowledge is also limited. There are only so many veggies I can cook and that covers approximately one week worth of meals. I have tried new recipes by incorporating more grilled fish into our diets but my family prefers my usual meals. What do I do? I have accustomed my family to a fatty diet.

Besides my lack of cooking skills, I am very busy. The time to cook just isn’t there sometimes. So we eat out. I try to keep that to a minimum as much as possible

It’s hard to maintain a healthy diet and exercise. Deep down I know these are self-made obstacles but I try. Everyday I get better and better. I check labels at the grocery store. I avoid buying snacks and buy fruit instead. Some of my old meals like sausage and potatoes are off limits. And we eat more ground turkey, chicken, and fish, hardly any fatty beef cuts.

Mainly, maintaining a healthy diet and exercising is an everyday challenge for me. I have some set backs but I also have many of advances. As for exercise, this is especially challenging. I enjoy walking and riding my bike daily but as an African America I dread “sweating out” my hair. After all, I can’t get my hair done everyday. This is the biggest obstacle I face and I bet that many black women feel the same way. It’s very limiting.

Over the next few years, my main obstacles to a healthy diet and exercise may change. My kids will be moving out soon and it will be easier to cook for two. Quick, simple, and healthy meals should be easy to do. I suspect that the hair problem will always be an issue unless I wear braids. That's not going to happen. But eventually I will learn to deal with it. I can exercise when its cool and wear a head wrap but that's still limiting.

Aging Gracefully?

It is very hard to age gracefully in America. The media bombards use with images of youth as the standard of beauty. There are also many products and plastic surgery interventions to help us "look younger". Magazine articles and talk shows geared towards women present information on looking younger as though it's a part of promoting general wellness. Women are pressured to look young by every aspect of society. Movies project young women as happy and older women as cynical and tired. This creates an environment that perceives aging as a disease, something bad that needs to be treated.

I admit that this has affected me. When, I see an older woman on television or in an ad, I wonder why a younger woman was not used. I'm literally repelled by aging. I don't like to see it in the media. I know this is wrong but I believe that I, like many people have been sensitized in this manner. If women feel this way about other women it more than likely transfers over to the way we feel about ourselves. The only way to change this is to sensitize us to the image of aging. There must be more depictions of older women in the media. Our talks shows have to stop glamorizing youth and stop promoting plastic surgery and other age related interventions. But basically, it has to start with us. We as women must present a positive example to younger women. Older women have to stop coloring their hair. White hair should be considered a mark of beauty and distinction not old age. Older women should be esteemed for their grace, experience, and unique beauty. Also, women must demand to see images of older women depicted in a positive light. Instead of accepting the label that society has placed on older women, we must create our own environment of positivity and appreciate aging.

Motherhood, To Be or Not To Be

I never thought of being a mother as a choice. Motherhood was just a natural progression for me. It was just part of womanhood. I come from a very large family. Children are very much cherished in my family. I have two aunts who have no children. One was never married and the other is a widow. I assumed that their childlessness was simply the result of their unfortunate situations.

Until, recently I considered women, married women, who had no children, to be selfish. I thought that they neglected their duty as a wife, as a woman. I remember a few years ago one of my professors talked about her choice not to have children. She had been married for 20 years and was very happy. She explained that children would be inconvenient. This professor stated that she enjoyed not having “that” responsibility. She stated that her and her husband just never considered it. They were just focused on pursuing their goals. When I heard this, I was appalled. I thought, “What was the purpose of marriage if not to have a family?” I thought they were very selfish.

But, alas, that was then and this is now. I was younger then and quite naïve. I think back and envy her. I realized that I disregarded my right to choose. While, I love my children, I can’t help but wonder what my life could have been like without them. I could have chosen a different path just as fulfilling. There are so many women now who choose not to have children and they are not only fulfilled but valuable members of society.

Menarche

My first period was an ok experience. There was no fear or shame involved. I was eleven years old. It was the summer before middle school and I was at home with my mother. I was fairly calm. I knew what was happening and I told my mom. My mother was very old fashioned and very catholic. She was really nervous about and seemed somewhat agitated. She handed my some pads and that was that. No explanation on how or how often to use them. A few hours later, I was scolded for not changing my pad often enough. I thought one pad was good for all day. How could I know better, if I was not told? But later, my mom comforted me with hot tea and a heating pad.

Before the event, we never really discussed the mechanics of having a period. Instructions on the proper use and disposal of pad would have been very helpful. I think my mom just assumed I knew what I needed to know. After all, she did consent to my viewing of the menstrual cycle movie that’s played every year in schools.

Two years ago, I consented to the same film for my ten year old. My experience wasn’t traumatizing but it could have been better. I talk to my girls about their bodies. We have read books together and had open discussions about female issues and sex. I think my own daughter's experience was better than mines was. She had the mechanical knowledge I lacked. My daughter was empowered to make basic hygienic decisions about her body.

Healthcare is a Right

 

Healthcare is not a privilege.  The very word privilege suggests inequity. All are equal in accordance to our law. As Americans, I believe that quality healthcare is the right of every individual.  The preservation of the individual is the preservation of the nation.  The preamble of the United States Constitution lists promotion of general welfare as one reason for the establishment of our government.  The greatness of our nation lies within our industry, citizens, and standard of living.  The maintenance of individual health is a crucial necessity to promote industry and uphold the American standard of living. Alexander, LaRosa, Bader, and Garfield (2007) suggest that the dynamics of health, education, and economics are cyclically interrelated.  

I believe that our government must ensure the health of its citizens.  It’s a mandate of government.  We pay taxes.  We support and participate in this government to ensure the perservance of our society, which is based on freedom and prosperity.   There is no prosperity without health and there is no freedom without health. 

The costs of healthcare can be overwhelming.  Many Americans are suffering economic hardships, unnecessary disability and death due to lack of adequate healthcare.  In essence, the future of America is diminishing.  I have always considered our country to be the best in the world, a beacon of freedom and prosperity.  We should set the example for the world not lag behind in health care policy.  Americans deserve access to quality healthcare. 

 

Reference

Alexander, L.L., LaRosa, J. H., Bader, H., & Garfield, S. (2007). New dimensions in women’s health (4^th ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

Health Concerns of Modern Women

As a 34-year-old African American woman, my main health concerns are obesity and diabetes.  I have a family history of diabetes.  Many of my relatives have lost limbs.  Over the past ten years, I have gained more than 30 pounds.  When I think about it, it’s almost unbelievable.  I have gained weight with each of my two pregnancies.  But my main concern is my inability to adhere to a healthy dietary plan and fitness regime.  Believe me, I have the tools.  I have taken the classes.  But I lack the motivation. I just don’t have the time or desire to exercise.  Currently, my BMI is on the borderline of overweight.  I am slightly overweight and while I don’t like the way my body has changed, I think I still look “good”.  Maybe that is the problem.  I just don’t want to get to the point where the problem is life threatening.  I want to make the changes before my weight is desperately out of control. 

After interviewing three women, I found that two had the exact same health concerns I do.  The first, a 54-year-old African American women, felt that she was overweight and feared diabetes.  She progressively gained the weight over 35 years and 5 childbirths.  She lacked the skills to make the life changes needed to lose the weight.  Additionally, she frequently fell victim to quackery and fad diets.  The second woman, a 35-year-old White American, also gained a considerable amount of weight progressively over 15 years after having five children.  She stated that in the past all of her energy and concern has gone towards her kids needs.  But now, her weight gain has brought her issues to the far front.  However, this women explained that she could not afford herself the time needed for self care.  She fears that diabetes and obesity are in her near future.  But, the third woman I interviewed was a 70-year-old African American.  Her health concerns were quite different.  Her main concern was edema.  She has suffered with gout and diabetes for many years.  She has little access to medical care due to an out of state move.  Her insurance provides coverage only in her home state, but her frailty dictated the out of state move to live with relatives.  Immobility is her main concern.

As members of a fast paced demanding society, women share the same basic health concerns.  We are overwhelmed by the stresses of work and family responsibilities.   We have little time for ourselves.   Many women don’t have time to cook a healthy meal, so we eat fast food and feed our families’ fast food.  Furthermore, we use food as distress tool.  We use food to soothe our stress and unhappiness or as a reward.  Some women even find exercise to be too time consuming and just not a viable option after an exhausting day.  Ultimately, we women today are aware of the dire consequences of our dietary choices and sedentary lifestyle but we feel powerless to make changes.  Even elderly women are facing issues that initiated from past health neglects that resulted in weight gain and diabetes. Our health concerns are a symptom of the societal ills faced by women today.