Archive for August 2, 2012

August 2nd, 2012

Recommended Reading #110: Questioning the System(s), Pt. II



      “Maternity Care in a ‘Majority Minority’ Country” by Miriam Pérez (Health and Body, Race, U.S. Public Policy) 5/31/12

I find this an incisive, penetrating look at the intersections of the current U.S. Medicaid system, midwifery, and pregnancy and childbirth in the U.S.—as well as the striking and profoundly relevant implications thereof.

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      “More Treatment, More Mistakes” by Sanjay Gupta (Non-Sex-Related, Health and Body) 7/31/12

It seems to me that the medical system in the U.S. Is one of the many systems that may invite us to examine what about our current ways of interacting and operating seem distorted, unconscious, and un-ideal to varying degrees, and this piece struck me as an illuminating and considered example of doing so. It also contains a line I find of profound relevance to our own awareness and examination of all of our systems and interaction: “What may be even more important is remembering the limits of our power.”

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      “When Andrew Hacker asks ‘Is Algebra Necessary?’, why doesn’t he just ask ‘Is High School Necessary?'” by Rob Knop (Non-Sex-Related, Education, Sociology) 7/29/12

I read the original article to which this is responding, and I found it interesting. However, despite, ironically, my own dislike of and challenge with math in school, I did feel some of the same concerns I interpret this piece as expressing. I agree strongly that education is not simply a means to a professional end, and I also agree that a preponderance of individuals failing at math and the seeming normativeness of this does likely indicate a deeper issue about the way it is taught or framed. Overall, I appreciate the perspective this response offers.

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Recommended Reading posted every Wednesday