Culture, Scaffolding, and Lasting Hope

Imagine living in a culture that places the blame for most problems of life on the women, especially the daughter-in-law. Women from chilodhood are taught that they are the cause of all difficulites of life, from not producing a male son to birth defects. Daughter-in-laws are particularly singled out. Since they leave their homes when married and go to live with their husband's family. Their new mother-in-law now owns their life and often works them to exhaustion. They are the last to get to eat, rest or health care, and are denied the basics of life.

Our arrival to this community was welcomed because the team working there had built a foundation of trust with these women. They of course were shy and a bit hesitant to get started, but as we spent time together and began to laugh and share experiences you could feel the bonding I believe only occurs between the sisterhood of being a woman. No matter what culture the women are in we share the same heart for our families.

The subject of childbirth and women's health is not normally discussed in the culutre and there are many beliefs that are not accurate. It is a slow process, but as the teams teach and gain trust in the communites their world view begins to change, exchanging truth for lies.

As we began this week in a community center where the team has been working, the women were few in number and not sure why we would want to be there with them teaching. We sat in a small circle, laying our drawings on the floor. Some people from the community were walking in and out and working in this large room with very tall windows. I especially notices a woman up on scaffolding washing windows. She was so curious about the lessons she kept moving closer and closer, leaning over to see what we were talking about. As the discussion livened up she moved the scaffolding closer and leaned down to ask a question about a physical problem her daughter was experiencing. Finally when we got to the breast exam she got down from the scaffolding and joined the group. The women were so interested they didn't want us to skip Wednesday as planned. They are so hungry for any information we can give them.

I asked the team leader to evaluate how the work the team has been doing had changed the women's lives.

• They have become closer to their neighbors and more helpful


• They have learned about good hygiene and how to prevent simple diseases and decreased visits to the clinic


• They increased their knowledge regarding disease prevention


• They learned how to take care of their children


• And, they increased their self esteem