Wednesday, March 9, 2011
RACC 2011 Discussion Question 3
One thing that we must be aware of is cultural differences. We look at other cultures and are amazed or repelled by their behavior (In Afghanistan women were required to wear the burka, a head to toe covering of the entire body). We judge other cultures by our own behaviors in our culture. List one family (sex, dating, or marriage), custom that may be looked at differently today that we read about in the book. Can you think of another belief or practice (non family) that took place in the past, not done today?
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The custom of marrying, dating, and having sexual relations with family members is looked at differently today, while in the book it was seen as perfectly normal and okay for Henrietta to marry and have babies with her cousin.I cannot think of any belief or pratice that took place in the past that isn't done today
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ReplyDeleteIn the past the main purpose for a female was to become as efficently domesticated as she could to ensure that she was adequately capable to be a good homemaker and mother. Once a female entered the realm of womanhood (puberty) she was expected to get married and/or start having children. While young girls are still starting families and having children it is no longer a commonly welcomed practice in today's society. The practice of females simply getting married, having children and taking care of the home from as early as eleven is no longer being carried out openly in our society today.
ReplyDeleteThe marriage of Henrietta to her cousin was really surprising to me. But I have heard of other people having relationships with cousins such as Franklin Roosevelt & Eleanor Roosevelt, Charles Darwin, and Albert Einstein. That is very uncommon now along with marrying early. Marriage itself is becoming very uncommon.
ReplyDeleteIn some cultures it is very common to have family relationships especially when it came down to the Lacks family.The family was living up under one roof and not very educated. They were not aware of the rights and wrongs in the living quarters. For all they knew that there was no right and no wrong if a cousin had relation then it was pretty much looked over. Bringing a new life in the world was a common situation and a joy. There is also relations in Cults and South America and Ethiopia.
ReplyDeleteOne custom that I saw in the book was incestuous behavior. I mean it has been a continuous stereotype of people in the South marrying people in their family such as cousins. Yet and still it is frowned upon in today's society, and people are more educated on what would happen to their offspring if those relations occured. Also, another custom in decades past was the woman being submissive and domesticated to keep the house clean and tidy and bear children In today's society, children are born out of wedlock and there may be children having children but it is frowned upon and very rare.
ReplyDeleteOne custom that we can take a look at is a forced marriage, the parents choose their son's or daughter's future spouse with no input from the son or daughter. This form of arranged marriage is rare in so-called Western societies, but not quite as rare in other parts of the world. If the son or daughter refuses the choice, he or she may be punished, or in rare cases, killed. In most such cases, the marriage simply takes place anyway, overriding the bride's or bridegroom's objections. Motivating factors for such a marriage tend to be social or economic, the interests of the family or community that are served by the marriage are seen as paramount, and the will of the individual is insignificant.
ReplyDeleteHenrietta had sex with, married, and had children by her cousin. Back in the day that was common. People had kids to have extra hands to work in the fields. Now, our generation, especially me looks down upon that. I won't even date someone from my town for fear that somewhere down the line we are kin, in which most cases we are. Other things that happened back in the day that don't really happen now are old medical remedies like drinking fig tea, istead now we have more trust in doctors and take prescribed medications.
ReplyDeleteHenrietta's choice to marry her cousin was something that was done regularly during the time in which she lived. This is looked at now as being nasty and would place the individuals seeking such relationships in a situation where they would be shunned. People in her day were very focused on family and in taking care of themselves. What the source of this modern obsession with doctors and hospitals is a result of is unclear, but now we are almost solely dependent on the pharmaceutical industry for many things we could probably do for ourselves. This suggests to me that the state of the family and the ability of individuals to not chase after things that are in excess of basic needs has changed a great deal over the years.
ReplyDeleteFirst, Henrietta marrying her cousin and having children with him would not be acceptable today in time. Also, at this time women were not allowed to question their husbands if they were cheating. Secondly, it would not be acceptable today for doctors to perform treatment or give away bodily samples for testing without the permission of the patient or their family
ReplyDeleteHenrietta got married at a very early age which was considered normal in those days. Today, it is not. Also, getting married made females mature and become mothers quickly.
ReplyDeleteA custom that may be looked at diffrently is marriage. Henrietta married at a young age which back in those days was considered okay, but in this day and time it is not highly welcomed. She also married her cousin which is really unacceptable in todays time.
ReplyDeleteThe comments on the question are excellent. It makes me wish that I was teaching Marriage and Family this Spring with the Bloggers in my class. In reading anthropology, sociology and history is it simply amazing what humans have done to survive this long. For many of us it is an interesting question of what humans will be capable of doing to survive in the future.
ReplyDeleteWe are fortunate as “students of people” to have easy access to more information than ever before. We are more aware of food customs around the world because of the many TV shows which have the host travel the world eating strange things. The History Channel and Discovery have added to our knowledge of human social activities. And the internet has made it extremely easy to search for answers to almost any question.
A custom that is looked at differently today that was exercised in the book is incest. Incest is sexual intercourse between parent and child, any pair of siblings, or close blood relatives.Incest is considered a sexual offenses that is recognized today that really was not looked upon back then. Another custom back then was segregation. Segregation was legal then but it is illegal today. Another belief or tradition was back then was inter-racial marriages and relationships. They were frowned upon then, but in todays society its more common. Some things have changed sincee the past, but some things have not.
ReplyDeleteHaving any type of relation with any family member of yours in regards to being together or having sex is just wrong and downright disgusting! If it was up to me it should be a law against that for anybody that does that but i doubt that anybody is. In the book, it was perfectly ok to marry, date, or have sex with somebody within the family. A belief or tradition that was also done back then deals with the treatment of sick people. Now we have the advanced technology to create meds to treat us and cure us quickly. Back then it was homemade rituals and customs such as tea or a hot bag of water on your head
ReplyDeleteToday we may have family members that stay with us, but never an entire family. In the book, everyone stayed in Henrietta's shack; had babies there, died there, and even met their wives/husbands there. In todays society, marrying a family member or sleeping with a family member is wrong. During Henrietta's teenage years she fell in love with her cousin and at one point, one of her other cousins tried to kill himself over her. These things were strange to me because in my culture, incest is not acceptable, its not punishable, but its just simply not acceptable.
ReplyDeleteToday's society has adventured through many different changes from the past in so many ways; lawful or unlawful. In my culture intimate relations within family members is unnatural.'Marriage'for example because that means legally two people are one and to a family member is a change that has deceased from today's society. In the past many things were acted upon in a more uncommon way than today's culture similar to the past when women were seen as only servants to life, a wife and caretaker, in which in today's culture women practices are equal or even more advanced than males.
ReplyDeleteI must admit, I too was grossed out on the idea of Henrietta having sex with and marrying her cousin, and to make it worse, Henrietta and David were first cousins! Back in those days though, it was accepted and okay for things as such to be practiced. Females were married and had kids really young those days and majority of them were housewives. Nowadays, it is the unthinkable to marry one's cousin, and know it! Women are now more independent and reliable on themselves verses the way they were back in those days.
ReplyDelete*Charnetta Mckenzie*
this is Mathias Wallace from intro to philosophy T-Th 11am. During the most present times, it is known in black homes that our families do not visit the doctor as regular as we should. It is understood that for some families that the hospital is only for emergency cases where home remedies would not suffice. One reason for this is because of the over charges that patients receive from doctor visits. The increase of the unemployment rates and health care issues are also responsible for these actions that have been taken. I have witnessed a relative who was charged $800 for a regular checkup; no special tests were ran, nor did the patient receive medication from the visit.
ReplyDeleteExperiences such as this could lead to discouragement for individuals not to visit their doctors regularly.
Jabari Sims
ReplyDeleteMWF 11
Along time ago it was very common for relatives to marry and have kids with each other, but nowadays such things are unheard of. In small rural towns such as the one Henrietta lived in, most of the townspeople were all related. I've seen this case to be real especially by watching hillbilly movies and most of the people were related and each family member had a responsibility, but again that type of behavior is unheard of and outdated.
of course the marriage of Henrietta and her cousin Dey is an cultural difference that is no longer acknowledged as ok in todays times.Even though the bases of humankind was built upon this type of practice. Using the bible as an example, If Adam and Eve were the only two on the earth before procreation then it would be safe to say that their offspring mated with each other in order to continue civilization. We tend to judge anothers action,beliefs and practices with no regard and/or knowledge of our history as a whole.
ReplyDeleteanother cultural difference that tends to be shunned upon is the practice of curcumcision of females in Africa. this practice to other cultures seems cruel and inhuman but once again condemnation is put in the place of knowledge and understanding.
Being that our society is constantly influx there are many things that cease to exist or are looked down upon.
ReplyDeleteFrom the book: After Henrietta's death, Ethel and her husband Galen move in to help with the children. This is a custom that we don't see anymore, especially not people who are referred to as being "jealous or hateful of the deceased."
"Until death do you part" is truly a custom that is is no longer practiced. We now have divorce and people can separate from there spouse without having to commit murder!
As stated earlier, our society is constantly influx and I think that we should also take a look at trivialized customs in today's society.
In African society, the hunting of Albinos' for their body parts is believed to bring good luck or cure illnesses. This is seen as normal.
With that being said we shall see how long this custom will be practiced!
One thing that was different in the book that different from today is that it seemed as though it was okay for cousins to date. Henrietta and Day were cousins that was raised up in the same household that ended up married as well as having 5 children.Now a days I would call thats incest but back in the day they didnt believe in that. I believe thats the reason why some of the children had hearing problems due to the fact that there mom and dad were actully cousins
ReplyDeleteHenrietta's marriage to her cousin completely caught me off guard. Although in the past marriage to relatives were more common, in the society we live in today this is greatly frowned upon, and referred to as incest.
ReplyDeleteHentietta's marriage to day is an example of a custom that was acceptable in the past but is frowned upon in most of the world today. in the past many there were many occasion where cousins were joined in matrimony. queen victoria, albert einstein, and edgar allan poe all married their first cousins. this was common in the past. today this unison is consideres "incest" and in many places there are laws deeming this act illegal and punishable my law. another custom i noticed, which may be very obvious but rather important, was that Henrietta had to be seen in the "colored" area of the hospital. today it is unacceptable to discriminate against people wether it be due to their race, gender, sexuality or any other reason. everyone is offered equal protection and opportunities. Since before the days of Henrietta Lacks up until today peoples way of thinking has changed and will continue to change. Society has become more open minded towards certain issues while people have begun to frown upon other issues.
ReplyDeleteThe definition of cultural differences would be the way the different cultures live, their beliefs, what they eat, their religious beliefs and so forth. We look at other cultures and judge them by their behavior. We criticize other cultures based on our lives and beliefs. One thing in the book that would be looked at differently today is Henrietta’s and David’s relationship. The book said “Henrietta and Day had been sharing had been sharing a bedroom since she was four, so what happened next didn’t surprise anyone: they started having children together.” Cousins having children is frowned upon today. We look down on people who choose to live this way. Today it is not against the law in Virginia where Henrietta and David lived to marry your cousin. The separation of whites and black in schools, dinners, bus, and so forth was present in the past but is not present today.
ReplyDeleteIn the book it protrays how the medical industry mislead and unmorally treated African-Americans. While many may be focused on this,I recongized another cultural difference that has changed from that era today, that is the mistreatment of the mentalally ill community. Many times people back then would make excuses for why a person was not "normal." They are possessed with something or the child just ain't right.In the book one Henrietta's daughter's was mentally ill, Elsie. Although they did place her in a home, after the death of Henrietta, she was forgotten like she was never part of the family. In current times people are making extensive efforts to help, and make mentally ill or challenged people in the society like everyone else. It would be less heard of for a family to put a child into a home and never speak of them again. Now they would hopefully visit frquently and the family would make extensive efforts to make them healthy. Today, certain groups such as NAMI,National Alliance on Mental Illness, work hard to advocate and protect the rights of people who need it. Equal rights laws have been passed to ensure justice, and most of society has excepted that not everyone is going to be born perfect and they must be excepted for who they are.
ReplyDeleteRyanna Miller
Incest is a practice that was mentioned in the book about the Henrietta Lacks’ family. In fact, she is a product of sexual relations between cousins. This act of incest led to her cells being able to mutate other cells when they come into contact. Incest was not limited to the Lacks’ family. Before this family, incest was common since the beginning of time. This was practiced during the era of dynasties and kingdoms. This was used to keep royalty within the family. This was also practiced during slavery. When many slaves were selected as breeding partners for the perfect slave, often they were in close relation. This was common in hopes of better labor results on the plantation.
ReplyDeleteArranging marriages is a cultural practice heavily associated with the earlier centuries of the world. This custom has been used for various reasons in association with social backgrounds and genetics. Socially this practice is used to maintain or gain economic and property status within a status. To maintain or gain status, two of the top families in the area arrange marriages from within. This practice was heavily associated with Asian cultures. As for genetics, arrangements were common during slavery in The Americas. Slave masters would have the stronger male slaves to marry and breed with certain slaves. This way, the two slaves can give birth to a potential “Gold Mine.” As of today, this practice is rarely mentioned.
In earlier times marriages were arranged by families and patterned out to link families together. Arranged marriages are viewed as a social and economic necessity, the terms of which are agreed upon by the families of the future groom and bride. The question of whether the bride and groom are in love is not a priority; what’s important is that the marriage is stable with staying power. Another name for arranged marriages is pragmatic marriages. The children had to no say to who they were arranged to marry, the arrangements was made before they were born. In today’s society, everyone has the right to choose who they to get married to, where they want to get married at, and when. I myself wouldn’t have like the arranged marriage. I would want it to be just like is where I choose who I want to be with instead of being force into a relationship.
ReplyDeleteIn earlier times in the south african american families were not as educated to how the society was suppose to be kept.Thats why incest was very high amongst families.In most other countries marriages is a cultural practice heavily associated with asian,japanese,vietamenese.This comes with social backgrounds and genetics. This used to maintain status.just like back in slavery times where the stronger slave males married the stronger slave females.Cultural differences play a major part.While many may be focused on this,I recongized another cultural difference that has changed from that era today, that is the mistreatment of the mentalally ill community.Henriettas daughter was placed from home to home whereas now society has the technology to handle that type of child.
ReplyDeleteIn the book, the custom that caught my attention was incestuous behavior. In the past African Americans would marry their cousin’s, that is a stereotype that is still said till today. Another custom is for women to be domestic. Their main duties are to keep the house clean, have dinner cooked and take care of their families. In today’s society women are having children out of wedlock. It is very common but society is more accepting of it.
ReplyDeleteThe responsibility of a woman was to have children and take care of the family by means of cooking, knitting, tending to the house, and having babies. I cannot fathom anyone in our most modern society practicing this tradition, but I wouldn’t be surprised that there are people married to their cousin, distant or however they may be. I am enthused that these practices have ceased in the United States, but I wouldn’t judge anyone from a culture different than mine who is married to a first cousin. Love finds its way through various facets, but true love is blind and who are we to judge. If it doesn’t alter our day to day lives, prevents us from our pursuit of neither happiness, nor our fate after we die then why lose sleep over the practices of other cultures.-Brittany Turner
ReplyDeleteOne custom that is described in the book in relation to family was cousins dating each other. Henrietta and Day are prime examples of that. Things like that happened back in the day, and there were some other beliefs that took place in the past. For example, the book talks about the belief or fact that hospitals used to kidnapped blacks for experiment.
ReplyDeleteWell in the book Henrietta did marry her cousin. Back in the day that used to be the thing to do. It wasn’t taught to them as big wrong. I do believe that families back then had children, a lot of children so they could get them ready to go out and work on the farm. I found one belief that was done more in the 1800s then it is done now. It is polygamy-which means one man having more than one living wife at the same time. Obedience to direction from God, Latter-day Saints followed this practice for about 50 years during the 1800s but officially ceased the practice of such marriages after the Manifesto was issued by President Woodruff in 1890. Since that time, plural marriage has not been approved by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and any member adopting this practice is subject to losing his or her membership in the Church.
ReplyDeleteIn the book the “Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” the relationship between family members is viewed as very normal. There are several references in the book that mention how Henrietta herself was pursued by her own male family members. David lacks who would go on to not only marry Henrietta but birth several children with her. In this day and age being that Henrietta and Day were not only related by blood as cousins, but also grew up in the same home with each other, much like brother and sister it becomes that much more astonishing that they would marry and carry on in sexual relationship.Although the marriage and sexual relationship between cousins was looked upon as common practices in the time of Henrietta, we now view it as incest not only is it morally unacceptable but research suggest that the offspring of two personal who are blood related will encounter or have a higher risk of genetic problems. ( candice kent)
ReplyDeleteI think incest is immoral because it is against all what we believe basically as said in the book the relationship they had was very normail and some quotations in teh book show how she was attracted to teh make figures in her family such as teh father to her children
ReplyDeleteDavid Lacks who not only married her ands gave her children as well. they grew up togerhter and had children as well. back then they looked at it as if it was really nothing that serious but in society today we look at it as discusting and not human like but just strange and sick, not only from perspectives of it being discusting it is dangerous for the child causing problems because to many of the same cells which can lead to autism and the child to be adnormal so incest just isnt right and shouldnt be done by anyone even Henrietta Lacks
At Swedish wedding receptions guests get an opportunity to kiss the bride or groom. If the bride goes to the restroom all the women at the reception line up to kiss the groom. Nd if the groom leaves the room or is out of sight the men line up to kiss the bride...(Mariesha Williams)
ReplyDeleteIncestuous was one the main behaviors that caught my attention. Today it is frowned upon, but the book almost makes it seem okay to do in the time of Henrietta Lacks. Another custom that I think no longer exist in today's society, is the role of the man/father in the home. There are many single parent homes today and most are headed by women. In the past, men were the head of the home and they were the providers. Today this is no longer the case.
ReplyDeleteDomestication of women was an Americanized attribute associated with all women regardless of, culture. This role was attributed primarily, to women's role during both WWI and WWII. Unfortunately, the advancement in inter-gender domestication has not completely transferred to the career field or work related industries. Some areas of study or career paths are stilled viewed as a "man's" job. Another change is inter- racial relationships and marriages. This challenge is generally cultural and varies from between cultures.
ReplyDeleteIncest was commonly practiced during the 1950s because of there werent any laws in most states that prohibited this. In many cases, some families preferred mating within the family because it wasnt many facts out there that say mating with a family member may result in genetic deformalities and other forms of diseases. Many families viewed marrying and having children with family members as being ok and continuing the family blood line. What is known as incest today is still being practiced in both the U.S. as well as the some parts of the World (Africa and Asia). Stephanie Prince
ReplyDeleteOver the years, many customs and beliefs have changed. As society becomes more advanced in technology and sciences we learn more. In the past, many families would be involved in incestuous behavior but they did not realize that was a wrong thing to do.In the book, we see incest within the Lacks’ family. Henrietta was actually born from an incestuous couple. Henrietta’s mother and father were cousins.This custom continued on through Henrietta because she married Day. Day is her blood related cousin and they were even raised together in the same house. They also had incestuous children.We are also more knowledgeable than they were in those days.
ReplyDeleteagreeing with everyone else, the incest relationships and marriages were among the strangest things to happen. Ive been involved in various volunteer work were in various group homes and mental facilities the issue with most of the clients is that most of there issues and mental illnesses come from incest. And if that is practiced today, I could only imagine the way that people would viewed.
ReplyDeleteWilliam Holden
Of course the main practice mentioned in the book was the marriage between Henrietta and her cousin Day. Growing up you hear a lot about marriage between family members, especially in the south. But it came as a shock to actually read about it in the book. As you're reading you kind of place yourself in that time, so to know that things of that nature actually happened is surprising. I don't think anyone in my generation knows any married couple who's also family. Today, that's not even thought about. It's just nasty. You never ever know what will happen in the future though.
ReplyDeleteIncestuous behavior stood out to me in this book. i think this behavior is unacceptable now and should have been during her time. There are to many non-relative males and females in the world to date so kin folks is not the way. my generation has been educated well on this issue and realize the outcome for offsprings is not good for kins having kids together; might have been normal during her time but we defineely condone this now.
ReplyDeleteAs stated above incest was not as taboo as it is today. Another thing to look at is the treatment of the children. After Henrietta died Ethel abused the children and Day knew about but did nothing.
ReplyDeleteHenriettas attraction and marriage to her cousin would definately be frowned upon in this day and time but it was viewed as normal then. Also the fact that she had kids at a very young age is not normal now. Henrietta was fifteen when she had Deborah
ReplyDeleteToday the practice of incest realations is something that extremly fround upon. Unlike in the past where is was more common to find that someone in a family had participated in incest relations.Lack in the book was most definitly a case i which she was a participant
ReplyDeleteOne custom that I saw in the book was incestuous behavior. I mean it has been a continuous stereotype of people in the South marrying people in their family such as cousins. Yet and still it is frowned upon in today's society, and people are more educated on what would happen to their offspring if those relations occured. Also, another custom in decades past was the woman being submissive and domesticated to keep the house clean and tidy and bear children In today's society, children are born out of wedlock and there may be children having children but it is frowned upon and very rare.
ReplyDelete