Comparison concepts and applications

Cultures

Take a day in the life of an elderly person living in a typical neighborhood in the United States:

I am a retired 60-year-old widow and mother of four. Oon a typical day, I get up around 6:00am and take a brisk walk around the neighborhood, just to keep myself in good health. Today, after I have my breakfast, I go to my appointment with my doctor, who makes sure that I am in good condition, especially since I have diabetes. If I have to buy any medicine I pass by the drugstore and I am low on groceries so I also have to pass by the supermarket. When I get home, I visit my neighbor, Martha, and we have a nice chat. On certain days, we get the group together and we play Bingo or we watch a movie at a local theater (we sometimes get in for free because we are senior citizens!). After I visit Martha I head home and call my children to check up on them.

Compare this to a day in the life of an elderly person living in Africa, as described in "One Step at a Time" by Fred Koehler who visited Togo in West Africa. In Koehler's account, he steps into the shoes of a father with a family of 12, which includes three wives and eight children (Koehler, 2007).

The more children that I have, the stronger I am viewed by my peers, as such I have two more children along the way (Koehler, 2007). However, I have no job and no one will hire me because I am uneducated and this is because I had to leave school when I was nine years old to help out my father in the fields (Koehler, 2007). I get money only about twice a year from my harvests and so my wives pay for schooling fees for the children with money from their small income from selling food at the market (Koehler, 2007). If my children get sick then I am unable them to a hospital because the medicines that the doctor tells me to buy means that I will not be able to buy food for my family (Koehler, 2007). Thus, I have to rely on a traditional healer. And even though I know that this healer does not really aid the sick I do not have much of a choice since I lack the extra money to see a real doctor.

Now, imagine what it would be like for a pregnant mother from the United States.

What a joy! I am 27 years old and I am 6 months pregnant with my second child- a baby boy. I have gone to my physician, religiously, as I have learned that I must accomplish at least 13 visits to achieve a low-risk pregnancy (Holtz & Grisdale, 2007) and I want only the best prenatal care for myself and for my child. This includes the proper diet, as recommended by my doctor. And when I give birth, it will be in a hospital where I will get the best assistance from highly trained medical professionals (Holz & Grisdale, 2007). I am also attending a series of childbirth education classes with my husband who is excited to come along as he wants to be a part of each stage of our baby's life. I educate myself in these matters because I want my baby to be healthy and I want to avoid poor birth outcomes like my baby having a birth defect, which is the leading cause of infant mortality here in the United States (Holtz & Grisdale, 2007).

Now, think how it may be like for a pregnant mother who lives in China, where pregnancy is influenced not only by culture but also by politics (Holtz & Grisdale, 2007). The Chinese government not only encourages their citizens to marry later in life but it also has a one-child policy (Holtz & Grisdale, 2007). By limiting the number of childres, the policy is intended to limit the socioeconomic consequences of overpopulation (Holtz & Grisdale, 2007).

I am relieved. I am 32 years old and I am finally pregnant with a second child and am happy that this time it is a boy. I had to wait 5 years for him but it was worth the wait and my husband will be pleased with the news (Holtz & Grisdale, 2007, 440). I am sad that I had to abort the baby girl that followed the first but I am relieved that the government approved my pregnancy so that I can get the proper and affordable prenatal care (Holtz & Grisdale, 2007). My baby will be born at home because if he is not then this will cause great suffering to our family (Hotz & Grisdale, 2007). My husband will not be able to be with me during the delivery as giving birth is seen a "woman's business" (Hotz & Grisdale, 2007). Although I know that I may experience great pain when I give birth, I will also not take any medication nor will I cry out. I have been told that this will not only rob me of much needed energy to push my baby out but it will also create much negative energy when my baby is born (Hotz & Grisdale, 2007, 458).

Now then, how would it be like to be a new born baby in the United States?

Where am I? I can hear myself wailing as I come out of that dark tunnel. I am wet and I can hear someone say "Congratulations, it's a healthy 7 pound baby boy!" And then someone takes me and brings me to a room with other babies, some crying and some are sleeping. The lady in white places me in one of the small beds and I am so tired from the journey that I fall right to sleep. I dream about the things I remember before I came out of the dark tunnel. I remember my mother going to her physician and he told her that she needed to take extra care of herself because she has diabetes which puts us both at high risk (Hotz & Grisdale, 2007). And mommy took very good care of herself. She and daddy attended childbirth education classes and she went on frequent visits to her physician. She and daddy are so relieved that we have access to a wide range of programs, such as Healthy Start and Medicard (Hotz & Grisdale, 2007). These programs will ensure my survival by teaching mommy and daddy how to prevent malnutrition, premature births, birth defects, and sudden infant death syndrome (Holtz & Grisdale, 2007). I know that I am lucky that my mommy had access to such programs as I heard her telling daddy that not all parents around the world do.

This is the case for a newborn in Mali, Africa. Although, throughout Africa, children are held with high regard, there may be less access to the proper health care as hospitals may be far away. Other than accessibility, income plays a huge factor as many families, like the man from Togo do not have the money to pay for quality prenatal care. However, culture also plays a part in child bearing, as traditions are often chosen over practicality. This is the case in South Africa where prenatal care is free but mothers opt for traditional healers because it is part of a long-standing tradition (Holtz & Grisdale, 2007). So what would it be like, then, for a newborn baby in Africa?

I was brought to the clinic by my mommy and the first thing the lady did was put me on a scale with a sling hanging on it (Holloway, 2007). The lady said to my mommy, "She is only about 5 kilos" and to think, I'm already 6 months old. She asked my mommy if I got sick and mommy said, "Yes, she has been having diarrhea lately because I had to take her off of my milk and feed her regular food since I am with child again" (Holloway, 2007). It is believed in our village that since my mommy is with child again that her milk becomes bad for me and that is why I am on adult food. But I am not used to this kind of food yet and it makes my tummy feel rotten. The lady tells my mommy that she must put more time between her pregnancies if she wishes her children to survive, she gives her a long lecture about how to care for me and then she sends us off and waves to the next mother to come in (Holloway, 2007).

Worksheet #6:

1. A person comes to a meeting half an hour after the scheduled starting time.

Response: It is rude for that person to come half an hour late without a good explanation or emergency. The person should apologize for keeping the other people, who were on time, waiting.

2. Someone kicks a dog.

Response: The person should go back and check if the dog is okay! This person may either drunk or extremely cruel and hates dogs. In any case, it is wrong to kick a harmless dog.

3. A woman carries a heavy jug of water on her head while her husband walks in front of her carrying nothing.

Response: He should stop and help her with the jug of water. Her husband is not being a gentleman. He is not being a very good husband if he makes his wife carry heavy items and walks ahead of her though he not carrying anything, himself.

4. A male guest helps a female host carry dirty dishes into the kitchen.

Response: The male guest should be thanked by the hostess because he is being courteous and polite by helping her carry out the dirty dishes.

5. A young man and woman are kissing each other in public.

Response: They should stop. Such intimate behavior should be private and be done inside closed doors where no one is looking.

6. While taking an exam, a student copies from the paper of another student.

Response: The student copying from the other student probably did not study and should be caught and reprimanded as it is unfair for the other students who took the time to study for the test.