Pregnancy and Medicine

After reading Young's piece titled "Pregnant Embodiment: Subjectivity and Alienation," it seems as though there are some conflicts in societies opinion of pregnancy. Throughout many class discussions and readings based on the cultural opinion and ideas about pregnancy, it has come to my attention that one of the sole purposes of women is for reproduction. We have been taught to assume that women are meant to be pregnant, and continue to reproduce, time after time. While this is not the reality of the capabilities of a woman, it is still assumed that women are supposed to produce offspring more frequently than not. 

In Young's discussion of pregnancy, she discusses the medicalization of pregnancy. She implies that the practices of medicine cause a notion of alienation in the pregnant woman. Once medicine and the practices of the institution of medicine are introduced into the topic of pregnancy, according to Young, it makes it as though the status of the woman is that of illness, not excitement. No longer is the woman being viewed as this great reproducing body, rather, it is implied that she is injured or ill, and she needs to be treated differently. I think that this makes it seem as though there are negative connotations which go along with pregnancy. Pregnancy becomes devalued, and the woman is looked at and treated much differently than a non-pregnant woman. I agree with Young's views on this issue, and the ways in which a pregnant woman is viewed goes against many of the ways in which they are intended to be viewed in our society. 

FGM

Female Genital Mutilation is an issue discussed at length by Martha Nussbaum. I agree with many of the issues that Nussbaum draws upon in her discussion of this cultural phenomenon, and the ways in which she views the practice. After reading Nussbaums article, titled "Judging Other Cultures: The Case of Female Genital Mutilation," I have come to realize the reality of the ways in which Westerners view non-Western societies practices as being wrong, and if not for the help of the opinion of the Westerner, it may be the case that these wrongful practices would continue to take place. 

Nussbaum believes that it is wrong to criticize another culture without criticizing the wrong doings in one's own culture. American's display the sense of self-criticism in terms of body image. There are many criticisms from outsiders to the ways in which Westerners view FGM practices. Nussbaum agrees with the first criticism, but disagrees with the next three common criticisms. I agree with her analysis of these criticisms, especially in reference to the fact that many of them compare FGM to American practices. I do not think that it is the case that FGM can be compared to Western practices such as body image or dieting. These practices take place by choice. It is not often that an American woman is physically forced into dieting or plastic surgery, etc. While it is the case that the media does persuade the public to look a particular way, I do not believe that the media is FORCING women to do these things. Contrary to this, FGM is a practice of force. Mothers, grandmothers, and fathers, those who have power and strength in the society, and elders, are forcing the practices of FGM on the young girls of their communities, making it nearly impossible for the to refuse the phenomenon of their culture. 

Prostitution

The issue of prostitution is one that consists of a large amount of controversy. In class we discussed the important questions raised throughout the readings on this topic of prostitution. Although it is an issue of large controversy, I think that some of the readings made extremely valid points in relation to this topic. The question of oppression in relation to prostitution, in my mind, is answered with an immediate yes. Without having read any of these articles, I would have stated that prostitution as a profession is oppressive to women, because it makes it seem as though it is the only profession that woman could obtain. After reading Ericson’s article, I would agree that in addition, it is largely due to our attitude towards prostitution and sexuality as a society. Although Ericson raises this very valid point, I do not agree with some of the ways in which this issue is backed up. Ericson states that the connection this profession has with body and self services is similar to that of the profession of massage. I do not find this to be the case at all, in fact, I think that especially if going by the terms in which Ericson views negative aspects of prostitution to be a result of society. Massage therapists, and people of similar professions are not remotely viewed in the same ways that prostitutes are viewed. In addition, I believe that Ericson's argument referring to legalizing prostitution has some faults in it as well. Ericson argues that if prostitution is legalized, violence will go away. If society continues to view prostitution and sexuality as negative, violence will continue to occure. Pateman argues that prostitution is male domination over women, which in essence is violence. Therefore, prostitution whether legal or not, will continue to remain a violent act.