Hw 19

Illness and dying, something we all try to avoid, but can we really avoid them? We try to avoid death and illness by the dominant culture perspectives of medicine and medical treatment. When it comes to illness people could say that my family doesn't take part in the typical practices. Death, one of the few things that is promised to everyone is the thing most people fear. Majority of people follow the dominant culture practices according to illness and dying but some rebel against the typical practices. 

Some people are raised to always go to the doctor or hospital when they are ill and some are raised to find other ways to deal with sickness. My family were in the second category, home remedies were the way to cope with illness. There were two main reasons why home remedies were the number one way to deal with illness. The first reason was because of the cultural background. Being that my mother and her family were from Belize where medicine was not very common they found other ways to better themselves and to fight illness. Another key reason why the typical practice of medicine and medical treatment was not followed was because the lack of income. Medicine was and still till this day isn't cheap, so what do the less fortunate people have to do when it come to feeling ill? Just like anyone else would do, they would find alternatives. The lack of money and the cultural background is not only my mothers reason to not follow the dominant social practices but many people’s reason around the world.

Dying and illness has played a huge role on my family’s life. Just like majority of people they wanted to avoid it but there was absolutely no way they could. At the age on nine my mothers brother passed away. Even after this incident they still tried to ignore and avoid dying. Dying and death was rarely talked about again. Sooner than later it was back to haunt them. Disease and illness started to affect majority of the family. Finally they felt that it could not be avoided. So if you cant avoid it why not prepare for it? Soon bundles of money were put into life insurance, Will’s were created, and funeral homes were picked out. There seemed like there was no other way but to follow the dominant cultural perspectives of preparing for dying.

Some people try to escape from he dominant cultural perspectives and the typical health, illness, and dying practices. Some people try but can’t live any other way. Dying and illness is something that everyone has to experience. My mother and family tried but couldn't avoid the fact that death comes for everyone but had no choice but to not follow the typical practices of illness. Everyone lives a different life but it’s their choice to follow or not to follow the typical and dominant health, illness, and dying practices.