Chapter 10 started off with a brief description of the landscapes Hmong people are use to. This happens to be more of mountainous terrain, obviously higher elevated areas. Fadimen did an interview with Father Jean Mottin, during which he stated, "Seek among the highest and inaccessible mountains and you will find them [Hmong people]" (page 120). This got me curious as to whether or not being in such a geography has any effects on health. While I did not find anything about higher altitudes contributing to seizures, there were other health effects likely to happen. It'd be interesting to find out if Lia were to go to higher elevations, if her seizures would be effected, even with the lack of research.
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This story is trying to convey two different cultural beliefs. The one that we (or most of us) are used to and the one of the Hmong culture. It is very difficult for me to grasp the beliefs of the Hmong. I want Lia to be a healthy little girl and when her path to health or at least control of her illness is within reach, I just want to yell at her parents. However, from an anthropological standpoint I know I need to be more culturally sensitive. I really appreciate this book and the author because she is able to convey not only the Hmong beliefs but where they stem from. This perspective certainly opens my eyes to the beliefs of Lia’s family. I think it is hugely important to the readers that both sides of the story are being told. Otherwise it would be very easy to point fingers and blame one culture. I have found myself countlessly getting frustrated along with the doctors because Lia’s parents refuse to give her the meds she needs and that they won’t wait to see if one medication is making things better before they disregard it as making her worse. However, I also find myself getting frustrated alongside Lia’s family because it seems like no one is trying to help them and see them from a cultural perspective. I wish someone would ask them why they do the things they do rather than to immediately ride them off and call them freaks. I wholeheartedly believe that cultural understanding can go a long way.
Here is where you'll post your weekly reading responses & reflections on Project HealthViews1/4/2019 For reading responses, your posts should be 1-2 paragraphs and can be guided by any or all of the following questions:
1) What is the main point or argument of this reading, and what evidence does the author provide to support it? 2) What did you learn from the text? Was there anything surprising, unsettling, pleasing, or disturbing about it? What does it tell us about health, healing, and/or the human experience? 3) What questions does the text raise in your mind? These can be questions we could discuss in classes or questions you'd ask the author if you could; alternatively, these could be words, terms, or ideas you didn't understand. For Project HealthViews reflections, your posts should be 1-2 paragraphs and can be guided by any or all of the following questions: 1) What did I learn during my time at the clinic today? 2) What did I observe (sensory detail, details about patients, the setting, interactions, etc.)? 3) How did my experience connect with broader themes in medical anthropology, or with readings I've done in the class? |
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