HW 35 - Other Peoples' Perspectives 1

Interview with Henry Guss (Interview was conducted by virtual means and was recorded onto a word document. To download the file, click the link below.)

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Interview with Lawrence Wong (Interview was conducted by virtual means and was recorded onto a word document. To download the file, click the link below.)

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Interview with Alina Leuca (Interview was conducted by virtual means and was recorded onto a word document.  To download the file, click the link below.)

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Interview with Evan Wood (Please disregard any background noise and to maximize the experience of listening, please raise your volume.)

 

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       At our prime physical and mental state, we are the ripe fruits of our age.  Us adolescents have means to explore the complexes of life, including that of birth.  The cartoonish portrayals of birth, in all its gore and glory, merely dip into our conscious and subconscious thoughts of what birth actually means, consists of, and creates.  In exploring my generation's understanding of birth, I've come to find that adolescents my age have actually considered, though in a small manner, what birth can offer—the possibility of a family, the hardships childbearing may bring, the responsibility of raising a child, the physical pain birth requires, and most importantly new decisions to be made.  The majority of the people I had interviewed had openly acknowledged their lack of expertise on birth with a certain awkward distaste for talking so casually about something that was not going to be important for at least another decade.  Nevertheless, the interviews unveiled the social conventions, consideration of other's opinions, a rational mindset, and the need to satisfy a prevalent desire for a child that dominate people's concept of birth.
       The cliche genuine smiles and focused glances on the animated face of the baby evoke one message: birth and the nurturing of a child is a luxury.  We've all been told the paragons of birth and probably have succumbed to believe that we should love and desire birth because it is beautiful, natural, and rewarding.  All such stories and anecdotes are a mere cover for its nature as social convention.  "When I imagine the joy of being a parent—I know that I want as many children as possible" (Leuca).  Leuca demonstrates that her initial thoughts on birth seem to cover the jubilant aspects of childbearing and not what is gruesome, arduous, and laborious.  My generation's immediate thoughts are stemmed from people having told them that having a family, giving birth, and raising a child is social norm, which is expected for a human race to flourish.  Thus, my generation has been taught to take consideration of society's dominant opinion on birth and more or less believe the virtues of the social conventions that surround it.        
       While we all have our whimsical, even maybe aberrant, moments, we tend to be more rational when it comes to making decisions dealing with birth.  Most parents want to provide their children with the optimal life—clothes made of the finest quality, food made by the most renowned chefs, shoes crafted by hands of expertise, and even a home designed for leisure.  Though it isn't so much about the parent's desire to provide such a life but the parent's capability of doing so.  A rudimentary job will not place a bib on a baby's neck, provide a safe environment, put food on the table for a family, and essentially provide a stable life for a child.  "I myself will not have children until I can make sure I am able to support them financially and give them the best life possible" (Leuca).  The thought of having a child is eliminated if one is unable to provide sustenance.  "In my case, I would have more than one child...I wouldn't say four, I don't know, maybe it's just my mind, financially, I don't think I could handle it" (Wood).  To be aware of the financial aspect of giving birth to and raising a child is to think rationally.  Fortunately, a concern for the well-being of the child is certainly apparent in the minds of my generation.  "Children are something that should be treated kindly—nowadays they are made because they are wanted and people should treat them as such" (Guss).