I took an interest in Arthur Frank's article, "Emily's Scars." Biopolitics proceeds to permeate throughout this whole article. I think it's very interesting when Arthur states:
"I wash, groom, excercise, and reflect on my diet; I convince myself--or am convinced by an increasingly undifferentiated mixture of commerical advertisements and health promotion campaigns--that these actions have not only practical benefits but moral implications: caring for myself in these ways enhances the person I am."
This reinforces the idea, that our culture is almost purely based on self image and the importance of one's abilty to immitate what is percieved as "normal" or even "ideal." For example, we, as a society, are forced to watch advertisments and commercials that present the "ideal" or "perfect" body. And we can't help but inhale and analyze this perception of what is the most ideal and attempt to imitate it to the best of our abililty. We even feel enough guilt, when watching these commercials, to actually change the channel or turn off the T.V. It brings up the question, "who has the right to decide what constitutes "normalcy." And why are people so fast to conform to these standards without any questionable doubt? This creates a lot of cultural anxiety when it comes to issues like achondroplasia, anomalous genitalia, and craniofacial deformities. Who has the right? Well, in the beginning, the parents of these affected babies do. But are they overstepping their boundaries by taking this type of authority over their child's life and future? Do they have the right to play god? I don't believe that the parents nor doctors should possess this right; although, there are certain circumstances where action must be taken when a life is at risk, but when this isn't an issue, I don't think that they should possess such power over someone's life even if it were to make for a more effecient being. I believe they should be able to make that decision as they grow, progress, and develope their own individual idenity or being.
The disadvantages of a parent taking such a crucial responsibility into their own hands has proved, in many cases, to miserably fail the patient. For example, changing anomalous genitalia to female genatalia at birth, and when they get older, realize that they really want to carry their life out as a man. I believe that everyone should have complete control over their individual being, rather it be culturally acceptable or not, because, again, what's really "normal?" And who or even what can even possess such power to define it?
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I completely agree with you. The world is a tough enough place to live in as it is without all the advertisements and celebrities telling us how we should all look. People are destroying their bodies and hurting themselves sometimes to fit this mold that society has formed and thinks is the "right" way to look. I like how you brought up authority, because really who has the the right to tell people how they should look and live their lives? We all already have enough stresses to worry about, and now everyone must obsess over the idea of perfection as well? What is perfection and normalcy anyways? And why do we think and do these things to our bodies to reach it? I also agree with you that people should be able to make their own decisions concerning their bodies. Parents should let their children make decisions for themselves concerning the looks of their bodies. People should be the way they want to be and not have their parents force surgery on them just to fit the mold of society.
ReplyDeleteI found it really interesting that you brought up anomalous genitalia. In a psych class, we discussed the numerous cases of parents who had to face this decision. The doctors followed up years down the road, and in most cases, just as you had said, the children weren't happy with their parents choice. We were then faced with the take home question, what would you do if this were your own child?
ReplyDeleteI thought long and hard about that question and still don't think I've even settled on an answer. Yes, I see where you are coming from and completely agree. It shouldn't be up to the parents because reality proves that most often, the decision made was not the right one. But as a parent, don't you strive to give your child the best and most "normal" life? Could they lead a "normal" life with anomalous genitalia?
So I'd like to propose the same question that I was asked, what would you do if this was your own child?