Violence. Domestically Ok…?!

           Domestic violence and child abuse are both world wide issues that are still culturally allowable in some societies. In India wife beating is a normal family dynamic and very prevelant. These  women have no other option available, outside of getting married and having children. Families of women that are to be married have to pay the male husbands family a dowry for the marriage to go forward.  Women are seen just has how an animal would be, that they only have really one purpose. That purpose is to get married and make babies, male babies. The women are beaten for any and all reasons, bad day, too drunk, not enough dowry paid, just to name a few. This isnt even sneeredat until the abuse is so great that she is permanately injured or killed; even then the repercutions are few and far between. It is seemed as normal because women are not allowed to have any rights outside of caring for the family. They dont bring home any money so therefor are inconsequential in Indian hierchy. Their views towards child abuse is seen in a similar light.

           Child abuse has increased with the modernization that has occured in India. As the hierchy dynamic diminishes and families get smaller, child abuse increases. These families have less support than they had in previous generations with the lack of numbers in the immediate family. This is done to control them, males and females both. But, females get thee brunt of it as they are seen as a financial burden. Indian families are dissapointed when they have a femalke baby. As a result of this medical care and even food are rationed more for the male children. It doesnt stop there, females are even killed in utero and  after they are born. This is not seen as illeagal or wrong. Females, adult or child are seen as a societal hindrance.

         Vietnam also has violence towards women.  There is invisible violence along with a visible violence like in India. The invisible violence in Vietnam is because many men still hold a confucian ideaology where men are the only ones thought highly of. Even with equal rights laws, the women there are forced to work seperate hours such as the “second shift” at factories as well as take care of the household. The physical violence there is that many women are forced into and sold as sex slaves and prostitutes.

         While I, and anyone reading this thinks this is extremely F’d up. These cultures do not. These people need a personal change as well as a societal one. Violence against others is rediculous on its own, but even more so when its your own family. Maybe its just how I see it, but why ? Whats the point ? Even though they have their own belief system, “Confusionism” seems to be the common one with these people.

BY ZACERY

Thinness

               The three theoretical models used to explain eating disorders are the biomedical, physchological, and the feminist models.  The biomedical model looks at the physiological causes and dangers of eating disorders, whilst ignoring the social and emotional factors that may influence an individual. Its focus is on the treatment, rather than the prevention.

       The psychological models says that biological, psychological, and the cultural factors are the reasons why their are eating disorders. It does not acknowledge the other half. This half being woman, woman of color, lesbians, and or working class woman.

       The last being the feminist approach which says that eating problems are gendered. The most people with this disorder are women.  Sexism and other enforcers are the contributing reason to a society that portrays women as only one way, thin and pretty.

       Sexual abuse is the most common reason women develop eating disorders. Most woman were young when they were abused and found food as a way to numb the pain; similar to how an alcoholic leaves it in the bottle. Being young, food was familiar and a easily attainable. It was also something that could be done at any time or anywhere without to much notice. Eating and binging was also a way to become thinner, which was thought of as a reason of why the abuse happened. The abuse wouldn’t happen if they were thin and pretty was the mindset.

       Even though sexual abuse is the main contributing factor for these  disorders; racism and class standing also play a factor. The body image that is seen by different cultures be-it, black-white, white-black, latina-chinese, etc, plays a role society wise how people are seen. Just as important is, if you are up and coming and everyone around you has a different body image or expectations of how body image should be, it puts extreme pressure to be one of the “in crowd”.

        The models to prevent and treat this work, but don’t work at the same time. We need a hybrid approach, lets say Bio-psycho-femino model. This like any disorder or disease needs to be treated as a whole, otherwise it is like giving motrin to a cancer patient as their only form of treatment.

Zach