Racism and the Developing Child

As I observe my son in his present youth, I often reflect upon my childhood, and the way I was brought up. I note the dramatic differences between our upbringings. I grew up in Edmonton, Alberta Canada and was one out of two children that attended my elementary school, not only was that a notable difference as one revved the physical differences between myself and my classmates but in the general population as well. Quite noticeable I didn't look like anyone else except those that were in my own household. It wasn't even that I thought in my young mind that anything was wrong with it, it was just a plain fact. I also had a mixed household with a younger siblings whom were both half white. It wasn't until I was 5 years old that I really noticed the negative effect on the physically characteristics, when one day when I was walking with my mom in the mall and a little girl pointed and laughed at my hair making a comment on my ill Afro puffs. A year later I started kindergarten, and was called the "N" word. In that instance I developed a sense of self-consciousness about my appearance. As I entered school, I made numerous amounts of friends, as I strived to be the best at everything else that was within my control, fashion, sports, and a clique of friends. Negatively, that also caused me to develop a need for people to like me and be "cool", I got caught up with the wrong crowd in high school, among people who liked to party hard. My last year of high school, my family moved to the America, where the majority of my mom’s family lived. and I was in complete culture shock, not only did I look like the majority of people but where we moved to in Maryland there was a rarity of any other race in that proximity besides African Americans and Hispanics. It was then that a new difference was discovered in which I didn't act or sound like the other students and was labeled as "acting white". However, by that time I was surrounded with a large number of family members including ones that were only a few years older than me. They became a major influential role models to me, as many of them had similar upbringing. I was able to cope by leaning on the support of my family and close friends, as I slowly came to the realization of self-empowerment, and self-love.

     I would like to know my family's native country, which is still considered a third world country. I know of the struggles that my family went through during their childhood, like poverty would like to know of the present struggles that are apparent in 2013. The country currently struggles as a developing third world country, vast aspect of poverty and the ever effect of developing its industry. As a result many children struggle to acquire the very basic needs needed to sustain life. Additionally, the education system suffers dramatically, where shortages of national expenditure on education were seen as serious drawbacks. In the past few years Guyana, like most of the developing countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa and Asia (all referred to as the Third World) are commencing in a similar phase; in other words, their education systems began undergoing a transition from the stage of educational underdevelopment to one relatively developed one.

 

Breast Is Best 

       Breastfeeding is the normal way of providing young infants with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development. Virtually all mothers can breastfeed, provided they have accurate information, however it is a very large decision for many mothers whether to breastfeed or not, not only are there personal preferences involved i.e. pain, low milk supply, but the social pressures as well. There are many benefits that go with the decision to breastfeed, helping mom to burn calories and get mom her pre-baby tummy back by stimulating the release of the hormone oxytocin.  I believe that it is the most natural, relaxing ways to bond with your baby. I have always been a very tremendous advocate for breastfeeding not only from personalexperience but culturally as well. Growing up as a second generation Guyanese American the many advantages and importance of breastfeeding had always been imbedded in me.

Breastfeeding in Egypt:

       There are many differences between ordinary breastfeeding practices in the U.S and in many other countries including,Egypt. Most women don't breastfeed in public due to religion,breastfeeding is often done at home or while in the company of close female friends. It's not that breastfeeding is frowned uponit’s actually encouraged and not breastfeeding is sometimes frowned upon, it's just not encouraged in public places.Religiously, mothers are meant to BF for two years, it's a very treasured thing amongst Muslim women and most Muslim men see it as the norm.  

     The issue of BF, is one that is an important factor when relating to healthy child development in early years. Recognizing both the benefits and issues that arise with breastfeeding, is an essential factor when understanding the early growth of infants especially when working within the field. In the future, I may take some of these new concepts to my current work involving providing information to inner city parents.

References: 

Breastfeeding in Egypt:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7844801

Breastfeeding Status in Egypt:http://www.unicef.org/egypt/Eng_Breast-feeding-brochure_21Mar11.pdf

Birthing Experience

The birth of a baby is an experience to be treasured, and no two occurrences are the same. It is a joyful, scary, life changing event that is not for the faint of heart. I can recall the birth of my son, now seven years ago to be one of those epic moments that can only be related to someone that has exiperences it.  No words can truly describe the  miracoulous moment when you bring your child into the world. I remember feeling terrified, and extactic all in the same breath at the time I was 19, in college, and single so it was overwhelmed to say the least. I had a healthy pregnancy and delivered my son with the help of an epidural vaginally. I choose this example, due to the extreme gravity of the situation, and the fact that i attribute my son's birth as one of my crowning achievements in life. The impact that birth has on a child's development greatly depends on the choices of the mother during pregnancy. For example,  a mother who chooses to smoke during pregnancy can cause her unborn child to have major health issues later on as they develop. However, there are circumstances that happen which are out of a mothers control, that can have an adverse effect on child development such as; diabetes, pre-term labor, STD's, genetic abnormalities and many other factors. 

In my exiperence the United States birthing customs as a whole are uniquely, different, when weighed on customs in other parts of the world. In the Netherlands it is customary for womens primary care to be taken care of by a mid-wife and not a doctor, they only intervene in extreme cases when complications arise. Another difference is the use of pain 

Medication, most births whether at home or in a hospital is done naturally. The administration of and epidural is normally done, at the leisure of the anesthesiologist, which does not happen in most cases. Additionally, the Dutch have a type of maternity care offered to all called a (kraamzorg), this is where a professional maternity nurse will come to your home and look after you and your baby after you have given birth. Mother's are entitled to this excellent, professional maternity care during the first eight days after the birth of the baby. The nurse shows the new mother how toto care for the baby, how to bath him or her, and how to breastfeed properly. The nurse also assists  with the other children, preparing meals  and may also take care of laundry and light housekeeping. This is a tremendous support for new mothers and mothers with young children at home. 

This is very different from my own exiperence, where I did opt for an epidural, however I am  7 months pregnant at the moment and have been contemplating about having a natural birth.  Many women in the U.S decide to have natural births, although an equal if not more decide to have some pain medication assitance. The use of a (kraamzorg) is a difference that I believe is a truly beneficially option for many mothers new and old, if only the U.S could have adopted this custom, cuz I would have loved to have one with my son. Thank-fully I have a huge extended family, who took on many of those same tasks as a kraamzorg who helped me greatly with my previous birth and hopefully will again with this one that's coming in October. 

I gained an abundance of information regarding the unique differences between the United States customs, and other parts of the world. Upon researching multiple countries I've found that the U.S is actually not the norm in terms of similar customs of world, and it would be quite beneficially if this country adopted some customs of other countries especially, the (kraamzorg) :)

References:

Birth Customs Around the World By Lara Schalken from American Baby Retrieved from: http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/giving-birth/vaginal/birth-customs-around-the-world/?page=2