Re: One that had to be rushed

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Posted by jolynn on October 23, 2001 at 05:40:11:

In reply to: One that had to be rushed posted by Catherine Cartwright Jones on October 22, 2001 at 03:53:45:

Beautiful work, but that kinda goes without saying with your work.

I think this story is important to share. We often forget here in
America that the rest of the world does not see things the same way we
do.

I found myself wanting to know why, if, as the women with her said,
they could do it themselves, they had someone else do it, and an
American, at that. Is it a custom to have someone else do this? Were
they just "letting you know" that you couldn't pull one over on them
by doing less than great-they would know? Or is it normal to do this?

I can understand the questioning of her feelings about her betrothed
upsetting her. As you said, she was doing this out of her sense of
proper duty to her family and talking about her feelings about him
could be seen as disrespectful. Only if they are an acceptable match
is important. What I would love to know is why she was so nervious
about being at your place. Was it because of aweful things she had
hear about Americans, was she not suppose to be doing this, or
something else. And why the big secret, does this tie into the reason
she was so nervious? Or is it a more personal thing-making sure no one
else has henna as nice as hers? I have a feeling it has to do with
former, not the latter.

How much of her nerviousness was prompted by culture and how much by
personality(which, in turn is shaped to a point by culture).

Opps, the anthropologist got out, again! Do you have any more thoughts
on any of these things? I am inclined to feel sorry for this woman as
I would hate to be in that situation. However, if she does not regret
the situation or find it unpleasent (some how I doubt this) I see no
reason to cast her in the role of a 'victim of her culture' as most
Americans would. I remember one example we had in college of a people
where the married women of the upper class are vieled in public and
not allowed to do any work outside of the home (except shopping).An
American asked a group of these women how they could bear to be so
repressed. They told her they were not upset by this, the fact they
were veiled and did not HAVE to work outside of the home showed others
how rich their husbands were how lucky they were to have an easy life.
Why should they want to give up the safe, comfortable life and have to
toil like the unfortunate.

Thank you for sharing this story!

Jolynn- anthro 101
: A henna job that had to be rushed: story linked below.

Follow Ups

Re: One that had to be rushed Catherine Cartwright Jones 14:24:31 10/23/2001 (3)
- Re: One that had to be rushed jolynn 04:53:32 10/24/2001 (0)
- o-t on pets Alissa 15:20:53 10/23/2001 (1)
  - Re: o-t on pets jolynn 04:47:44 10/24/2001 (0)

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: Beautiful work, but that kinda goes without saying with your work. : : I think this story is important to share. We often forget here in : America that the rest of the world does not see things the same way we : do. : : I found myself wanting to know why, if, as the women with her said, : they could do it themselves, they had someone else do it, and an : American, at that. Is it a custom to have someone else do this? Were : they just "letting you know" that you couldn't pull one over on them : by doing less than great-they would know? Or is it normal to do this? : : I can understand the questioning of her feelings about her betrothed : upsetting her. As you said, she was doing this out of her sense of : proper duty to her family and talking about her feelings about him : could be seen as disrespectful. Only if they are an acceptable match : is important. What I would love to know is why she was so nervious : about being at your place. Was it because of aweful things she had : hear about Americans, was she not suppose to be doing this, or : something else. And why the big secret, does this tie into the reason : she was so nervious? Or is it a more personal thing-making sure no one : else has henna as nice as hers? I have a feeling it has to do with : former, not the latter. : : How much of her nerviousness was prompted by culture and how much by : personality(which, in turn is shaped to a point by culture). : : Opps, the anthropologist got out, again! Do you have any more thoughts : on any of these things? I am inclined to feel sorry for this woman as : I would hate to be in that situation. However, if she does not regret : the situation or find it unpleasent (some how I doubt this) I see no : reason to cast her in the role of a 'victim of her culture' as most : Americans would. I remember one example we had in college of a people : where the married women of the upper class are vieled in public and : not allowed to do any work outside of the home (except shopping).An : American asked a group of these women how they could bear to be so : repressed. They told her they were not upset by this, the fact they : were veiled and did not HAVE to work outside of the home showed others : how rich their husbands were how lucky they were to have an easy life. : Why should they want to give up the safe, comfortable life and have to : toil like the unfortunate. : : Thank you for sharing this story! : : Jolynn- anthro 101 : : A henna job that had to be rushed: story linked below.
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