A Child is Born - Summary | The Heritage of Words

English | Summary
Unit Six : Women and Children
A Child is Born
Germaine Greer
The Heritage of Words

Childbirth management in the Eastern society varies from place to place. The mother is familiar about the way of giving birth to child in such society because they are used to in such customs. They don't feel so much physical and mental tension while giving birth. The approach in Eastern society is ritualistic. She is covered with taboos and prohibitions which reduces her psychological burden.

This Summary is Moved to our new site => http://www.merospark.com/hseb-notes/a-child-is-born/

Important Question :

1. What differences does the writer show us between a traditional society and modern west in matters of pregnancy, childbirth and child raring?

Ans. In traditional societies, when a woman becomes pregnant, she has to observe certain prohibitions and carry out the set rites. All these taboos and prohibitions help her keeping herself mentally free and to lessen the pain and fear. The pregnant lady is helped by her husband and other members of family and community which enhances her sense of security. But in the modern west societies, the pregnant lady has to take care of herself. In such individualistic society, no other family member renders any support that helps the pregnant lady feel secure. She has to undertake all the preparations for newcomer by herself. In traditional societies, child birth irrespective of its sex is celebrated although there is a greater risk of the lives of the mother and the baby. The woman, after the birth of the child is fully accepted by the new family and she is allowed to visit her father’s house. The women in such societies are started calling after the names of their children ignoring their original identity which the western people criticize calling it a wrong behavior. However, in the west, although modern and sophisticated hospitals are there, a child is born in an isolated hospital bed surrounded by modern medical equipments. There is no one to welcome the child and to support the lady emotionally to help lessen difficulties in western societies. In traditional society, the children are usually looked after collectively by the family members. The entire family is involved to bathe and to feed the children collectively. In the evening, children are told fairy tales by other members of the family. However, these practices aren’t seen in modern western societies. The respective family mothers have to take care of their children by themselves as there is no help form other family members in the matter of child care.The writer argues that the traditional east is far better than the modern west in matters of pregnancy, childbirth and child raring although there is high risk of mothers and children mortality rate in these societies.

Question for Practice :

1. What differences does the writer show between a traditional society and a modern society in matters of pregnancy, childbirth, and childbearing ?
2. Why does the writer bring in the examples of the traditional societies to discuss the problems of a modern, especially a western society ?

Read this Also :

• God's Grandeur - Summary | The Heritage of Words
• I Have a Dream - Summary | The Heritage of Words
• Women's Business - Summary | The Heritage of Words
• The Children Who Wait - Summary | The Heritage of Words

Don't forget to LIKE, SHARE and COMMENT. Please Join With us on Facebook and Google+ for Daily Notes and Updates.