Watch the 4 following videos portraying the cultural
experiences of some individuals from various populations, and discuss what
struck you most about any of the videos.
All four of those videos were extremely powerful in the ways inequalities were represented. The first video, “Latina Confessions” was sad because this poor girl was already being “put in a box of what [she] was suppose to be.” She was already being judge at the innocent age of four or five when a young boy who was only a teenager himself called her the “n” word in the store. Even though she didn't know the meaning of the word, she presumed it was bad and this simple occurrence really shaped her to the reality of the world she would soon experience. It shouldn't be that way. We should not judge others simply on the way that someone looks. They did not choose how they would look so we need to stop putting people in a box of what we think they are suppose to be. The second video, Worlds Apart, also illustrated a tough problem in the healthcare system. A daughter feels that her father wasn't educated enough about the disease he has and the potentials the chemo therapy could do for him. I could feel the tension in her voice when she asked the doctor if he even provided her father with a translator. The doctor could not even give her a straight answer. I feel like this is so wrong because a patient, especially in a moment like this, should feel as though they fully understand what is happening to them and ways to extend there life. The third video, Health Care Inequalities, was extremely powerful. At moments, I could feel tears pilling up in my eyes as I was slammed with image after image of poor sick children and adults, whose ribs looked as though they were going to tear open the flesh of these poor people. I thought it was sad to read that “the belief by some that healthcare is a benefit that must be earned.” Everyone should be given the right of healthcare. The health and well-being of a person should never be earned. I loved that one solution proposed was by simply educating the world about these problems of health inequalities. All in all, this video not only looked at the world of health inequalities in our own country but also looked globally at the issues in front of us as a world effort. Finally the fourth video, Unnatural Causes, painted another powerful picture of the inequalities within our healthcare system. I was surprised when it said that people in the U.S. often live shorter, sicker lives than many other developed countries and that 47 million people have no healthcare in our country. All in all, these were all very powerful videos that really illustrate the need for change with our healthcare system and the world's healthcare system.
Angela: The brief video of Latina Confessions was amazing as this expressed such a strong impact on a little girl, who never forgot. I was expecting something different and even longer. But there it is, one word said to a child that impacted her entire life. I am at fault, and perhaps we all are, but I try to be acutely aware of what comes out of my mouth to others, as the state of mind and health of a person can react to a possible word that exhorts a negative emotional impact to an extent that no one may realize. I am not speaking of the N word or other racist remarks, but words or sayings that are derogatory, like: you are a freak, what are you crazy, next time don’t screw it up, what’s your problem? It is so very sad how a word can devastate a young soul.
I was surprised by the brevity of the video Latina Confessions . However as the offending interaction was also just a moment, it seems an appropriate representation. A second in time can leave a lasting effect throughout ones life and psyche. When thinking of this topic in a larger context with regards to race , ethnic, or religious relations or even just goodwill in our society people should try be mindful of the impact of their words .
The video that struck me the most was “Healthcare Inequalities”. Not only were the pictures hard to look at, but the message it brought across was harder. What I mean is that just going off the information in the video, it made me mad and upset that the developed countries around the world including our own are still denying basic healthcare to people who need it. Some of the health related issues that the underdeveloped countries have is because of the lack of clean water and food. Other issues is the lack of basic healthcare needs, like vaccinations and medications. Most of the healthcare inequalities shown in this video are easily treatable and preventable with the things I mentioned above. Why can’t these big pharmaceutical companies shown in this video take some of their revenue and put it into helping with the healthcare inequalities shown? According to the video, some people live on less than $2.00 day. That is astounding! I hate to say this and I will probably get some backlash about what I am going to say, but our society is too focused on the “individual” and not concerned with the “whole” (everyone in the world). We are a greedy, self-centered society who worries about “self” and not what is happening outside of self. We need to step back and take a good look at what is going on in the world and come up with some solutions as to make healthcare a more standardized right and not a privilege. I really liked the message at the end of this video about making a separate educational department within WHO that will go to colleges all over the world to make this issue known and hope that it will affect many other people the same way to want to make a change and eradicate hunger, illness, and poverty around the world. Unfortunately, this change will not happen overnight, but hopefully sooner rather than later.
Dear Nena, I also felt very struck by "Healthcare Inequalities." The images were very hard to view but they painted a very real image of how many poor societies around the world live everyday. I thought it was sad to read that “the belief by some that healthcare is a benefit that must be earned.” Everyone should be given the right of healthcare. The health and well-being of a person should never be earned. I also agree with you that the society we live in focuses a lot on the individual self and often forgets the societies outside our own. Like you said, we need to look at the world and ultimately help those around us for the greater good of the world.
Nena, I agree with you I thought that the video "Healthcare Inequalities" was the most moving as well. Some of those pictures were so disturbing and it is even more disturbing that they are a reality for some parts of the world! I think you are right that we have to start focusing on society as a whole rather than the individual!
Nena I support your right to have an opinion and also to voice it, however I must respectfully disagree. Your categorization of us as "a greedy, self-centered society who worries about “self” and not what is happening outside of self" is a discredit the countless citizens who volunteer , promote and donate to any of the many causes and charities benefiting those in need at home and abroad . Additionally it is a broad generalization of millions of people , maybe even billions depending upon what "society' you are speaking of . In its very nature generalizing about a group is one of the hallmarks of stereotyping . I prefer to look at our class as a microcosm of society. As such and by many of the blog entries in this forum evidences that people do in fact care.
I also disagree with your point " the developed countries around the world including our own are still denying basic healthcare to people who need it.'. If this is the case denying would be an active process which is marked by intent . I did not take this away from the video
"Healthcare Inequalities " was a fail for me. The juxtaposition of capitalism and suffering oversimplifies the very complex multi-factorial issues of inequality among fellow world citizens . It is not enough to denote something as a right , it must be enforceable .Many of the issues that have led to these disparities find their roots in racism and the legacy of slavery and colonialism .The aftermath of which manifests to date in many ways including healthcare access and economics. If the solution involves money and "caring " without evaluating and addressing the root causes of the problem it would be like putting a band aid on a festering wound and expecting it to heal .
All the videos had an impact on me; however, I believe that the Unnatural Causes is the one that makes me the most upset as it relates to my beliefs on fast food and poverty. I have watched other documentaries on how, for instance, Mexicans come to the United States, and they do not have access to the foods they ate growing up in Mexico. The United States makes promises, and yet most are in poverty, much of it due to a lack of education. Poverty breeds the crap we promote and advertisements reach children as young as 6 months old, those Golden Arches, or Taco Bell, that 88% meat for instance. Even people who are not in poverty, but perhaps start eating out on a regular basis, begin to gain weight and develop health issues. When we cook at home, we can at least see what we put or don’t put in our food, and how much we put on our plate. The fast food cycle of poverty and health erosion is a crime that the United States commits. Fast foods become addictive, there are addictive ingredients in them that cause the desire to want more, but does not satiate. Also, it is the immediacy of getting a "meal". Perhaps a van pulls through the drive through with six children, five minutes later, or less, and the family is eating dinner. So weight gain begins, pre-diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc starts to rear itself. Now we have families in poverty, eating fast food, and having no insurance, or not very good insurance. Worse than that, they lack the education and awareness of what is happening to themselves and their families. They feel stuck, how can I afford to buy groceries, when I can feed my family on $10.00. This is unnatural, it is not due to famine, poor hygiene, street drugs, or unclean conditions or bad water; but, rather the food that is promoted and suggested as a way of living, ultimately bringing about poor health and a lower life expectancy to many who feel they have no other choice.
Christine. I absolutely agree with you about the problems with fast food! I find it so sad that not all Americans can get access to healthy foods due to financial reasons. Even myself when I go food shopping can not get over the prices of some food items. A box of Cheerios cost almost $5! The cost of food in this country is outrageous and I can understand what it must be like for people in poverty who want to feed their family healthier foods but just don't have the means to do it. It is just very upsetting that healthy food, food that children need to be eating is expensive compared to unhealthy food that is only a couple dollars.
Christine, I enjoyed reading your blog. You are absolutely right and I agree with you (though Im guilty of fast food) I agree that it is a vicious cycle! It is easier to choose a $2 burger over a $8 salad especially for a family on a budget. I don't think people choose to be eat poorly but you work with what you have and it's a shame.
Christine, I could not agree with you more. The price of healthy food options is outrageous at times versus the unhealthy options. Being on a budget is not an easy thing. Making the choice between how much food can I buy with $20 and how much healthy food can I buy with the same $20 can be a huge difference. Fast food restaurants with their $1 menus really do not help make wise food choices especially trying to feed a family. I have always tried (may not have always been successful) to buy the healthier options for my children, but the way the cost of food has skyrocketed over the past few years or so is ridiculous. It makes it harder and harder to put the healthier options on the table. As hard as one might try to choose the healthier options, sometimes just putting food on the table is the only option.
I was actually just reading an article for another class about the health risks associated with agricultural work. Many of the products used in the fields are extremely toxic, and most are endocrine disruptors. These chemicals used in agriculture are associated with reproductive issues, and birth defects. Unfortunately in the United States this is also effecting Mexican men.
I enjoyed hearing your perspective on the fast food market as it contributes to the cycle of health erosion, and I liked how you referred to it as a crime committed by the United states. I took a health class not too long ago at Worcester State and watch many documentaries about how the fast food market preys on the lower working class because they know its what they can afford. I saw a story about a Latino family whose income was mostly spent on the father's diabetes medication rather than nutritious food because I was a matter of his health, but it was the unhealthy eating which lead to his diabetes, which just goes to show how vicious the cycle is.
All the clips were ,were very powerful ,but then again I have always said there is no surprises there ,sad but so true .The fact that country is so prominent in policy making of other countries but yet is blinded by their own institutional injustices and dysfunctional social standards is sickening literally.None of these issues in the healthcare system that is causing an unhealthy society is a secret ,its well researched .So why not change? Someone ones told me during the debacle of the Affordable Healthcare Act ,that its all quality of life over quantity.Which i agreed with very much ,in the case of the cancer patient ,though unfortunate ,would it be better to provide the patient who happens to be in this situation with with the best care of making their days more comfortable that prolonging the inevitable.inevitable. There is so much that goes into providing the quality of life for people,decreasing stressors and having a quality of life that would be beneficial to our overall well being is all equally important.
Latina confessions was also very powerful as well..its sad that at such a very young ,she was subjected to such a derogatory behavior ,especially by someone that is suppose to be similar to her .Very sad for that kid that said that to her as well ,like how do you get off thinking saying things like that to someone.Needless to say that word as way too much importance in our society,I 've had experiences with similar situations ,but my approach is like okay,whats your point..I refuse to validate myself by waiting on acknowledgement from irrelevant people ,who think using and calling people out based on their skin tones is appropriate.
The two videos that stuck out most to me were “Healthcare Inequalities” and “Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?” “Health care Inequalities” was hard to watch. I find it upsetting that developed countries of the world like the United Stated does nothing to help countries who are constantly battling disease. A really eye opening point was that America and other European Countries spend more money on pet food and alcohol than on funding for basic nutrition in developing countries. This is just unsettling and something needs to be done about it. Another point the video mentioned that really got to me was the fact that developed countries have eradiated TB and Malaria but it still kills millions each year in undeveloped countries. It just makes me frustrated that if developed countries can eradicate these diseases why not help undeveloped countries get rid of them too! In “Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?” what stuck out to me was that living in a country with the highest national product in the world and having some of the best hospitals we rank thirty in life expectancy in countries around the world. Americans live shorter and sicker lives than any other industrialized country in the world and this is all mainly because 47 million Americans do not have health insurance. I could not get over that figure. I have a hard time accepting so many Americans do not have health insurance because it is something every American should have accesses to!
After watching the four videos, I think what stuck out the most to me was when I found out that our country spends more money on alcohol and pet food than helping other countries that are in such desperate need. The photos that were displayed were nothing that I haven't seen before especially with commercials that are constantly on TV asking for donations, but it was still very painful to see. I think it is so terrible that we can use other countries for their resources but are totally blind to the fact that they are in desperate need of the basic necessities such as clean water and food. Another aspect that stuck out in the videos is the fact that our country spends trillions of dollars on healthcare, yet we live shorter, sicker lives. I think it does have a lot to do with the way we treat our body in regards to diet and exercise but also career wise as well. Like they had mentioned in the "Unnatural Causes" video, they found that people was "working class" versus working as a "professional" could play a major role in the longevity in our lives. The video "worlds apart" definitely stuck out to me the most out of all the videos because I can understand how it feels to have family members who do not speak english very well and can see the frustration when it comes to communicating especially when it comes to important situations like in a medical setting. Luckily my sister and I are there to translate for my parents and there is a lot more access to translators now but I often wonder how difficult it was for my mom to understand doctors when I was a baby and how difficult it was for her. I think it was really unfair for the man to not receive the proper medical care due to not being able to communicate. It wasn't the doctor fault, but I feel like it could have been avoided somehow and it was very unfair for that family and the man to have missed a treatment that could have been very vital for his health.
I also found the aspect of people in the US living shorter sicker lives jaw dropping but understandable. In other countries, people value their bodies and what food they do get. In the US we abuse our bodies and all of our food supplies. We digest alcohol, chemicals, carcinogens, fatty fake foods, and all with little or non existent exercise.
For this week, we were assigned to watch 4 youtube videos! I really enjoyed them all... I thought that every video showed a big multicultural and healthcare problem but the two videos that I took more out of were "Worlds Apart: A Series on Cross-Cultural Health Care; Part 1" and "Healthcare Inequalities". In the first video, there was a heated conversation between a doctor and a patient's daughter. The father and daughter are either middle eastern or Indian I think, and the daughter was really upset that there was no translator when the doctor was speaking with her father about chemotherapy treatment. I was really shocked after watching this! After last week, I learned that my mother's hospital has a 24 hour translator line that can either be on the phone, on a video chat, or in person. It is hard to believe that it is hard for this doctor to get a translator for this family because this is a very important decision for the dad's health. The second video which was just pictures, music, and words was very moving to me. Some of the images of poor parts of the world and sick people were really upsetting. Also, some of the facts and "causes" that the author put in this video were very important. The first fact that this video opens up with says that, "More than half of the world's population lives on less than $2 a day". Then, a problem is stated: "Gaping disparities that exist in the administration of healthcare to different populations of the world." And lastly, the video closes with a quote from WHO constitution: "The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being". This last quote was really powerful and I think overall this video really covers a lot of what we have been discussing this semester
I agree, the video that just showed pictures of different parts of the world that were poor was actually disturbing. I don't understand how this continues to happen in today's society. $2.00 a day is impossible to live off of no matter who the person, yet for 50% of people that's all they have, once again that is absurd. Although many people know about all these problems, i don't think much will ever be done to help others.
“There’s more money in giving a white guy an erection than curing a black guy of AIDS” – The West Wing; Season 2, Ep. 4 In This White House. This is a quote one of my sociology professors shared while talking about pharmaceutical companies, but I found it relevant to the Healthcare Inequalities video. It’s frustrating that people die from diseases eradicated in the developed world just because they don’t have access to vaccines, or that globally childbirth is the second cause of death for girls 15-19 (WHO). Every day 800 women die from preventable pregnancy related issues (WHO), and if they just had the access to things as simple as water, nutrition, transportation, medicine, or a trained midwife they could have survived. Medicine is a money making business, not a business of healing, but many global health issues result from lack of basic needs not medicine. I think globally we need to on fair distribution, whether that means access to healthcare, or clean water. The Unnatural Causes video also brought up this issue by saying “it’s not the lack of healthcare that causes the disease.”
That was a very good quote ,Capitalism has consumed every aspect of our society ,that humanity has taken a backseat.If its not making someone money there is no interest in it. A person is only important depending on how much money can be made off them ,we are valued in health and sickness.Our healthcare system is proof of that!
The first video of the lady who remembered what someone called her when she was just 4 years old is sad because she was just a child, minding her own business in the store. One of her memories especially being a child should not be that someone used a racial epithet towards her. The video I thought did the most justice in showing the health inequalities was the third one. It had pictures of men, women, and children who looked deathly skinny. It’s sad to see that other countries know what is happening in other parts of the world, and knowing that they can do more, but seem to ignore it. The first picture is of a tiny baby with all of his bones showing because it appears his family is too poor to afford any food. The headline of the newspaper says “20,000 die each day”, that is an alarming number, and there are definitely ways to decrease that number if people work together. People should be given the right to healthcare no matter what. If people can’t afford healthcare and are that sick and close to losing their life, then they should be given the opportunity to get healthy. No one should have to suffer like that. The fact that half the world has to live off of only $2.00 per day is mind blowing. It has to be impossible for anyone to even attempt to live off of something so pathetic. It should be illegal that something like that is allowed to happen. Healthcare should not be earned, it should be given to all.
It is so terrible that someone would say that to a four year old! She had no clue what it meant or what she was even doing wrong. All kids get in the way, but they are kids and it happens. The fact that she can still remember what he looks life is haunting, I cant imagine seeing that in my dreams and remembering being called that for simply walking. I also wrote about the third video. The images are devastating. I agree completely with you that Heath Care should be given to all and the same health care, no one should be given better care than someone else.
Out of the four clips we were assigned to watch, the one that struck me the most was Healthcare Inequalities. This video was incredibly powerful and emotional to watch. The devastating pictures and music captured you and forced you to pay attention to the message being presented. It opens by saying that “more than half the world’s population lives on less than 2.00 dollars a day” and that “More money (in billions) is spent on pet food and alcohol in the US and Europe, than one funding for basic nutrition in developing nations”. It is sickening to think that we can spend so much on unnecessary things and take for granted our health care while so many have little to nothing and do not survive. What is worse is that we know we are all guilty of it. I think one of the problems is that not everyone can help. I know in my situation, I am searching desperately for a job and have bills always coming in, my student loans begin next year and when asked if I want to donate that one dollar to a fund…I simply can’t spare it because I also need it to get by. When I have money to spare I always donate whether its for a animal shelter of health care fund, a life is a life. Our economy makes it extremely hard to donate more because it cost so much to live in a tiny apartment and buy food. I am not trying to be harsh about this or protect people from not doing the right thing...I am being honest. Now, this doesn’t mean that more education can’t be set forth to change the future or that the multibillion dollar companies can’t spare the time and effort to make a change. It also doesn’t protect the millions of people who have the money, are greedy with it, and like the video says “remain the center of their own universe”. In those cases, absolutely, should more be done. This video also states that the solution is “to create a new educational branch of the World Health Organization, which will focus on traveling to colleges and universities globally to educate students on health inequalities. We as students, are equipped to make the change happen”. This is something that is 100% true. Education is the key and teaching the next generation about what truly is going on in the world and equip them to make a difference will make the changes.
Watching the four videos were very interesting, however the video that struck me most was the last video, it is sad that we the Americans pay 2 trillion dollars per year on healthcare and yet we are on the 30th percentile when it comes to life expectancy by statistics. I like the point that the epidemiologist, DR Kaurachi made "lack of healthcare should not be the cure of our diseases". We should all be advocates and educators in the community we live in. Eating healthy and exercising will help prevent a lot of diseases. All other countries have a single payer on health care plan and yet they eat better and exercise more. Affordable healthcare act is not the answer.
Hi Barbara, I agree with you that affordable healthcare is not the answer. To me, its like putting a bandaid on the wound. We have other issues we also need to address. Our diets, lack of exercise, the way we take care of our mental health and the way was, as Americans, handle stress also need to be worked on. It would be like constantly cutting yourself with a knife and just keep going back to the doctors for stitches, no one says "take away the knife"!!
The first video was sad in that any person would have to experience any form of racism, even though the woman was Puerto Rican and not black. Any form of racism is insulting and makes a person feel sad when we hear it, especially as a child, as that woman was, because it can be scary and confusing. The second video made me think that maybe the doctor did offer the chemo treatment and the father did refuse based on his faith, but the daughter was upset about her father being sick and just used the translation as an excuse. Sometimes family member become upset with healthcare professionals when they are really just angry with the fact that their loved ones are ill. The third video about healthcare inequalities was hearthbreaking. It is really sad to see people, especially children that look so ill. A lot of the pictures looked like malnutrition or lack of food rather than medical issues or illnesses. I just cant stop thinking about how a recent article we read stated that in America black patients are given less effective heart medication than white men... We have so many health inequalities here in America, how can we even begin to change things in other parts of the country? The fourth video really made me think when it stated that social and living conditions can lead to poor health (our eating habits, our stress and lack of exercise, etc). Other countries that are living in poverty and worse conditions than we are, that have much less access to good food and living conditions, how would better healthcare fix these issues. I understand that better healthcare would benefit anyone, especially people that are living in poverty, but I think those things would have to be fixed along with the quality of heathcare in order to make a consistent difference.
The translation problem is so complex. The video was really short, so its hard to tell the woman's sisters were able to adequately translate, if they had really been offered a translator at all, or if the family was simply upset over the suffering of their father. In any case, it highlights the need for competence training.
In the first video, "Latina Confessions," we see a small child in the US being discriminated against by a person who share her own ethnic background. A sad but true reality. The second video showed the real difficulty in the language barrier in the healthcare system. It was hard to tell from the short clip if interpreter services had been offered or in the man and his family understood their rights to have an interpreter present. Even so, cultural competence training can help to avoid difficult and unfortunate situations like that one. Chemotherapy is a hard concept to digest if you have a robust understanding of the English language, let alone if you are deepening on an interpreter to break down such a difficult concept.
The concepts highlighted in the third video are important for us, as Americans, to remind ourselves of continually. Some of us in this class have excellent healthcare opportunities, and others have been less fortunate, but we all live in the nation where half of the world's healthcare dollars are spent. The best is available to us and I, for one, am grateful. I thought that the final video was the most thought provoking, though. Although the US spends the most money on healthcare and has the most resources available, we don't don't come close to other countries for life expectancy. Does universal healthcare really make a difference? Or is the poor American diet and lifestyle a much larger factor?
After watching the first video I immediately thought about the children in my classroom (they are ages 3 to 4) and how everything they hear affect them, even though it is a common misconception that they are too young and cant understand adult conversations. The woman in the video admitted that at the time she didn't know what the boys racial slur meant, but it had a lasting affect on how she viewed growing up in this country. It's like when you try something for the first time and you have a bad experience, it kind of puts a bad taste in your mouth and makes it difficult to foresee a positive future experience. It's sad to think that that one moment for her soiled her view of what it is to live in America. In the second video I could definitely see two sides to the story. I completely understand where the daughter was coming from, knowing her father doesn't speak English and hearing that the doctor was unsure of whether he had a translator to explain to him the treatment options. Medical jargon in any language can be difficult to understand, but if her father had had a medical translator, he may have chose to accept the treatment. However, the daughter did say that she knew her father to be a religious man and that could have affected his decision to deny treatment. In complete defense of the father and daughter, I could not believe that the doctor confessed to the daughter that he had withheld the fact that this disease was incurable, from the father. It's scary to think that doctors can be so dishonest with their patients, as if by not telling a person they are dying is going to help at all. The third video was yes sad as everyone has mentioned, and I have seen more video montages of this kind than I can count. I've seen images like this before in feed the children commercials many times and I always find them hard to look at but it's reality. What confused me about the video was the point it was trying to get across. In the commercials for world hunger you know the message is that children are starving and we can help by donating money. This video started out as what seemed like a message about world poverty and hunger, and turned into a message about disparities in health care. Multiple times I saw the words, "route of the problem" and I don't think the video really delivered. I understand that the route problem is poverty caused by inequality of the distribution of wealth, which also affect healthcare expenses, but I just feel as though the video was a mash up of sad images and statements. I did however agree with the end statement about a better education program. While watching the fourth video, it was interesting to think that although our health is partially in our DNA and that we carry our cultures history in our bodies, our health is also tremendously affected by our environment and socioeconomic status. If obesity runs in someone's family then that person is obviously more likely to be predisposed to that health conditions because it is part of their heredity. However if that person grows up to be a professional with a high paying job, he/she may have access to a healthier diet, fitness facilities, and nutritional healthcare based on their salary alone. I say all the time that if I could afford to eat all organic and whole foods I would, and if I had time aside from my two jobs I would exercise more often.
You bring up good points. Regarding young children, as you say, they hear much more than we give them credit for. Their wisdom is in their innocence. Young children see our facial and behavioral expressions in a deeper sense than we can imagine. I wouldn't be surprised if the young Latino girl in the first video looked up at her mom when this boy spurned a racial slur at her. She likely took it all in, the body movement and tone of the teenage boy's voice, perhaps accusatory to her, and her mom's reaction (although it wasn't mentioned in the video clip) it may have formed the young girl's "horror" of these few words. For the fourth video - organic whole foods and exercise, I can only say this: I've had a decent paying job, I've had three not so good paying jobs at one time, I've had no job and EBT, etc....and in the end, I must say, it is still up to us to make decent food and exercise a part of life. It doesn't have to be in a gym, and we don't always have to spend excessive amounts of money on good and pure food, but we can make changes to ourselves through elimination of culprit foods (soda, excess sugar, etc.) Or maybe eat a new vegetable that has lots of nutrients. For exercise we can walk up a flight of stairs, or park farther from where our destination is. But, we do need to know that we have choices, even when it looks dismal. Even a particular way of thinking, you know, maybe seeing something from a different perspective, can shed light on the ability to make change in our own lives which then helps to change others.
All four of those videos were extremely powerful in the ways inequalities were represented. The first video, “Latina Confessions” was sad because this poor girl was already being “put in a box of what [she] was suppose to be.” She was already being judge at the innocent age of four or five when a young boy who was only a teenager himself called her the “n” word in the store. Even though she didn't know the meaning of the word, she presumed it was bad and this simple occurrence really shaped her to the reality of the world she would soon experience. It shouldn't be that way. We should not judge others simply on the way that someone looks. They did not choose how they would look so we need to stop putting people in a box of what we think they are suppose to be.
ReplyDeleteThe second video, Worlds Apart, also illustrated a tough problem in the healthcare system. A daughter feels that her father wasn't educated enough about the disease he has and the potentials the chemo therapy could do for him. I could feel the tension in her voice when she asked the doctor if he even provided her father with a translator. The doctor could not even give her a straight answer. I feel like this is so wrong because a patient, especially in a moment like this, should feel as though they fully understand what is happening to them and ways to extend there life.
The third video, Health Care Inequalities, was extremely powerful. At moments, I could feel tears pilling up in my eyes as I was slammed with image after image of poor sick children and adults, whose ribs looked as though they were going to tear open the flesh of these poor people. I thought it was sad to read that “the belief by some that healthcare is a benefit that must be earned.” Everyone should be given the right of healthcare. The health and well-being of a person should never be earned. I loved that one solution proposed was by simply educating the world about these problems of health inequalities. All in all, this video not only looked at the world of health inequalities in our own country but also looked globally at the issues in front of us as a world effort.
Finally the fourth video, Unnatural Causes, painted another powerful picture of the inequalities within our healthcare system. I was surprised when it said that people in the U.S. often live shorter, sicker lives than many other developed countries and that 47 million people have no healthcare in our country. All in all, these were all very powerful videos that really illustrate the need for change with our healthcare system and the world's healthcare system.
Angela: The brief video of Latina Confessions was amazing as this expressed such a strong impact on a little girl, who never forgot. I was expecting something different and even longer. But there it is, one word said to a child that impacted her entire life. I am at fault, and perhaps we all are, but I try to be acutely aware of what comes out of my mouth to others, as the state of mind and health of a person can react to a possible word that exhorts a negative emotional impact to an extent that no one may realize. I am not speaking of the N word or other racist remarks, but words or sayings that are derogatory, like: you are a freak, what are you crazy, next time don’t screw it up, what’s your problem? It is so very sad how a word can devastate a young soul.
DeleteI was surprised by the brevity of the video Latina Confessions . However as the offending interaction was also just a moment, it seems an appropriate representation. A second in time can leave a lasting effect throughout ones life and psyche. When thinking of this topic in a larger context with regards to race , ethnic, or religious relations or even just goodwill in our society people should try be mindful of the impact of their words .
DeleteThe video that struck me the most was “Healthcare Inequalities”. Not only were the pictures hard to look at, but the message it brought across was harder. What I mean is that just going off the information in the video, it made me mad and upset that the developed countries around the world including our own are still denying basic healthcare to people who need it. Some of the health related issues that the underdeveloped countries have is because of the lack of clean water and food. Other issues is the lack of basic healthcare needs, like vaccinations and medications. Most of the healthcare inequalities shown in this video are easily treatable and preventable with the things I mentioned above. Why can’t these big pharmaceutical companies shown in this video take some of their revenue and put it into helping with the healthcare inequalities shown? According to the video, some people live on less than $2.00 day. That is astounding! I hate to say this and I will probably get some backlash about what I am going to say, but our society is too focused on the “individual” and not concerned with the “whole” (everyone in the world). We are a greedy, self-centered society who worries about “self” and not what is happening outside of self. We need to step back and take a good look at what is going on in the world and come up with some solutions as to make healthcare a more standardized right and not a privilege. I really liked the message at the end of this video about making a separate educational department within WHO that will go to colleges all over the world to make this issue known and hope that it will affect many other people the same way to want to make a change and eradicate hunger, illness, and poverty around the world. Unfortunately, this change will not happen overnight, but hopefully sooner rather than later.
ReplyDeleteNena T.
Dear Nena, I also felt very struck by "Healthcare Inequalities." The images were very hard to view but they painted a very real image of how many poor societies around the world live everyday. I thought it was sad to read that “the belief by some that healthcare is a benefit that must be earned.” Everyone should be given the right of healthcare. The health and well-being of a person should never be earned. I also agree with you that the society we live in focuses a lot on the individual self and often forgets the societies outside our own. Like you said, we need to look at the world and ultimately help those around us for the greater good of the world.
DeleteNena, I agree with you I thought that the video "Healthcare Inequalities" was the most moving as well. Some of those pictures were so disturbing and it is even more disturbing that they are a reality for some parts of the world! I think you are right that we have to start focusing on society as a whole rather than the individual!
DeleteNena
DeleteI support your right to have an opinion and also to voice it, however I must respectfully disagree. Your categorization of us as "a greedy, self-centered society who worries about “self” and not what is happening outside of self" is a discredit the countless citizens who volunteer , promote and donate to any of the many causes and charities benefiting those in need at home and abroad . Additionally it is a broad generalization of millions of people , maybe even billions depending upon what "society' you are speaking of . In its very nature generalizing about a group is one of the hallmarks of stereotyping . I prefer to look at our class as a microcosm of society. As such and by many of the blog entries in this forum evidences that people do in fact care.
I also disagree with your point " the developed countries around the world including our own are still denying basic healthcare to people who need it.'. If this is the case denying would be an active process which is marked by intent . I did not take this away from the video
"Healthcare Inequalities " was a fail for me. The juxtaposition of capitalism and suffering oversimplifies the very complex multi-factorial issues of inequality among fellow world citizens . It is not enough to denote something as a right , it must be enforceable .Many of the issues that have led to these disparities find their roots in racism and the legacy of slavery and colonialism .The aftermath of which manifests to date in many ways including healthcare access and economics. If the solution involves money and "caring " without evaluating and addressing the root causes of the problem it would be like putting a band aid on a festering wound and expecting it to heal .
Good points Nena, WHO is a great organization and the idea of recruiting students in colleges to fight poverty, hunger and illness will be awesome.
DeleteAll the videos had an impact on me; however, I believe that the Unnatural Causes is the one that makes me the most upset as it relates to my beliefs on fast food and poverty.
ReplyDeleteI have watched other documentaries on how, for instance, Mexicans come to the United States, and they do not have access to the foods they ate growing up in Mexico. The United States makes promises, and yet most are in poverty, much of it due to a lack of education. Poverty breeds the crap we promote and advertisements reach children as young as 6 months old, those Golden Arches, or Taco Bell, that 88% meat for instance. Even people who are not in poverty, but perhaps start eating out on a regular basis, begin to gain weight and develop health issues. When we cook at home, we can at least see what we put or don’t put in our food, and how much we put on our plate.
The fast food cycle of poverty and health erosion is a crime that the United States commits. Fast foods become addictive, there are addictive ingredients in them that cause the desire to want more, but does not satiate. Also, it is the immediacy of getting a "meal". Perhaps a van pulls through the drive through with six children, five minutes later, or less, and the family is eating dinner. So weight gain begins, pre-diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc starts to rear itself. Now we have families in poverty, eating fast food, and having no insurance, or not very good insurance. Worse than that, they lack the education and awareness of what is happening to themselves and their families. They feel stuck, how can I afford to buy groceries, when I can feed my family on $10.00. This is unnatural, it is not due to famine, poor hygiene, street drugs, or unclean conditions or bad water; but, rather the food that is promoted and suggested as a way of living, ultimately bringing about poor health and a lower life expectancy to many who feel they have no other choice.
Christine. I absolutely agree with you about the problems with fast food! I find it so sad that not all Americans can get access to healthy foods due to financial reasons. Even myself when I go food shopping can not get over the prices of some food items. A box of Cheerios cost almost $5! The cost of food in this country is outrageous and I can understand what it must be like for people in poverty who want to feed their family healthier foods but just don't have the means to do it. It is just very upsetting that healthy food, food that children need to be eating is expensive compared to unhealthy food that is only a couple dollars.
DeleteChristine, I enjoyed reading your blog. You are absolutely right and I agree with you (though Im guilty of fast food) I agree that it is a vicious cycle! It is easier to choose a $2 burger over a $8 salad especially for a family on a budget. I don't think people choose to be eat poorly but you work with what you have and it's a shame.
DeleteChristine,
DeleteI could not agree with you more. The price of healthy food options is outrageous at times versus the unhealthy options. Being on a budget is not an easy thing. Making the choice between how much food can I buy with $20 and how much healthy food can I buy with the same $20 can be a huge difference. Fast food restaurants with their $1 menus really do not help make wise food choices especially trying to feed a family. I have always tried (may not have always been successful) to buy the healthier options for my children, but the way the cost of food has skyrocketed over the past few years or so is ridiculous. It makes it harder and harder to put the healthier options on the table. As hard as one might try to choose the healthier options, sometimes just putting food on the table is the only option.
Nena T.
I was actually just reading an article for another class about the health risks associated with agricultural work. Many of the products used in the fields are extremely toxic, and most are endocrine disruptors. These chemicals used in agriculture are associated with reproductive issues, and birth defects. Unfortunately in the United States this is also effecting Mexican men.
DeleteI enjoyed hearing your perspective on the fast food market as it contributes to the cycle of health erosion, and I liked how you referred to it as a crime committed by the United states. I took a health class not too long ago at Worcester State and watch many documentaries about how the fast food market preys on the lower working class because they know its what they can afford. I saw a story about a Latino family whose income was mostly spent on the father's diabetes medication rather than nutritious food because I was a matter of his health, but it was the unhealthy eating which lead to his diabetes, which just goes to show how vicious the cycle is.
DeleteAll the clips were ,were very powerful ,but then again I have always said there is no surprises there ,sad but so true .The fact that country is so prominent in policy making of other countries but yet is blinded by their own institutional injustices and dysfunctional social standards is sickening literally.None of these issues in the healthcare system that is causing an unhealthy society is a secret ,its well researched .So why not change? Someone ones told me during the debacle of the Affordable Healthcare Act ,that its all quality of life over quantity.Which i agreed with very much ,in the case of the cancer patient ,though unfortunate ,would it be better to provide the patient who happens to be in this situation with with the best care of making their days more comfortable that prolonging the inevitable.inevitable. There is so much that goes into providing the quality of life for people,decreasing stressors and having a quality of life that would be beneficial to our overall well being is all equally important.
ReplyDeleteLatina confessions was also very powerful as well..its sad that at such a very young ,she was subjected to such a derogatory behavior ,especially by someone that is suppose to be similar to her .Very sad for that kid that said that to her as well ,like how do you get off thinking saying things like that to someone.Needless to say that word as way too much importance in our society,I 've had experiences with similar situations ,but my approach is like okay,whats your point..I refuse to validate myself by waiting on acknowledgement from irrelevant people ,who think using and calling people out based on their skin tones is appropriate.
The two videos that stuck out most to me were “Healthcare Inequalities” and “Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?” “Health care Inequalities” was hard to watch. I find it upsetting that developed countries of the world like the United Stated does nothing to help countries who are constantly battling disease. A really eye opening point was that America and other European Countries spend more money on pet food and alcohol than on funding for basic nutrition in developing countries. This is just unsettling and something needs to be done about it. Another point the video mentioned that really got to me was the fact that developed countries have eradiated TB and Malaria but it still kills millions each year in undeveloped countries. It just makes me frustrated that if developed countries can eradicate these diseases why not help undeveloped countries get rid of them too! In “Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?” what stuck out to me was that living in a country with the highest national product in the world and having some of the best hospitals we rank thirty in life expectancy in countries around the world. Americans live shorter and sicker lives than any other industrialized country in the world and this is all mainly because 47 million Americans do not have health insurance. I could not get over that figure. I have a hard time accepting so many Americans do not have health insurance because it is something every American should have accesses to!
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the four videos, I think what stuck out the most to me was when I found out that our country spends more money on alcohol and pet food than helping other countries that are in such desperate need. The photos that were displayed were nothing that I haven't seen before especially with commercials that are constantly on TV asking for donations, but it was still very painful to see. I think it is so terrible that we can use other countries for their resources but are totally blind to the fact that they are in desperate need of the basic necessities such as clean water and food. Another aspect that stuck out in the videos is the fact that our country spends trillions of dollars on healthcare, yet we live shorter, sicker lives. I think it does have a lot to do with the way we treat our body in regards to diet and exercise but also career wise as well. Like they had mentioned in the "Unnatural Causes" video, they found that people was "working class" versus working as a "professional" could play a major role in the longevity in our lives. The video "worlds apart" definitely stuck out to me the most out of all the videos because I can understand how it feels to have family members who do not speak english very well and can see the frustration when it comes to communicating especially when it comes to important situations like in a medical setting. Luckily my sister and I are there to translate for my parents and there is a lot more access to translators now but I often wonder how difficult it was for my mom to understand doctors when I was a baby and how difficult it was for her. I think it was really unfair for the man to not receive the proper medical care due to not being able to communicate. It wasn't the doctor fault, but I feel like it could have been avoided somehow and it was very unfair for that family and the man to have missed a treatment that could have been very vital for his health.
ReplyDeleteI also found the aspect of people in the US living shorter sicker lives jaw dropping but understandable. In other countries, people value their bodies and what food they do get. In the US we abuse our bodies and all of our food supplies. We digest alcohol, chemicals, carcinogens, fatty fake foods, and all with little or non existent exercise.
DeleteFor this week, we were assigned to watch 4 youtube videos! I really enjoyed them all... I thought that every video showed a big multicultural and healthcare problem but the two videos that I took more out of were "Worlds Apart: A Series on Cross-Cultural Health Care; Part 1" and "Healthcare Inequalities". In the first video, there was a heated conversation between a doctor and a patient's daughter. The father and daughter are either middle eastern or Indian I think, and the daughter was really upset that there was no translator when the doctor was speaking with her father about chemotherapy treatment. I was really shocked after watching this! After last week, I learned that my mother's hospital has a 24 hour translator line that can either be on the phone, on a video chat, or in person. It is hard to believe that it is hard for this doctor to get a translator for this family because this is a very important decision for the dad's health.
ReplyDeleteThe second video which was just pictures, music, and words was very moving to me. Some of the images of poor parts of the world and sick people were really upsetting. Also, some of the facts and "causes" that the author put in this video were very important. The first fact that this video opens up with says that, "More than half of the world's population lives on less than $2 a day". Then, a problem is stated: "Gaping disparities that exist in the administration of healthcare to different populations of the world." And lastly, the video closes with a quote from WHO constitution: "The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being". This last quote was really powerful and I think overall this video really covers a lot of what we have been discussing this semester
I agree, the video that just showed pictures of different parts of the world that were poor was actually disturbing. I don't understand how this continues to happen in today's society. $2.00 a day is impossible to live off of no matter who the person, yet for 50% of people that's all they have, once again that is absurd. Although many people know about all these problems, i don't think much will ever be done to help others.
Delete“There’s more money in giving a white guy an erection than curing a black guy of AIDS” – The West Wing; Season 2, Ep. 4 In This White House.
ReplyDeleteThis is a quote one of my sociology professors shared while talking about pharmaceutical companies, but I found it relevant to the Healthcare Inequalities video. It’s frustrating that people die from diseases eradicated in the developed world just because they don’t have access to vaccines, or that globally childbirth is the second cause of death for girls 15-19 (WHO). Every day 800 women die from preventable pregnancy related issues (WHO), and if they just had the access to things as simple as water, nutrition, transportation, medicine, or a trained midwife they could have survived. Medicine is a money making business, not a business of healing, but many global health issues result from lack of basic needs not medicine. I think globally we need to on fair distribution, whether that means access to healthcare, or clean water. The Unnatural Causes video also brought up this issue by saying “it’s not the lack of healthcare that causes the disease.”
That was a very good quote ,Capitalism has consumed every aspect of our society ,that humanity has taken a backseat.If its not making someone money there is no interest in it. A person is only important depending on how much money can be made off them ,we are valued in health and sickness.Our healthcare system is proof of that!
DeleteThe first video of the lady who remembered what someone called her when she was just 4 years old is sad because she was just a child, minding her own business in the store. One of her memories especially being a child should not be that someone used a racial epithet towards her. The video I thought did the most justice in showing the health inequalities was the third one. It had pictures of men, women, and children who looked deathly skinny. It’s sad to see that other countries know what is happening in other parts of the world, and knowing that they can do more, but seem to ignore it. The first picture is of a tiny baby with all of his bones showing because it appears his family is too poor to afford any food. The headline of the newspaper says “20,000 die each day”, that is an alarming number, and there are definitely ways to decrease that number if people work together. People should be given the right to healthcare no matter what. If people can’t afford healthcare and are that sick and close to losing their life, then they should be given the opportunity to get healthy. No one should have to suffer like that. The fact that half the world has to live off of only $2.00 per day is mind blowing. It has to be impossible for anyone to even attempt to live off of something so pathetic. It should be illegal that something like that is allowed to happen. Healthcare should not be earned, it should be given to all.
ReplyDeleteIt is so terrible that someone would say that to a four year old! She had no clue what it meant or what she was even doing wrong. All kids get in the way, but they are kids and it happens. The fact that she can still remember what he looks life is haunting, I cant imagine seeing that in my dreams and remembering being called that for simply walking. I also wrote about the third video. The images are devastating. I agree completely with you that Heath Care should be given to all and the same health care, no one should be given better care than someone else.
DeleteOut of the four clips we were assigned to watch, the one that struck me the most was Healthcare Inequalities. This video was incredibly powerful and emotional to watch. The devastating pictures and music captured you and forced you to pay attention to the message being presented. It opens by saying that “more than half the world’s population lives on less than 2.00 dollars a day” and that “More money (in billions) is spent on pet food and alcohol in the US and Europe, than one funding for basic nutrition in developing nations”. It is sickening to think that we can spend so much on unnecessary things and take for granted our health care while so many have little to nothing and do not survive. What is worse is that we know we are all guilty of it. I think one of the problems is that not everyone can help. I know in my situation, I am searching desperately for a job and have bills always coming in, my student loans begin next year and when asked if I want to donate that one dollar to a fund…I simply can’t spare it because I also need it to get by. When I have money to spare I always donate whether its for a animal shelter of health care fund, a life is a life. Our economy makes it extremely hard to donate more because it cost so much to live in a tiny apartment and buy food. I am not trying to be harsh about this or protect people from not doing the right thing...I am being honest. Now, this doesn’t mean that more education can’t be set forth to change the future or that the multibillion dollar companies can’t spare the time and effort to make a change. It also doesn’t protect the millions of people who have the money, are greedy with it, and like the video says “remain the center of their own universe”. In those cases, absolutely, should more be done. This video also states that the solution is “to create a new educational branch of the World Health Organization, which will focus on traveling to colleges and universities globally to educate students on health inequalities. We as students, are equipped to make the change happen”. This is something that is 100% true. Education is the key and teaching the next generation about what truly is going on in the world and equip them to make a difference will make the changes.
ReplyDeleteWatching the four videos were very interesting, however the video that struck me most was the last video, it is sad that we the Americans pay 2 trillion dollars per year on healthcare and yet we are on the 30th percentile when it comes to life expectancy by statistics. I like the point that the epidemiologist, DR Kaurachi made "lack of healthcare should not be the cure of our diseases". We should all be advocates and educators in the community we live in. Eating healthy and exercising will help prevent a lot of diseases. All other countries have a single payer on health care plan and yet they eat better and exercise more. Affordable healthcare act is not the answer.
ReplyDeleteHi Barbara,
DeleteI agree with you that affordable healthcare is not the answer. To me, its like putting a bandaid on the wound. We have other issues we also need to address. Our diets, lack of exercise, the way we take care of our mental health and the way was, as Americans, handle stress also need to be worked on. It would be like constantly cutting yourself with a knife and just keep going back to the doctors for stitches, no one says "take away the knife"!!
The first video was sad in that any person would have to experience any form of racism, even though the woman was Puerto Rican and not black. Any form of racism is insulting and makes a person feel sad when we hear it, especially as a child, as that woman was, because it can be scary and confusing.
ReplyDeleteThe second video made me think that maybe the doctor did offer the chemo treatment and the father did refuse based on his faith, but the daughter was upset about her father being sick and just used the translation as an excuse. Sometimes family member become upset with healthcare professionals when they are really just angry with the fact that their loved ones are ill.
The third video about healthcare inequalities was hearthbreaking. It is really sad to see people, especially children that look so ill. A lot of the pictures looked like malnutrition or lack of food rather than medical issues or illnesses. I just cant stop thinking about how a recent article we read stated that in America black patients are given less effective heart medication than white men... We have so many health inequalities here in America, how can we even begin to change things in other parts of the country?
The fourth video really made me think when it stated that social and living conditions can lead to poor health (our eating habits, our stress and lack of exercise, etc). Other countries that are living in poverty and worse conditions than we are, that have much less access to good food and living conditions, how would better healthcare fix these issues. I understand that better healthcare would benefit anyone, especially people that are living in poverty, but I think those things would have to be fixed along with the quality of heathcare in order to make a consistent difference.
The translation problem is so complex. The video was really short, so its hard to tell the woman's sisters were able to adequately translate, if they had really been offered a translator at all, or if the family was simply upset over the suffering of their father. In any case, it highlights the need for competence training.
DeleteIn the first video, "Latina Confessions," we see a small child in the US being discriminated against by a person who share her own ethnic background. A sad but true reality. The second video showed the real difficulty in the language barrier in the healthcare system. It was hard to tell from the short clip if interpreter services had been offered or in the man and his family understood their rights to have an interpreter present. Even so, cultural competence training can help to avoid difficult and unfortunate situations like that one. Chemotherapy is a hard concept to digest if you have a robust understanding of the English language, let alone if you are deepening on an interpreter to break down such a difficult concept.
ReplyDeleteThe concepts highlighted in the third video are important for us, as Americans, to remind ourselves of continually. Some of us in this class have excellent healthcare opportunities, and others have been less fortunate, but we all live in the nation where half of the world's healthcare dollars are spent. The best is available to us and I, for one, am grateful. I thought that the final video was the most thought provoking, though. Although the US spends the most money on healthcare and has the most resources available, we don't don't come close to other countries for life expectancy. Does universal healthcare really make a difference? Or is the poor American diet and lifestyle a much larger factor?
After watching the first video I immediately thought about the children in my classroom (they are ages 3 to 4) and how everything they hear affect them, even though it is a common misconception that they are too young and cant understand adult conversations. The woman in the video admitted that at the time she didn't know what the boys racial slur meant, but it had a lasting affect on how she viewed growing up in this country. It's like when you try something for the first time and you have a bad experience, it kind of puts a bad taste in your mouth and makes it difficult to foresee a positive future experience. It's sad to think that that one moment for her soiled her view of what it is to live in America.
ReplyDeleteIn the second video I could definitely see two sides to the story. I completely understand where the daughter was coming from, knowing her father doesn't speak English and hearing that the doctor was unsure of whether he had a translator to explain to him the treatment options. Medical jargon in any language can be difficult to understand, but if her father had had a medical translator, he may have chose to accept the treatment. However, the daughter did say that she knew her father to be a religious man and that could have affected his decision to deny treatment. In complete defense of the father and daughter, I could not believe that the doctor confessed to the daughter that he had withheld the fact that this disease was incurable, from the father. It's scary to think that doctors can be so dishonest with their patients, as if by not telling a person they are dying is going to help at all.
The third video was yes sad as everyone has mentioned, and I have seen more video montages of this kind than I can count. I've seen images like this before in feed the children commercials many times and I always find them hard to look at but it's reality. What confused me about the video was the point it was trying to get across. In the commercials for world hunger you know the message is that children are starving and we can help by donating money. This video started out as what seemed like a message about world poverty and hunger, and turned into a message about disparities in health care. Multiple times I saw the words, "route of the problem" and I don't think the video really delivered. I understand that the route problem is poverty caused by inequality of the distribution of wealth, which also affect healthcare expenses, but I just feel as though the video was a mash up of sad images and statements. I did however agree with the end statement about a better education program.
While watching the fourth video, it was interesting to think that although our health is partially in our DNA and that we carry our cultures history in our bodies, our health is also tremendously affected by our environment and socioeconomic status. If obesity runs in someone's family then that person is obviously more likely to be predisposed to that health conditions because it is part of their heredity. However if that person grows up to be a professional with a high paying job, he/she may have access to a healthier diet, fitness facilities, and nutritional healthcare based on their salary alone. I say all the time that if I could afford to eat all organic and whole foods I would, and if I had time aside from my two jobs I would exercise more often.
Hi Sally:
DeleteYou bring up good points. Regarding young children, as you say, they hear much more than we give them credit for. Their wisdom is in their innocence. Young children see our facial and behavioral expressions in a deeper sense than we can imagine. I wouldn't be surprised if the young Latino girl in the first video looked up at her mom when this boy spurned a racial slur at her. She likely took it all in, the body movement and tone of the teenage boy's voice, perhaps accusatory to her, and her mom's reaction (although it wasn't mentioned in the video clip) it may have formed the young girl's "horror" of these few words.
For the fourth video - organic whole foods and exercise, I can only say this: I've had a decent paying job, I've had three not so good paying jobs at one time, I've had no job and EBT, etc....and in the end, I must say, it is still up to us to make decent food and exercise a part of life. It doesn't have to be in a gym, and we don't always have to spend excessive amounts of money on good and pure food, but we can make changes to ourselves through elimination of culprit foods (soda, excess sugar, etc.) Or maybe eat a new vegetable that has lots of nutrients. For exercise we can walk up a flight of stairs, or park farther from where our destination is. But, we do need to know that we have choices, even when it looks dismal. Even a particular way of thinking, you know, maybe seeing something from a different perspective, can shed light on the ability to make change in our own lives which then helps to change others.