As we have been discussing in previous classes, the doctor’s word is treated like the word of God. This either causes the individual with an illness/condition to doubt their instincts or when they trust their feelings not be taken seriously when making decisions about treatments and operations. Lourde makes a good point that the individual should be responsible for their own health, a doctor’s role should be to advise and/or treat an illness when applicable, but not to make the decisions for the patient. However since doctors tend to know more about the condition than the patient, they sometimes end up making the decisions. As Lourde shows, the way to combat this is to arm oneself with as much information as possible.
It scares me to think that if I had an illness and knew how I wanted the illness/condition to be addressed, my opinions could be dismissed. Fear is powerful and forces people to take actions which may be different from what they would have done had they had time and not felt pressure to make a decision. We saw this with the woman with the intersexed individual who was told who had dealt with the issues she was facing.
The woman felt her situation was a private matter and that she was alone. For Lourde, by wearing the prosthesis it was as if she was being told to hide what had happened to her body and in deciding not to wear one was treated as if she was the only one who felt did not need to wear one. Lourde also identifies this pressure to make a decision to wear prosthesis after having a mastectomy as in indicator of society sees the female body as objectifiable and merely serving sexual and reproductive purposes. In contrast to a leg amputation where a prosthetic leg functions in helping the individual perform physical tasks, a breast prosthetic performs an emotional task which may sometimes benefit others more than the individual.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Dealing With the Challenges of Breast Cancer
After reading the two pieces by Lorde I was extremely moved by her strength and spirit. She is clearly a woman who is comfortable with who she is and wants to share her passions and insights. Before reading her article I was not aware of the social stigma surrounding breast cancer survivors. I thought that surviving the cancer was the battle, but now I know that the battle really begins after the cancer. I was shocked by the attitudes of her doctors and other authority figures towards her choice not to wear a fake breast. Even though I was shocked I shouldn't have been because this is exactly the type of attitude to expect from a society that only views women as objects. Only a culture in which a woman's worth is determined by her outward appearance would the loss of breast equate the loss of her femininity. Femininity in our culture is our culture is defined by looks, sex appeal, and the role of motherhood and breasts play a major role in each one of these. We have seen this objectification of women before when discussing sexuality in Western cultures. The idea that woman's only purpose is to please the man and be a mother is still not behind us!
The other horrific aspect of Lourde's experience was the lack of support and understanding she received from her doctor when she choose to not have a live biopsy. This parallels the experience that the parents' of intersex children went through. I feel that Lourde brought up the very important point of listening to one's body. This is a concept that is often not respected the way it should be in modern medicine, but it is the key to staying healthy.
Who Defines Normal?
Normal--it's such an over used word. Yet, what is normal? Who defines it? Can there be a norm? In the "Constructing Normalcy" and "Rejected Body" articles, the text displays the battle of norms. It was difficult for me to read about intelligent people, such as Marx and Quetlet struggling to define normal. Their usage of math and science was convincing at times, because these two categories are perceived as accurate and objective. However, it was obvious that their reasoning was inappropriate. I was shocked to learn about the category of disabled people. Handicap and mentally ill people are not dumb or uneducated people just because of their disabilities. Even though they may not be able to function in society in common ways, they are people who can contribute to society in unique ways.
I think it is interesting how the definition of normal can change over time. I think this common trait is apparent in eastern societies. Many countries, such as India or Korea are heavily influenced by the west's culture. For example, when my parents were growing up in India the normal Indian woman was traditional, not too educated, and highly conservative. Now, women are obtaining proper education, respectable jobs, and are displaying a sense of "american" culture in their lives. When I was in India last year, I remember seeing college students in short skirts and halter tops, which now is apparently normal in the bigger cities of India. I was completely shocked to see this type of culture being accepted in the Indian society. It just proves that normal cannot be defined or established. Everyone is different and it is impossible to label people into a category.
Thus, there is no normal.
By the way, I looked up normal on Webster and this is one of the definitions. I found it quite interesting.
Normal: free from mental disorder
I think it is interesting how the definition of normal can change over time. I think this common trait is apparent in eastern societies. Many countries, such as India or Korea are heavily influenced by the west's culture. For example, when my parents were growing up in India the normal Indian woman was traditional, not too educated, and highly conservative. Now, women are obtaining proper education, respectable jobs, and are displaying a sense of "american" culture in their lives. When I was in India last year, I remember seeing college students in short skirts and halter tops, which now is apparently normal in the bigger cities of India. I was completely shocked to see this type of culture being accepted in the Indian society. It just proves that normal cannot be defined or established. Everyone is different and it is impossible to label people into a category.
Thus, there is no normal.
By the way, I looked up normal on Webster and this is one of the definitions. I found it quite interesting.
Normal: free from mental disorder
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Breast Cancer: Silence and Invisibility
So far this semester, we have discussed the problem of silence several times and how it affects society's understanding of certain medical issues. I found that Lordes' approach to the problem of silence surrounding breast cancer fascinating, in that it has a profound effect both on women living with cancer, and also on access to information about cancer treatment. The emphasis upon the need for prosthesis that Lordes describes becomes an emphasis on silencing the reality that women whose lives are in danger because of cancer must have their breast(s) removed. Society tries to persuade cancer victims, in an attempt to maintain optimism, that they can be the same person after their mastectomy. However, this creates an understanding that women without prostheses are anomalous. Lordes example of how the Israeli politician with his eye patch is considered a warrior, but one-breasted women are made to feel abnormal.
This type of silence forces cancer victims to aim towards a sense of invisibility - they can be the same with cancer as they were without. Even more atrocious is the attitude of the American Cancer Society toward holistic treatments. The silencing of all information that deviates from the western medical bias is tragic, for cancer patients lose control over the spectrum of treatments that might help them conquer their disease. Lordes expresses the importance of overcoming both aspects of this silence: "we must pierce this silence ourselves and aggressively seek answers to these questions about new therapies" (75).
This type of silence forces cancer victims to aim towards a sense of invisibility - they can be the same with cancer as they were without. Even more atrocious is the attitude of the American Cancer Society toward holistic treatments. The silencing of all information that deviates from the western medical bias is tragic, for cancer patients lose control over the spectrum of treatments that might help them conquer their disease. Lordes expresses the importance of overcoming both aspects of this silence: "we must pierce this silence ourselves and aggressively seek answers to these questions about new therapies" (75).
Breast Cancer: Silence and Invisibility
So far this semester, we have discussed the problem of silence several times and how it affects society's understanding of certain medical issues. I found that Lordes' approach to the problem of silence surrounding breast cancer fascinating, in that it has a profound effect both on women living with cancer, and also on access to information about cancer treatment. The emphasis upon the need for prosthesis that Lordes describes becomes an emphasis on silencing the reality that women whose lives are in danger because of cancer must have their breast(s) removed. Society tries to persuade cancer victims, in an attempt to maintain optimism, that they can be the same person after their mastectomy. However, this creates an understanding that women without prostheses are anomalous. Lordes example of how the Israeli politician with his eye patch is considered a warrior, but one-breasted women are made to feel abnormal.
This type of silence forces cancer victims to aim towards a sense of invisibility - they can be the same with cancer as they were without. Even more atrocious is the attitude of the American Cancer Society toward holistic treatments. The silencing of all information that deviates from the western medical bias is tragic, for cancer patients lose control over the spectrum of treatments that might help them conquer their disease. Lordes expresses the importance of overcoming both aspects of this silence: "we must pierce this silence ourselves and aggressively seek answers to these questions about new therapies" (75).
This type of silence forces cancer victims to aim towards a sense of invisibility - they can be the same with cancer as they were without. Even more atrocious is the attitude of the American Cancer Society toward holistic treatments. The silencing of all information that deviates from the western medical bias is tragic, for cancer patients lose control over the spectrum of treatments that might help them conquer their disease. Lordes expresses the importance of overcoming both aspects of this silence: "we must pierce this silence ourselves and aggressively seek answers to these questions about new therapies" (75).
Audrey Lorde- activist of the highest degree
Audrey Lorde has made me think about the view of society, question my own values, search for the key to my own happiness, and spur me to act. Her personal story about breast cancer as a search for her own self, not for her lost 'femininity' and liver cancer as a quest for control over her own body moved me deeply. I did not realize how much discomfort professionals had when dealing with people who are deviations from the norm (especially in terms of appearance). It seems to be a common trait for our society to deny any wrong-doings. For example, we talked about sterilization as a type of population control used to solve economic problems such as unemployment, crime, and disparities. The society would not try and solve the problem by making jobs so that these people that were the 'undesirables' of the superior could make their own lives and be independent people. In Lorde's articles, society is guilty of emphasizing the female as one defined in a set appearance (large breasts, large bottom, hourglass curves, tanned skin.... ... just pick up a magazine and you get the idea).
I agree that appearance is really important to women (or we are raised that way). In order to do well in society with less hindrance, one dresses in a way to portrays that person as one who is professional, well-dressed, sensible and responsible. To make a lasting first impression, one uses the accepted rules of society to be accepted by others. One way people become more accepted is through plastic surgery is so popular, especially among females of all ages. My first encounter with plastic surgery occurred when I was in fifth grade. My piano teacher told me she was going to get plastic surgery so that she would have a higher bridge (in imitation of the high European nose). I did not understand back them what was "wrong" with the nose she had (since who has surgery except to correct something that is wrong?). When (not if) the populace will accept all different kinds of people for all being amazing, everyone can live in a happier place. For now, we, as readers of feminist articles and texts, can spread the awareness through our own activist thoughts and actions. By exposing ourselves to the different spectra that are all humans, we can fight the preconceived notions that society places on us.
I agree that appearance is really important to women (or we are raised that way). In order to do well in society with less hindrance, one dresses in a way to portrays that person as one who is professional, well-dressed, sensible and responsible. To make a lasting first impression, one uses the accepted rules of society to be accepted by others. One way people become more accepted is through plastic surgery is so popular, especially among females of all ages. My first encounter with plastic surgery occurred when I was in fifth grade. My piano teacher told me she was going to get plastic surgery so that she would have a higher bridge (in imitation of the high European nose). I did not understand back them what was "wrong" with the nose she had (since who has surgery except to correct something that is wrong?). When (not if) the populace will accept all different kinds of people for all being amazing, everyone can live in a happier place. For now, we, as readers of feminist articles and texts, can spread the awareness through our own activist thoughts and actions. By exposing ourselves to the different spectra that are all humans, we can fight the preconceived notions that society places on us.
Being Honest About Breast Cancer
Audre Lorde's personal story about her struggle with breast cancer and life following mastectomy touched me on a personal level. The main point I took out of her article was that society needs to be more honest and accepting about the nature of this common disease and its effects on women's lives. After her mastectomy, she felt pressured by many people, including medical professionals, to wear a prosthetic breast in order to look or feel "normal." Her argument was that wearing something fake would not help her accept her new body and the changes which cancer brought about in her life.
I can understand why she would feel this way. She would rather have society accept the way her body actually is than force her to look like everyone else. Perhaps this visible sign of difference makes other people feel uncomfortable, reminding them of the painful subject of cancer. However, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, with very serious implications (Lorde's statistics say that only 50% live three years after a diagnosis). From personal experience, I believe that it is most therapeutic for people affected by breast cancer if the topic is discussed openly and honestly, without any shame involved. Trying to cover up the reality of the situation does not actually solve anything.
I can understand why she would feel this way. She would rather have society accept the way her body actually is than force her to look like everyone else. Perhaps this visible sign of difference makes other people feel uncomfortable, reminding them of the painful subject of cancer. However, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, with very serious implications (Lorde's statistics say that only 50% live three years after a diagnosis). From personal experience, I believe that it is most therapeutic for people affected by breast cancer if the topic is discussed openly and honestly, without any shame involved. Trying to cover up the reality of the situation does not actually solve anything.
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