Eve Ensler and Vagina Monologues

Initially my reaction to the Eve Eiller video was one of astonishment. I have never heard anyone say the word vagina as many times as I heard her say it. I have never looked at myself through a mirror nor have I named myself. I thought initially that it was quite humorous and then she began to speak of the vagina monologues that she used to perform. She went on to speak about how many women came and spoke to her after and just told her about the many people that abused them or how their vaginas were mutilated. Eve goes on to speak about how she helped women who were abused speak out (Eve Ensler, 2006). There was one girl named Agnes who was abused and she walked through the dust and river rafts with models of normal vaginas and mutilated vaginas speaking out to many people in the villages about female circumcision (Eve Ensler, 2006). Agnes explained what was wrong and how girls and women should not stand up for such things. Eve began to help support Agnes and her movement. I believe that I thought this was amazing how she could speak out about female circumcision.  Because of women like Eve, other women who are abused can speak out and find support and strength from their stories.  I applaud Eve in her efforts to change the world.

Resources:

Eve Ensler. (2006, September). Eve Ensler: happiness in body and soul. Retrieved December 3, 2010, from TED: Ideas Worth Spreading: http://www.ted.com/talks/eve_ensler_on_happiness_in_body_and_soul.html

Drug Treatments

I believe that between the options of putting drug addicts in jail or sending them to mandatory drug treatment programs depends on the addict. If the addict is willing to change, the better option would be to put the drug addicts in a mandatory drug treatment program. The program would only work if the addicts were genuinely willing to change. If the addicts are not willing to change, then they would just fall back into the cycle.  Mandatory drug treatment programs could probably help those who know that it is about time that they stopped messing with drugs. If the addict begins to realize that what he or she is doing is ruining their lives, then maybe it would be better for them to be placed in a program. I feel like if the addicts are not willing to change their ways, they should be put in jail.  Putting them in jail is better because it keeps them off the street and out of temptation.  Even in jail, they could possibly try and get some kind of help from others who are willing to share their stories. Many addicts can figure out how to help each other.  If the addicts become close to a group of people with the same issues and all of them decide to get help, then that could benefit them. No one wants to go through a treatment program by themselves without any support.  

Mental Health

I recently have found out that my brother is dating one of my good friends.  I think this is great, my mom however thinks this is a bit worrisome.  She told me about a relative in my friend’s family that is diagnosed with bipolar disorder.  She has already voiced her concerns to me about how if my brother and his girlfriend were to get married, then we would have the disorder in our lineage.  I told her that was a stupid reason for her to be worried about.  After going through this module, I was surprised at how society has a huge stigma on mental health.  My mom is very traditional and she’s used to having arranged marriages, where the parents go through a sort of bio-data of a person before considering them for their child.  My mom expressed that we shouldn’t have anyone who is mentally unstable or unhealthy added to our family.  I feel bad for those who are mentally unstable.  I feel like society should try to help those who have issues with their mental health versus casting judgment on them.  

According to the Mayo Clinic, such stigmas can have harmful effects to those with mental illness. Some harmful effects are:  trying to pretend nothing is wrong, refusal to seek treatment, rejection by family and friends, work or school problems or discrimination, difficulty finding housing, being subjected to physical violence or harassment, and inadequate health insurance coverage of mental illnesses (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2009).  Some of the suggestions they made to overcome these stigmas are to get treatment, seek support, don’t let stigma create self-doubt and shame, don’t equate yourself with your illness, use your resources, get help at school, join an advocacy group, and speak out (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2009).  Diagnosis and treatment can find out what is wrong and can find a way to reduce symptoms that interfere with work and personal life (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2009).  Coming to terms with your illness can help reduce feeling ashamed, embarrassed or humiliated. Psychological counseling may also help gain self-esteem and help cope with your own self-judgment.  If you tell people you trust, you may find compassion, support and acceptance. It’s important to stay in touch with those family members who understand (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2009).  You are not an illness, so don’t say that you are; instead, say that you have a disorder or a condition.  Take advantage of federal, state, and nonprofit resources available to help support people with mental health conditions (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2009).  Talk to teachers, professors, or administrators about the best approach and available resources for when you are in school.  Discrimination against students because of a mental health condition is against the law (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2009).  Some local and national groups, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) have programs that watch for and correct stereotypes, misinformation and disrespectful portrayals of people with mental illnesses (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2009).  Speaking at events can help instill courage in others facing similar challenges and also educate the public about mental illness. Until you gain confidence, you may want to start at small events, such as talks at a support group or church community (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2009).

Resources:

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2009, May 29). Mental health: Overcoming the stigma of mental illness. Retrieved November 19, 2010, from Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mental-health/MH00076

Future In Mind

When I make decisions, I tend to make decisions for the short term and not necessarily the long term. My boyfriend is always criticizing me about how I should make long term decisions versus short term decisions.  He always explains that long term decisions are more beneficial rather than short term ones. I feel like you have to think a different way in order to consider the long term decisions.  What I have learned is that doctors think straightforward in order to fix what is illness is; however, nurses think outside the box in order to help alleviate the symptoms, not the illness itself.  

I feel like if everyone thought in terms of the future, I feel like our lifestyles would be different. If we considered our future every time we made decision, I think our lives would be a bit more organized and prepared.  I personally am not interested in politics, but I have noticed how I should be.  If I am not mistaken, past generations were not thinking about us when making certain decisions, like social security ; and now our generation may not be able to be qualified for social security or may not be able to receive anything for social security.  For whatever reason, we tend to think short term; what would benefit us in the next two to five years and not necessarily thinking what would benefit us in the next fifteen to twenty years.  I believe the fields of science and medicine, and any other relating fields, is the only fields that tend to think with our future in mind.

If we thought with our future in mind regarding our habits, we may not even have to worry about breaking a bad habit or worrying that it may harm us in the future.  For example, at a young age, if we are taught that sugary drinks and oily foods are not beneficial for us in the long run and may only satisfy our short fix, then we may not limit ourselves in what we eat and may not have as much obesity and diabetes in the future.  If we thought with our future in mind regarding our behaviors, then we may not regret some of the decisions we would’ve made.  Using myself as an example, a coworker of mine complained to my boss about how I was being rude and disrespectful to her. In actuality, it was the other way around and I never reported anything.  In that moment out of anger and frustration, I could have said some harsh words when our boss was not around, but I took the high road and thought about my future and how difficult work would be if I were to say something. 

I understand that we’re supposed to carpe diem, live each day to the fullest, and live in the moment, but we can also do all of these things while considering our future.  If we considered our future and all the decisions we would have to take, then maybe we could carpe diem all we want.

Cardiovascular Disase

In my family there's no history of cardiovascular disease, but there is a high incidence of high blood pressure, high cholesterol,and diabetes; all common factors of CVD. What I believe to be interesting is that these the majority of my family that express one or more of these conditions are men. This makes me feel somewhat better about myself, but I still want to take measures that will benefit me.

The factors that might play in my family is the cultural and environmental factors. I grew up in a neo-traditional south Indian home where the men eat before the women, they also eat a lot more. While the women typically spend more time in the kitchen and eat whatever is left over.  I believe this may have played a part in the reason why men in my family are more prone to CVD.

Physically, I believe that the men are generally bigger than the women before pregnancy, but after pregnancy, women tend to be bigger than the men. This may be because the men try to keep the baby healthy by fattening up the mother, and as a result, the women are left with extra unnecessary weight. 

Socially, the women were always closer to the kitchen and would wait on the men, until they had enough food.

Socioeconomically, when I compare the health status between my dad's side of the family and my mom's side of the family, my dad's side of the family has all the high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. I found this interesting because my dad's side of the family is generally a bit more wealthier than my mom's side of the family. I am sure that because of their wealth, they were more prone to buy the unhealthier foods. In comparison, to the American society, I've noticed that its the other way around. Generally, it is the unhealthy foods that are cheaper, such as the dollar menu at McDonald's; the healthier foods are more expensive, such as at Schlotzsky's a sandwich is generally about 6 or 7 dollars.

Educationally, both my parents' families have had the education about the risks of cardiovascular disease. I believe money played a big part in how they ate their meals despite the education they had on CVD. Now that my families are living in America, they know how to eat healthy and are willing to spend the money on it, but it might be too late for some of my family members.

I have seen the measures my families are taking to make sure they eat healthy. They're eating more lean meat, vegetables, fruit and less sugar and fats. I am proud of my families and the change they have willing done.

Media and Body Image

My 12-year old cousin, Amelia, is tall and thin, but she does not see herself in that same light. It saddens me when she tells me that she looks fat and she needs to lose weight.  Thing is, the same can be said of her older sister, Annie, who is 15-years old.  I know when I was their age our families were very harsh on me and my weight. I have struggled with my weight and I try and not feel bad about myself, but sometimes when you hear people constantly telling you things like you should lose weight, it begins to wear you down. When Amelia and Annie were 8 and 5, respectively, I remember them asking me about the Disney princesses and asking me which one I liked the best and when I would tell them, they would respond with, “Oh no, she’s too fat.”  When I look at Disney princesses, I see them all as thin princesses. I was very astonished that they were thinking like this at a very young age. I believe media plays a big role in our lives and especially in the lives of teenagers.  For example, the media exploded when Jessica Simpson gained a few pounds, but they also did gave some attention to when actresses like Mischa Barton became scarily thin.  When Jessica Simpson gained a few pounds, she only went to a size 6 and fluctuated a bit (Jessica Simpson weighs in on fat jokes, 2010).  When Britney Spears was ridiculed for gaining a few extra pounds, her reaction was this, “I looked like a fat pig” ('I looked like a fat pig,' says Britney after MTV fiasco, 2007). If you were to look at Britney Spears during this time, she just looks a little bit curvier than she did previously, but not necessarily fat. This is who our younger generation looks up towards; women who struggle with their bodies and their image.  I believe if our families and our peers do not pressure us to looking a certain way and to embracing our own bodies, that women around the world would not feel as self conscious as we do now. I believe that our media should be aware of the influence it has on young girls who have body image issues. I feel like if health educators can give girls the confidence they need to embrace their body image, that those girls would be less likely to having eating disorders.  I believe there are certain people in the media who are trying to be open to diversity of body shape, size and color. Each person is made differently and no one person can have the same body as another.  If educators can help girls understand the risks of eating disorders, then maybe these girls can understand the life they’ve been given is worth living healthily.  If someone had encouraged me while I was growing up and told me to embrace my body, then maybe I wouldn’t be having such a hard time with my own personal body issues.  I try to open my cousins, Amelia and Annie’s eyes to not focus on the flaws they have with their body image, but how beautiful they are.

The following site has a slideshow of many celebrities that had weight issues throughout their careers.

http://chicago.metromix.com/home/essay_photo_gallery/celebrities-who-got-fat/1052028/content

Resources:

Celebrities who got fat and thin. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2010, from metromix: http://chicago.metromix.com/home/essay_photo_gallery/celebrities-who-got-fat/1052028/content

'I looked like a fat pig,' says Britney after MTV fiasco. (2007, September 13). Retrieved October 27, 2010, from Mail Online: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-480947/I-looked-like-fat-pig-says-Britney-MTV-fiasco.html

Jessica Simpson weighs in on fat jokes. (2010, March 4). Retrieved October 27, 2010, from New York Post: http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/jessie_weighs_in_on_fat_jokes_2duiUbwY1jPYKbhlPP0HNO

Cross- Cultural Menopause

This article found on the Women to Women website written by Dixie Mills, MD, is a great article about the cross cultural views on menopause. She first focuses on the Japanese culture and how women do not freely speak of menstruation or menopause, but in their culture, menopause does not bother them as much. Dr. Mills writes about how Japanese women do not go through the similar symptoms that American women go through, such as, hot flashes, insomnia, and depression. Instead, Japanese women mostly complain about shoulder stiffness or chillness (Dixie Mills, 2007).  She also explains how their lifestyle helps them have a better transitioning through menopause. She suggests that their diet of phytoestrogens and isoflavones, found in soybeans, and weekly exercise help them have less drastic changes in their menopause (Dixie Mills, 2007).

She then speaks of the Mayan culture and how they have “an all-natural, herb-based diet, and a slow, relatively easy pace of life, both elements which contribute heavily to fewer menopausal symptoms…” (Dixie Mills, 2007). She also explains “Mayan women also acquire new status when they enter menopause: they can become spiritual leaders of their communities” (Dixie Mills, 2007).  Dr. Mills continues to write about her findings on shamanistic cultures and menopause, “women must enter menopause to access their shamanic and healing powers. Menstrual blood has the power to create life in the womb, so when women reach the age of retaining their “wise blood,” they cross the threshold into “wise womanhood” by keeping their wise blood within. At this point they become priestesses and healers — the spiritual leaders of their communities” (Dixie Mills, 2007).

She goes on to explain about other cultures and their views about menopause. “Women in Kaliai, Papua New Guinea, welcome the end of childbearing without symptoms, as do many Native Americans and subcontinental Indians. And in northern Sudan, menopause is merely another facet of growing older, bringing with it increased social power and respect” (Dixie Mills, 2007). “In both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic medicine, the approach to menopause recognizes the individual. Similar symptom clusters (for example, hot flashes and night sweats, insomnia and anxiety) may arise in two women of entirely different constitutions for very different reasons. And both these ancient approaches, have always tailored treatment toward restoring balance to the individual, not to common symptoms” (Dixie Mills, 2007).

She ends her article explaining how if women in the United States took on the views of these other cultures on menopause, then menopause would not be such a fearful period of our lives. She promotes all women to embrace their menopause and not be weary of it.

Resources:

Dixie Mills, M. (2007, August 2). A look at menopause across cultures. Retrieved October 22, 2010, from Women to Women: http://www.womentowomen.com/menopause/menopauseacrosscultures.aspx

 I found this article to be enlightening and I feel like when the time comes for me to go through menopause, I shouldn’t be so depressed about it, but I should be grateful for it! Menopause is considered the renewal of one’s self around the world and that’s how we, as Americans, should view it as well.