A Child Born Subjective Question

1. How are the ways of managing childbirth in traditional societies useful?

Ans. There are several ways by which child birth is managed in traditional societies. Their usefulness stems directly from the fact that they are socially and culturally accepted by the society and the mother does not have the psychic burden of re- inventing the procedures.

2. A pregnant woman in a traditional society does not feel that she is alone. Why?

Ans. A pregnant woman in a traditional society does not feel herself alone because she lives in a joint family and does not have to bear the psychic burden of re-inventing the procedures. Even though the potential risk and catastrophes of the past remain active in her memory. The taboos and prohibitions make her anxiety manageable.

3. What is the superstition associated with acquiring new clothes and instruments for baby before birth?

Ans. The superstition associated with acquiring new clothes and instruments for the baby before birth relates to the myth that it brings bad luck for the child and family.

4. In our anxiety to avoid death we may have destroyed the significance of the experience. What is the ‘experience’ the writer refers to?

Ans. The stubbing pain experienced during delivery or childbirth enhances the emotional attachment of the mother towards the new-born. This is a unique experience which develops closeness with the new born and then through it with the rest of the members of the family.

5. What is the ‘truism of anthropologies’ that the writer talks about?

Ans. Writer refers to the fact that when a woman goes from her mother’s house to her in- laws to live she does not become a member of the new family in the true sense until she has borne a child.

6. What compels women to withdraw into silent opposition in international forum?

Ans. Incomplete knowledge of different languages compel women to withdraw into silent opposition in international forums.

7. Why has Sudanese women officials stopped going to international conferences?

Ans. Sudanese women officials has stopped going to international conferences as they are told about their lives and are not consulted.

8. Where do Sylheti women go to stay during the last stage of pregnancy?

Ans. They go to their mother’s house in the last few months of their pregnancy.

9. What is the reward of pregnancy for a young Sylheti woman?

Ans. A young Sylheti woman at the time of her pregnancy gets an opportunity to live with her mother and sisters. This is the reward of her pregnancy.

10. How are the children of a joint family looked after in Bangladesh?

Ans. In Bangladesh the children in the joint family are jointly looked after. They are taken to the pond for a bath by one daughter-in-law and she bathes them all. Then they come to the house and sit together to eat. The food is usually cooked and served by the youngest daughter-in-law.

11. What is the worst impact of Western medicine in traditional societies?

Ans. The impact of Western medicine on traditional societies is one of the most sensitive issues. Doctors usually adopt aggressive procedures and recommend expensive drugs to the patients when their health and financial status is too poor to withstand them respectively.

12. What is the immediate impact of poverty in medical field?

Ans. The immediate impact of poverty in medical field is the cultural dominance of Western technology.

13. What is the role of rituals in managing childbirth in traditional society?

Ans. Rituals play an important role in managing child birth in traditional societies. Their usefulness stems from the fact that they have social and cultural acceptance. The anxiety level of pregnant woman is usually high and the ritual approach reduces the anxiety level because it helps her with taboos and prohibitions. She gets major support from her husband, her kinfolk and the other members of the family and community which makes her strong. She gets a central place in the family which keeps her away from fear and depression.

14. Experience of childbirth is very significant. But the modern technology has deprived the potential mother of this significant experience. How?

Ans. The fear related with childbirth becomes insignificant when compared to the unique experience of giving birth to a child. The child birth is always a special occasion. The whole period of pregnancy becomes a period of celebration. The pregnant woman becomes pampered and gets a central place in the family. But modern technology has deprived the potential mother of this significant experience. In hospitals nurses are seen with modern equipments. Expensive drugs are given to the patients.

15. Describe the western interpretation of a bride’s longing for a child in a traditional society.

Ans. In traditional society a woman after her marriage goes to her husband’s place to live in a joint family. The anthro-pologists in the West are of the opinion that the woman after her marriage is not accepted by her new family till she bears a child. This compels a woman to long for a child. The western interpretation find it to be crime and inhuman. They hold family members especially the mother in law to be unjust and vindictive.

16. How do languages come in the way of better understanding of the women’s problems?

Ans. In absence of proper knowledge of language people are unable to express their feelings, sentiments and problems. The women simply sit quietly without understanding anything and are unable to communicate their feelings. In modern hospitals the communication becomes difficult when the doctors, the nurses and the patients speak different languages.

17. Describe the rewards of pregnancy as experienced by Sylheti women.

Ans. A pregnant Sylheti woman gets an opportunity to go to her mother’s house. She lives there, with her brothers and sisters in the last few months of her pregnancy. There she gets all the attention and care of her family members. In fact, she feels the whole period of her pregnancy like a period of celebration. She becomes the central figure of the family.

18. Does the writer want to say that the use of western medicine in childbirth is producing horrible results? Do you agree with her views?

Ans. The writer admires the traditional childbirth as a rewarding experience in these societies. The pregnant woman gets all the care and support of her family in the period. Even family helps her to look after her baby after he is born. But western medicine deprives her of these joys. But I do not agree with her views that the use of western medicine in childbirth produces horrible results. It is wrong to presume that the western system takes away the freedom of people to live their own way.

19. What could be the worse fates than death for a pregnant woman?

Ans. A woman is a chain who keeps the human race going on. She is a beautiful gift of God to the human race. If a pregnant woman dies, the hope of human race also dies because her baby dies. God creates women to live and create life. But it is our negligence and carelessness towards a pregnant woman that snatches away her and her baby’s life. This misfortune can be avoided with the help of modern science and awareness.

20. What are the problems of a modern woman in matters of pregnancy and childbirth ?

Ans. In modern times, couples like to live in a nuclear family. But sometimes circumstances force young couples to live far away from their families. In such cases, modern women have to face many problems in matters of pregnancy. There is nobody to support her and take care of her. She feels herself lonely and helpless. After the birth of child she needs support of her family. But there is nobody to look after her and her baby. She feels insecure as there is nobody near her to guide her in bringing up the child.