ORDER DESCRIPTION
As this is our last week of assigned course material, I’d like to give you the unbridled opportunity to reflect on it. This week, you read Kobrin’s fantastic article on the vilification of midwives and the rise of medicalized birth, viewed Ricki Lake’s contemporary documentary on medicalized birth in the U.S., read and viewed material on the myth of beauty and selected an article on women in exotic dance, fashion, sports or technology.
Craft a 500-750 word blog entry that discusses what shocks or intrigues you about (1) the medicalization of childbirth, (2) the beauty myth and how it is perpetuated and (3) the article you selected on women in exotic dance, fashion, sports or technology.
Though this is a free write opportunity, as always, please reference all course material as this is your way of demonstrating mastery.
Guided Reading Questions
•Many would consider the United States maternity care system to be in crisis. Why would folks say this? Who are midwives, what is their history and how did it come to be that obstetricians have a monopoly on childbirth in this country? What are the implications of this for women and children? When reading, it is important to understand the process of medicalization when “human conditions and problems come to be defined and treated as medical conditions and problems, and thus come under the authority of doctors and other health professionals to study, diagnose, prevent or treat.” Pregnancy and childbirth have become highly medicalized. High rates of cesarean sections and the use of Pitocin (a drug used to induce labor), for example, are evidence of this. Instead of having you read another article on medicalization, I’d suggest you take a look at the “medicalization” entry in Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicalization. It is not terribly thorough but will be helpful in giving you some background on this process. [Remember, Kobrin’s “American Midwife Controversy” article was assigned reading for last Thursday but was not included in your Assignment 6. It is part of Assignment 9].
•What is the beauty myth and why is it beneficial to a capitalist economy? How is it used to oppress women?
•How is advertising oppressive to women? Are men too oppressed by advertising? This last question is often overlooked but is important to consider.
•For the last day of assigned reading, you have a choice of industries: exotic dance, fashion, sports or technology. Please select only ONE article, read it and consider how gender, specifically societal definitions of femininity, is complex and complicated in the specific industry.
This week’s topics are often the most thrilling for students! Follow the Critical Reading Protocol, of course, but try to have fun with the reading and viewing material. Consider your own experiences, thoughts and opinions as you do so.
NOTE: The Business of Being Born is recently available in its entirety here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvljyvU_ZGE. Enjoy!
NOTE: please quote use only documents/articles I have sent. DO NOT USE YOUR OWN SOURCE. thanks. if there is any question send me a message.
