Reading this chapter in Half the Sky I realized how far medical science has come in America. Today when women become pregnant there is very rarely a fear that a woman will die in pregnancy unless there are serious complications. My aunt is a nurse in a maternity ward and has never taken care of a woman who hasn't lived through her pregnancy. Unfortunately for Mahabouba, a young woman from Western Ethiopia a pregnancy is not a risk free part of life. As a thirteen year old girl she was sold into a marriage with a sixty year old man. The man beat her, raped her and controlled her until she finally escaped his clutches. Reading this I tried to put myself in Mahabouba's place and I couldn't imagine being abused and forced into marrying at thirteen. At thirteen I was still a child and I can't concieve how Mahabouba must have felt. (Do many of you ever wonder how strong the human spirit is to survive through these terrible hardships these women in Half the Sky have had to endure?)
Before reading this section of the book I didn't know what fistulas were. After reading about Mahabouba's experience I felt her pain. How she was excluded from the other members of her village, she couldn't use the restroom of her own accord, she had to defend herself against hyenas. Later on Mahabouba rises out of her situation and becomes a head nurse. It really shocks me she was able to overcome her hardships. Most people would not have gone on, they would have given up. I really admire her for making the very most of her situation.
I was left wondering if Jiad, the man who had forced Mahabouba to marry him, had faced any punishment for the cruel way he treated her. I also wondered if Simeesh, the woman who couldn't move her legs, had progressed further in her physical wellness. Most of all after reading this chapter I realized how strong people are to live and thrive even through horrible situations.
I have a friend whose younger sister was admitted to a psychiatric hospital for depression. This girls is fifteen years old and the world has already broken her. She lived in a relatively stable family and had all of the love and support of her entire family. The environments we are in can impact us in ways we are only beginning to comprehend. Each society has their own issues and our issue is a rise in anxiety which can lead to depression. At fifteen this girls is suffering and her family is suffering with her I lack understanding as to how people can turn their back on their children or wives so easily. They call it a superstition or a curse that causes these women to have issues during child birth when actually is all scientific. Females have begun to physically mature faster. A couple hundred years ago a female’s menstrual cycle did not begin until they were closer to fourteen. In today’s world, pollution and steroids in our food has cause this age range to sift form 15-50 to 12-45. In our world the first menstruation may not mean womanhood but in less industrialist culture this is a coming of age. This issue has allowed girls to marry early causing them to have children at an earlier age. The human body, in most females, is not full developed until 18-20 years of age. This is the reason teen can be really skinny for years and then in their twenties have more curves. Hips are designed to cradle the baby during pregnancy and until they are fully developed there is high risk of complication.
ReplyDeleteMaternal mortality is no longer an issue of education but culture as well. Centuries of norms have been set in place and it can be very hard to break them. These women in places like Africa are so strong but sometimes help is needed. The education and culture need to change at the same time or the death rate of these women will not decrease. New norms need to be written because without them people can only follow what they have been told. When something has existed for centuries it becomes a fact of life for those people. We need to show that there is a better option. That marrying young and having children without help can lead to complications and event death. It is really sad that the norms of this society have dictated these women’s lives.
Hearing about these women always makes me feel so many things but the main two are admiration and stupidity. These women, including my friend’s sister, are all so strong to seek out help because they have the will to live. I listen to their stories and all I can think is how amazing they are. I cannot imagine picking myself up from a place that is lower than the floor and pushing on to live. But after I get past the admiration I realize all of the things I have been stressing over and why I am feeling sorry for myself and the reason are nothing like the ones described in the book. I really makes my issues feel stupid and unimportant. The next time I review my life I want to be able to look myself in the mirror and tell myself that life may be bad but my worst is never anything compared to someone’s life and ocean away. When I look in that mirror all I want to feel is inspiration and admiration from these women. They are the role models for ever women who has felt what I have.
You have thought about the exact thing that I have been thinking every time I read or watch about what these women have gone through. When I think about what I’d do in any situation like this, I find that there’s no way I could ever be strong enough to fight for my life like these woman. I can’t even begin to imagine what it must feel like, but I also can’t even imagine how strong they are to get through it. Everyone reacts to life differently, but I personally don’t think I could ever be strong like these woman. I've struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts in the past, and looking back at it, my situation wasn't anywhere near as bad as some of these woman, and it's helped me to stop and really think about how the things that seem to always upset me and get to me, are nothing and shouldn't get me down, because there's people that have to get through worst. Most importantly I don't ever think about harming myself in any kind of way anymore because reading about how all these woman fight so hard to keep their life in such a terrible time makes me feel stupid for even thinking about ending mine when people are struggling to survive. I find it amazing how strong the human spirit can be in such tragic and horrendous times.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that the more I read of this book, the more that I feel I take every day life for granted. Really, I cannot even begin to imagine life for a teenage girl in any of these underprivileged countries; what a shame. To be SOLD like an item at any age, especially 13 years old is the most sickening thing to hear. Not only being sold but being raped and put into the most horrific situations that I have ever heard of. I think it is safe to say that I had absolutely no knowledge about these things that actually happen in the world today, until I learned it from this class. Aside from the terrible things going on in Ethiopia and Niger I am very pleased to hear about the people who are dedicating their lives to help these hopeless females after childbirth. I too, had never heard of fistulas before reading the material for this week. It sounds like a horrible and unfortunate situation that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. The fact that girls kill themselves because of this is terrifying. They can't do anything about it.. this just sounds like a nightmare. I commend anyone who has had to live their life with this injury because I can't begin to imagine the humility that comes with it. Simeesh Segaye, who was paralyzed due to the deterioration of the muscles in her legs from staying in the fetal position from depression, breaks my heart. It also broke my heart when I read that her parents sold their land and everything else so that they could take a private car to get her to a hospital. Families should NOT have to give up everything to get the proper care that they deserve as human beings! This is awful! I also commend people like Allen Rosenfield who open up their eyes and realize there is a problem going on and then do something about it. Unselfishly, he spent the majority of his life in lesser fortunate countries helping women and making sure that they got the proper prenatal and postnatal care. It's things like this that make me seriously re-evaluate my life and only hope that I can make a difference in people's lives one day.
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way you did after reading this chapter. I felt strong emotions when reading about all of the terrible things Mahabouba went through. And at the age of thirteen! I like the question that you asked. "Do many of you ever wonder how strong the human spirit is to survive through these terrible hardships these women in Half the Sky have had to endure?" I wonder that every time I read a new story in this book. I know that I could never handle any of the things that the women in this book have gone through. The women in this book are incredible for never giving up and fighting through the hard times. A big smile came across my face when I read that Mahabouba became a nurse in the hospital. Instead of giving up which would have been the easier route, she fought as hard as she could to overcome this issue. I look up to people like that. Simeesh did not give up either. Even though she lied in a hut curled up in a ball for two years, she did not give up on her self. There were many times where she wanted to be dead, but she did not give up. I am learning that the stories in this book are very heartbreaking, but they are also very empowering and life changing.
ReplyDeleteI agree the US has a very good medical assistance. I for one was very nervous to read this chapter being pregnant, then i realized that it is other countries that does not have to medical for pregnant women. Which I find upsetting because that is our future and prenatal care is so important durning pregnancies.
ReplyDeleteI felt sick to my stomach reading what she went through and over came. People like that are amazing because I could not even imagin going through that and waking up every morning wondering what is going to happen it me today?
I find it interesting that Mahabouba finally went on to learn how to read and write after she was a teenager. It seems to me that a common theme in Half the Sky is that hardships fall hardest on those that are uneducated and low economic status seems to parallel. Furthermore the ones to blame are the educated and financially secure people in developed countries like the United States. The most worthwhile part of the chapter was the recognition that helping to keep young girls in school also reduces the risk of adolescent pregnancy and therefore maternal mortality.
ReplyDeleteIt never really occurs to people how dangerous pregnancy would actually be if it were not for modern medicine. While pregnancy is no longer considered dangerous in modernized nations, in 3rd world countries without the medical advances we have, they can be very dangerous. This is compounded by the fact of these younger girls, who are barely teenagers, become pregnant (most times through no fault of their own). Their bodies are not ready to handle the large burden of carrying and nurturing another human for 9 months.
ReplyDeleteIts hard to imagine half the things these women go through, I cant even put together how I feel. It's very hard to see these things as true, compared to how we live here. The thought each night that you might be kidnapped, raped, or killed is overwhelming. It seems to me that most pregnancies in these countries are not planned or willing, here where we live it is suppose to be a happy occasion and the only bad thing you can think about is how bad delivering that baby is going to be. over in those other countries they have numerous worries during a pregnancy. the women are usually miles away from a hospital and do not do the checkups we are used to seeing during a pregnancy here. It's amazing how vast our medical assistance and technology is here, not having that to us would seem very unfamiliar and outrageous. I am in a child development course right now and we are talking about how prenatal care is important and how the baby grows throughout the course of the pregnancy. there are a million things that you have to be careful of it seems like and over in these other countries, to me I don't see how they can have healthy babies. I know that sounds a little premature but I mean come on.
ReplyDeleteI don't think we would ever truly and fully understand what these women are going through. We can read story after story and watch endless videos about these women, but until we are actually in their country, in their shoes, going through what they go through every day; it's impossible to truly understand a glimpse of what they're really going through.
ReplyDeleteMahabouba is an inspiration for fighting for her life. I can't imagine the things she had run away from, but still had no one that would accept her. My heart breaks for these women who have health issues, or even who were just sold into trafficking, and have their families/husbands turn away from them. Abandonment is a huge issue, mentally and emotionally. To have that added on to their daily problems is hard to grasp. Like Niveen had said, I feel as if my problems, too, could never compare to what these women are going through. I am surrounded by great family, friends, and a fiancé who has all accepted me for my past, and what has happened in my life. If I were to ever undergo a medical issue, I'd know they'd only be there for me even more to support me. It's sad to think that these women have no one. Even when they are going through recovery, everyone needs a friend.
If nothing else this chapter teaches us about the human spirit and the will to overcome! I too often imagined (or tried to imagine) myself in the situations that Mahabouba endured and wondered "Would I have been this strong?" The hyenas alone! I'm constantly astounded by the lack of empathy that the village and even family can show towards these women and young girls...as if they asked for the difficult pregnancies, the fistulas, the infections. It's easy to see how sometimes it seems the best option for them is to end it all. But then I'm also blown away by the generosity and devotion that people like Allen Rosenfield have to causes such as this. The dedication he has (had) towards the women and girls of Nigeria is something that can only be defined as limitless. He restores my faith not just in humanity but in the fact that one person CAN make a difference in this cause. People like Rosenfield are the light at the end of the tunnel to women/girls like Mahabouba that do hang on and believe that they can overcome.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, people can and do survive horrible experiences that many of us cannot even begin to imagine. I too had never heard of a fistula and the horrors of suffering from this disease. As I read the chapter, I was so moved but the stories of the women who suffered fistula's that I began to tell my boyfriend about them and how terrible they were. I expected him to be a little grossed out or put off when I told him what a fistula was, but he wasn't, instead he stared at me, straight faced, and listened as I told him what I had learned in the past 40 or so minutes from the video, website, and chapter. He then asked what was being done to help these women and continued to ask me question's about fistula's and child birth in other countries. His reaction inspired me. If he can have this kind of reaction to hearing about fistula, what's to say others can't as well? Bringing awareness to this issue can do wonderful things for its cause. Awareness brings caring, caring brings the desire to help, and what the desire to help can bring is limitless. Sharing the stories of the women from "Half the Sky" brings them a small form of justice, and ensures that they have not suffered in vain. If we continue to give women of these terrible circumstances a voice, we help give their causes power.
ReplyDeleteI feel like surviving a pregnancy is something no American truly thinks about..it's almost as if it's not even a question or option to think about. It's sad to think that a pregnancy isn't a happy time for some women (women in this situation). Pregnancy is something a lot of women want and can't wait to have. It's hard for me to wrap my mind around the thought that these women probably hate to even think about it. On to the marriage at thirteen...another topic I have a hard time wrapping my mind around. I am with you in the comment of still being a child at this age. I feel like I was so naive at that age especially in comparison to these girls..so young they can't even be considered women in my opinion. My heart literally breaks for them! I'm almost 23 and don't even see marriage in my near future let alone being married for almost ten years now to a man I didn't choose and do not love. I can't believe how much I didn't know about this topic until this class. I love these blogs because I get to read other people's comparisons and real life stories (like your aunt's job).
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this chapter I too realized how luck we are in America to have the medical science we have discovered to help women make it through their pregnancy and child birth. I could not imagine being in a country where you have to be so scared to have a child and be so worried about your health. I am wondering why it is so difficult to spread and share the knowledge that we have, I know that the resources are not available to carry out all of the technology, however I feel like we could educate and save some lives.
ReplyDeleteI love how the stories in this book have been inspiring you all. It is awesome to hear all of your stories as well, and I think you sell your own strength short. I perhaps should find some statistics on pregnancy and pre-natal care in the US, and even Michigan. Believe it or not, we do have issues in this country of women (especially women in poverty) that do not or can not seek proper prenatal care during their pregnancy. And of course, although it is legal, we have made it difficult in a way for women to choose to terminate a pregnancy. If you're feeling like this is an issue that speaks to you, we can find ways for you to make a difference locally for sure.
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