your thoughts appreciated

[your_seeser]

I have been wondering... is health a universal value or a cultural value?

I have been learning to realize that some things I used to think are universal values are in fact just values of my WASP (White Anglo Saxon Protestant) middle class culture.  I had just never experienced anything different in my somewhat sheltered life until now. Moving away

Comments

from mela

[anonymous]

I think that pursuit of health is generally universal, but what you think is healthy might be different than what someone else thinks is healthy. For instance a lot of Hispanic women at WIC seem to think a chubby baby is a healthier baby than a skinny one.
Also, from what I remember in Mexico people were much more concerned with being healthy in the sense of not being sick, rather than general wellness or fitness people in the US seem to be obsessed with.
So in my opinion pursuit of health in one way or another might be pretty universal, but in different places people probably focus on different aspects of health and what IS healthy varies as well, depending on cultural values.

From Neal

[anonymous]

Well, when I was in the Ivory Coast, I found out that they have a "larger women's" competition. Basically, they take really attractive women who are a bit fat (for our standards) and have a national competition, like a beauty queen show.

So the idea of what is "healthy" definitely changes from place to place. And it does have something to do with the amount of avaliable food.

But it depends on what you mean - if daily tending to your health means taking time to jog, then yes. Daily tending to your health can be a luxury. But if it means eating and drinking to keep yourself alive, then no, it's a necessity.

Your primary concern? That's tough. maybe the answer is finding a balance?

Jane

[anonymous]

I actually just spoke with neal about hopefully getting together with you guys over thanksgiving break- i will indeed be somewhere around edgerton. i will be your fatalist, Laura- however I do not think i am one... at least not all the time

jane

[anonymous]

i suppose i could comment on health as well: the concept of healthy is definitely culturally and societily defined. however i do believe that to some extent concern for one's health- especially since physical, emotional, mental, spiritual health is all connected- is necessary. but it is important for everyone to tend to their health within the realm of what is possible for them. i hate to think of the ability to tend to one's health as a luxury because it makes it all to easy for people who could tend to their health decide they don't need to. Not tending to one's health is just as much of a problem