Brides

    In July of 1918, Hallie Crawford Stillwell was a self described “ nervous bride- to- be and twenty years old.” (Stillwell 104.)    I too, was 20 when I married.  I know how a young woman of that age feels when she is about to marry.  Young brides-to-be are excited about the future they will share with their future husband; the life they will create for themselves and the lives they create as they have children.  I know, I remember. 

   The brides- to- be of years past worried more about the marriage than the wedding.  My grandmother worried about earning enough money to buy a dress, not so much about how she would look in it.  I don’t doubt that she ,in fact, did want to be radiant in that dress, but I know she didn’t starve herself to get into it.   She was a product of harder times after all, she had been hungry most of her life, she wasn’t looking to emphasize that hunger for a dress.  Like Stillwell, my grandmother’s thoughts were of her future and making the best life possible for herself and the man she loved.   The whole idea was us not  me or “How do I look?” 

  Stillwell wondered “what (her) role as a pioneer ranch wife would be like.” (Stillwell 108.)  She would do all of the cooking, washing, and child rearing.  Her life would be filled with challenge and hardship, joy and hard work.  Stillwell remembers how she “was ready to accept my responsibilities as his wife…” (Stillwell 113.) 

 Today’s bride is much different. Today planning a wedding is time consuming, stressful, exhaustive, and expensive. Recently the web has been buzzing with the story of Feeding Tube Brides. According to Click2Houston.com, today’s future brides are paying $1,500.00 to have a feeding tube inserted. This devise administers an 800 calorie per day liquid diet that consists of a combination of protein, fat and no carbohydrates. In the span of a week, brides- to -be can lose up to 10 pounds or more. Gone are the days of radiant brides. They have been replaced by gaunt, wan, hungry women walking around with tubes hanging out of their noses. Most of these women gain all the weight back during their honeymoon.

   

More important than the question “What are these women thinking?” is the question “What are the future husbands thinking?” Equal portions of blame can be placed on the grooms in this bizarre feeding tube scenario. Husbands are expected to shelter their wives from the certain things, in my opinion. A voluntary feeding tube is one of those things. Stillwell knew that her husband “would protect me from danger and teach me how to protect myself.”(Stillwell 113.) One must wonder who is protecting today’s bride.

Works Cited

Barbadoro, Alexandria. “I’ll Take my Enema Now.” April 24, 2012. Web. April 26, 2012. <http://blogs.phillymag.com/the_philly_post/2012/04/24/enema-shop-open-business/>

Berman, Laura. “Is a Feeding Tube now a New Brides Best Friend? April 24, 2012. Web. April 26, 2012. <http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/easy/12012285-423/is-feeding-tube-now-a-brides-best-friend.html>

Chung, Jen.  “The Feeding Tube Diet.” Food. April 22, 2012. Web. April 26, 2012. <http://gothamist.com/2012/04/22/feeding_tube_diet_bride_its_not_cra.php>

“Feeding Tube Diet gains popularity with Brides.” April 17, 2012. Web. April 26, 2012. <http://www.click2houston.com/news/-Feeding-Tube-Diet-gains-popularity-with-brides/-/1735978/10959300/-/9rng42z/-/index.html>

<http://fashion-mommy.com>

<http://fashion-era.com>

Life on the Res

   While reading "Lost Sister" by Dorothy Johnson I became curious about of few topics as they relate to the Native American existence, namely poverty levels and the education of those living on Indian Reservations.
   Native Americans endure the highest poverty levels when compared to other ethnic groups.   Native Americans living on larger reservations experience poverty rates of 40% or higher.  One in every four Native Americans live in poverty (25.3%).  The average annual income among Native Americans is $33,627.00.
   Not all Indians receive income generated by casinos.  In fact, many reservations are remotely located and therefore do not have casinos as they are not ideal locations for any type of business.   These somewhat  isolated locations also contribute to poverty as it is often times not economically feasible to travel the long distances from the reservations to areas that provide employment.   Therefore, Native Americans experience the highest rate of unemployment.  In certain instances, the unemployment rate among Native Americans is triple that of the Great Depression.  Fewer Native Americans have full-time employment than any other community that experiences high poverty levels.  Only 36% of Native American males experience employment year round.  Counties that contain Reservations are among the poorest counties in the country.

   In terms of education the Native American does not fair well.  90% of Native Americans attend high school, however the drop out rate is the highest of any other ethnic minority.  Performance drops drastically after the fourth grade.  The national graduation rate among Native Americans is approximately 50%. 
 Among the reasons given for drop out are:
* As a Native American, school is not important.
* My teacher does not understand me.
* Little to no parental support

  Native Americans fall glaringly behind African Americans in college enrollment and graduation.  According to the National Educational Longitudinal Survey, the United States Education System ministered to a mere 1.4% of Native Americans, making them the second most disadvantage ethnic group.
   The statement made by the Secretary of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Kevin Gover said it best during a speech given at the 175th Anniversary celebration of the establishment of the Bureau held on September 8, 2000,  when he said "This agency forbade the speaking of Indian languages, prohibited the conduct of traditional religious activities, outlawed traditional government, and made Indian people ashamed of who they were. Worst of all, the Bureau of Indian Affairs committed these acts against children entrusted to its schools, brutalizing them emotionally, psychologically, physically, and spiritually.  Even in this era of self -determination, when the Bureau of Indian Affairs is at long last serving as an advocate for Indian people in an atmosphere of mutual respect, the legacy of these misdeeds haunts us. The trauma of shame, fear and anger has passed from one generation to the next, and manifests itself in the rampant alcoholism, drug abuse, and domestic violence that plague Indian country. Many of our people live lives of unrelenting tragedy as Indian families suffer the ruin of lives by alcoholism, suicides made of shame and despair, and violent death at the hands of one another. So many of the maladies suffered today in Indian country result from the failures of this agency. Poverty, ignorance, and disease have been the product of this agency's work....".

Works Cited

http://www.spotlightonpoverty.org/ExclusiveCommentary.aspx?id=0fe5c04e-fdbf-4718-980c-0373ba823da7

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17645287

http://www.twofrog.com/rezsch.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_American_reservation_politics