HW 49

For this post I interviewed only my mother. I would've interviewed my father had circumstances been ideal, but I did not and won't go into why. Suprisingly, my mother had a lot to say about the topic, it seemed as though she had already thought about it. She told me that she considers herself a traditionalist, she thinks "it's all about the ceremony and prayer", and that funerals are very important because they "signify closure". My mother grew up around funerals, they were a big to-do in Ireland when she was growing up, and coming from a town where everybody knows everybody it's safe to assume she attented quite a few of them. When my mother was growing up in Ireland religion was stressed and so religious funerals were in abundance. They were very personal and the wakes were often held at home. My mothers remembers going to her grandfather's wake in his own home where his casket was in his bedroom. I presume that when a wake is in the house of the loved one it evokes strong feelings. What I thought was odd though, was that my mother wants to be cremated, which contradicts her being a self-proclaimed 'traditionalist'. When I asked her why she wanted to be cremated, she responded "I don't want to go in the ground at all. I want my ashes to be spread." It's interesting that she doesn't want a normal religous funeral, seeing as she is very familiar with them and thinks they hold importance. When I asked her what she thinks about being at the grave she said  "It is very final when the coffin goes into the ground, and it hits you that you're never going to see that person again." I've been to a funeral with my mother and know we were both feeling the same way - really really sad. And I sort of agree with her cremation choice, because if I had to look at my mother in a casket, and watch the coffin lower into the ground I wouldn't be able to take it. This unit is going to be really depressing.

HW 47

I interviewed my peers on their thoughts regarding the care of the dead. There were some very interesting answers.


Me: What do you think about the presentation of the body in an open casket?
Person1: I think it's odd. They try so hard to make the body look less dead and more good looking. It's as if they're trying to hide the truth and mask the ugly side of death. If we can't stomach what the bodies really should look like then we can't accept death.
Me: Dont you think they're just paying respects to the dead by making them "pretty"?
Person1: No, we should see our loved ones for who they are, not with a mask.


Me: Would you rather be cremated or buried?
Person2: Cremated
Me: And why is that?
Person2: I think it's just more freeing, like I'm being released into the world.
Me: But you'll be dead, so why does it matter?
Person2: My body will be dead but my spirit wont.
Me: So if your body is dead, why does it matter whether or not it's cremated?
Person2: I don't want my body to be on the planet it should be gone so that my spirit can live free.

These interviews were insightful and a little odd.
It was really hard to get interesting interviews, as most of my peers hadn't considered care of the dead, or just didnt care about it.  I thought the second interview was odd and the spiritual thing was a little weird. I am excited for this unit for these reasons, no one really cares about this and I want to learn about it in order to educate others.

HW 46

Care of the dead has been a unit I’ve been looking forward to since the beginning of the class. It has intrigued me mostly because it’s a topic I haven’t really considered before. Honestly, I have no pre-meditated thoughts regarding the matter, not even bubbles. Now that I’m faced with the objective of actually thinking about it, I find myself processing bubbles about the “industrialization” of the funeral business. I presume that it is a very profitable industry, being that people die all the time. It’s an industry that will always have customers, people are always going to die and people in developed countries will always need professionals to handle these deaths. There is, presumably, some deep atrocity involved and I’m thinking it will most likely be related to the exploitation of grief. The way I see it is that people die, then the people close to them are the ones organizing their wakes, funerals etc. and whilst organizing such events they can’t help but reminisce on their late loved ones, thus fogging their rationale and attentiveness to how exactly the care for their loved ones is carried out. This is certainly a plus for the companies providing such services, it is much easier to exploit those whose minds are fogged with memories and sadness rather than those who are aware and focused. I’m interested in studying this exploitation, and also studying the positive aspects of the system in place, yes I do believe there are some, ie making death more affordable and accessible. I am actually legitimately excited for this unit
Questions
How, exactly, do funeral homes, graveyards, undertakers etc. profit from the exploitation of the emotionally unstable?

In caring for the dead, what corners are cut in the funeral industry in order to maximize profit?

I’ve heard of coffins that are made to protect against the elements. Is this true? And, why do people care so much that the body is preserved, or protected if they will never see it again?

What was the purpose of mummification?

Like a lot of marriages - which are very representative of the unification of people who share love for one another- priests are often present at funerals of the dead, which is the detachment of someone from all of their loved ones. Why is this religious symbol so important in tying bonds and breaking them?

Why we should we care about the care of the dead? They don’t seem to mind.

HW 45

To Willie:

Thank you for your comment. While I would like to take credit for finding the hospital, I can't. We were told to go there, so we went. It just so happened that they had the lowest Cesarian section rate in the city. As for the nurses being against c-sections, I'd have to disagree. In my blog you can see that the nurses were not totally against it, they believe that if c-sections were the last measure that they should be taken. They were, however, not fans of cesarian for convenience. Regardless, thank you for your feedback.

To Max

Thanks for the comment. I'm glad that their contradictory viewpoints intrigued you. And yes, I was very lucky to talk to women who were 100% honest and shed light on their views. And as to whether or not she's considered traditional in her line of work is up for debate, this may be an insight into how all nurses are. It would be interesting to see if seeing birth daily changed their views.

To Ally

Thanks. And just to clarify, the lady we talked to who trained with midwives was not a doctor, she was a nurse. I totally agree that it is dog eat dog and that the midwives and their supporters are pitted against the doctors and their supporters. I think we havent studied into it enough and we should've. Anyway, thanks for your comment.

Hw 43

Comments I made

Larche

Your post was a deep insightful look into not only the problem of infertility, but the stigma surrounding it. A line that struck me was; "Infertility can lead to some women feeling and being ostracized by other women for something that isn’t in their control . "People see them as having a "bad eye" that will make you infertile, too. Infertile women are considered inauspicious," says Inhorn. Other people simply "don't want to have them around at joyous occasions," This was very insightful and evokes anger from the readers, while we think it's outrageous to see infertile women in this light, we can't be sure exactly how we would feel with having people with this complication around our developing children. This project is important because it is really informative and covers a topic we hadn't considered throughout the unit.

Ally

Your decision to use a visual to represent your finding was very refreshing and different. The in-depth research of Indian birth customs was on point and actually really interesting. The different rituals involved actually grasped the attention of the class, something not often acheived. Your project matters because Americans tend to be more close-minded about different cultures and their rituals, you brought to light many interesting factors of birth that we may have found odd or different and showed us how what we view to be normal may in fact be out of the ordinary to others. Your project epitomized the course name.

Megumi

Your fact backed, curiosity fueled look at cesarean sections was a nice read and without a doubt the most informative post I've read thus far. While we went into depth in this topic in class, you managed to compile the valuable facts and necessary information into one informative concise essay, very important in terms of educating the ignorant.

Michelle

Good job with the elevator speech, I actually came to look at your blog. Your post is a very easy read. It is well written, and well revised. Your in depth analysis of Indian birthing methods, while comparable to Ally and Leah's, is very well done and it is clear your research was extensive. I feel much less ignorant after reading your post, and reading it didn't feel like drudgery. This post is very important because information is key to understanding and acceptance. Those who shun others for their customs are ignorant and uneducated.

___________________________________________________________________________

Willie

I really liked how you found a hsopital that ctually didn't do hardly any c-sections. Most other hospitals seem to do C sections alot, so to be able to find one was really cool. Also when you mentioned C section and you said one of the ladies didn't feel right, it was cool to , because that showed that they are completely against it

Max

Jay,

I really enjoyed reading your interview. I especially liked how the women you interviewed was not seen as the traditional standards of someone in her line of work. Your most insightful line was, t's terrible. I think it's just a convience to doctors and patients (mothers). If you dont want to have a baby on a Saturday, you just have a C-Section. That was interesting because it showed her true opinion on the matter.

Ally

I love how the opinion of this woman completely goes against the hospitals beliefs. I dont think it was a bias opinion because she works there and she has the first hand point of view.

My favorite part was,
JM: Do you think it's right that doctors are trained to think every birth is a high risk, emergency/surgical procedure?
N: I think doctors are not educated enough in the natural birthing process. OB/GYNs need more education. When I was in school, we trained with midwives, it was mandatory.

The fact that doctors are actually trained by midwives is really interesting but yet its like the battle of the fittest and they try to out bid one another, they try to prove why they're better than one another. I actually enjoyed reading this post.

HW 42

For this project, my peers and I visited St. Luke's Roosevelt hospital on 59th and 10th. There we interviewed staff in the Delivery Education Department, the Delivery Department, and the Post-Partum department about their views and the views of the hospital regarding the birthing process.

All interviewees are anonymous in order to protect them, as they may have said things that contradicted with the beliefs of their employer. I realize that providing their job title may shed some light on who they are, so I will be vague. In my speech, I will provide this information.

The first lady that we interviewed, was a nurse from the Post-Partum Deparment. The interview went as follows.
(Interviewer: JM Interviewee: N)

JM: Why did you choose this field of work?
N: I'm not the right one to be asking, but I'll tell you what I'm supposed to say. I chose it because I love mothers and babies. Not because my friend was head of the floor and told me to work here.
(We exchange laughter.)
JM: What are your views on the rising rates of C-Sections in America?
N: It's terrible. I think it's just a convience to doctors and patients (mothers). If you dont want to have a baby on a Saturday, you just have a C-Section.
JM: Do you think the use of Epidural and Pitocin are more beneficial to mothers & babies or the doctor?
N: They're not always beneficial for mothers & babies. They should only be used if the baby is long overdue. Birth should be natural and vaginal. Some doctors do believe in natural birth, too.
JM: How do you feel about midwifery and homebirths?
N: I think it's great, we should have more midwives.  You should write this down somewhere, 'Birthing has always been one of the most natural processes, we need to remember that.
JM: Do you think it's right that doctors are trained to think every birth is a high risk, emergency/surgical procedure?
N: Well, I wouldn't say that's totally true. But, at any sign of distress it;s necessary to save the baby. You've got to get the baby out.
JM: Thank you so much.
N: No problem.
(We walk to the nurses' station)
N: You need to leave now.
JM: Okay. Thank you, again.

The second lady we interviewed was the Director of the Educational Department (within Delivery).
(Interviewer: JM Interviewee: D)

JM: What are your views on the rising rates of C-Sections in America?
D: I'm proud to say that we have the lowest C-section rate in the city. I think C-sections should happen when they're needed.
JM: How do you feel about midwifery and homebirths?
D: Midwifery is great.
JM: Do you think it's right that doctors are trained to think every birth is a high risk, emergency/surgical procedure?
D: Doctors are trained to deal with high-risk cases, but most cases are normal. Their training teaches them to be aware of risks.
JM: Thank you so much.
D: No problem.

The third lady we interviewed was the a nurse of the Delivery Unit.
(Interviewer: JM Interviewee: N)

JM: Why did you choose this field of work?
N: As a young girl I was very interested in nursing and pregnant women and their babies.
JM: What are your views on the rising rates of C-Sections in America?
N: I don't like them. They should only be carried out when absolutely necessary.
JM: Do you think the use of Epidural and Pitocin are more beneficial to mothers & babies or the doctor?
N: Women should have the choice on what drugs they want administered. I personally didn't have epidural when I had my two children, but I would never judge someone who did. Pitocin is a very serious drug and should be used judiciously. You should use the least amount necessary. Instead of using six, maybe use two.
JM: How do you feel about midwifery and homebirths?
N: In my country, most babies were born in homebirths, but it is a different culture. Personally, I would feel more safe in a hospital, knowing there is medical equipment on site and rooms for surgery. It's more appealing.
JM: Do you think it's right that doctors are trained to think every birth is a high risk, emergency/surgical procedure?
N: I think doctors are not educated enough in the natural birthing process. OB/GYNs need more education. When I was in school, we trained with midwives, it was mandatory.
JM: Thank you so much.
N: No problem. Good luck on your project.