Cultural relativism and contraception

[briansue]

I don’t know if this is exactly the right place to post such a question, so I’ll try to keep this short.

Comments

[vequira]

Having lived abroad in a very different culture for a few years now I have found that one of the best ways to introduce new ideas (or in my case just to talk about differences in general, always fun and interesting!) is to ask about theirs, get them to explain things to you, regardless of what you already know. This helps to understand their take on things. After your asking they may be more curious about different ideas and they may ask. Or you can at least have an in to introduce some new ideas and explain them. Good luck and I think its awesome that you are doing something like this!

[briansue]

I do try to talk to the people who work here a lot. One problem is that I speak very little Hindi and most of them speak very little English, but we seem to manage pretty well. The biggest problem is that they are not comfortable talking about contraception and sex and that sort of thing. Which I understand, this is India. At the same time it's frustrating because they're all married with kids and more importantly work for an NGO that deals with condoms, HIV/AIDS, men who have sex with men, prostitutes, etc daily. They aren't very curious about other cultures and they don't think that change is possible here. I'm pretty stubborn though so they've become used to the fact that I'm going to ask them about these issues whether they like it or not. Sometimes I think my time here is making a bigger difference for me than it is anyone here, but I guess that's ok. I'm doing the best I can!

[ashihei]

there is a lot of work done on "population control" or family planning, as they call it today. I mean from anthropological perspective. I guess it's a bit too late to recommend anything now, and you would have to look for case studies specific to India once you're back, but as for culturally sensitive interventions, here something to start with:

Nichter, Mark and Mimi Nichter
1996 Education by appropriate analogy. In Anthropology and International Health: Asian Case studies. Amsterdam: Gordon and Breach.

Yoder, P. Stanley.
1997 Negotiating relevance: belief, knowledge, and practice in international health. Medical Anthropology Quarterly 11(2): 131-146.

PS This is straight from my International Health course outline taught by Stacy Leigh Pigg (Simon Fraser University).

[briansue]

The family planning programs in India leave much to be desired. I've been looking through the e-journals that I have access to through my university library and have found about 10 really great articles that have been a help to my approach to the situation as well as how the NGO can improve some aspects of their work. I will definitely look at both of those sources. Thanks very much.

[sunnytea]

you have to understand that change within Indian culture is not looked upon very well. especially when it comes to dealing with sexual health/matters. discussion of any sexual matter is frowned upon and most NGO's find it an uphill battle to even spread health awareness *let alone sexual awareness*. sex industry workers bear the brunt of this social 'outcasting'. working in this environment even for years and years will bring you up against continual barriers - even if you belong to that state/language/heritage. being an outsider it becomes difficult times 10

[briansue]

I definitely realized quickly that it's all an uphill battle. Very frustrating but I'm realizing that even if I can't do the work I came here expecting to do, I can do small things. I've compiled some essays that might be useful to the couple of women curious about what I can teach them. I've made sure they don't use expired IUDs and teach the correct information about condoms and pills. Small things, in my eyes, but if it's what they need I'm happy to do it. I've traveled a lot but never to a non-Western country and never for so long. I'm learning more than I ever expected as a woman, a student, a feminist and an (aspiring) anthropologist. Plus the food is amazing!

[vequira]

That was inspiring to hear.

[sunnytea]

thanks:0)

[thorny_rose]

Ugh, this reminds me of some of the discussions I've had about sex issues with Japanese natives. *like pulling teeth* Probably saying more than I should, but I just ended relations with a dude who didn't know what herpes was, never thought about using/brought condoms and who didn't want to understand female...mechanics, as it were.

Anyways, just letting you know that ignorance and resistance aren't isolated in this hemisphere.