VS
(news.cnet.com) (tmz.com)
Ok I had to blog about this, might be a little redundant but I feel like it picks up on our discussion we had on Thursday...
http://www.feministing.com/archives/013707.html (very short blog article)
I think this is a fitting add-on to our discussion in class the other day about population control, it seems the octuplet mother is receiving death threats. I think this is a feasible outcome if we start to put bans on how many people children can have, and attach a stigma to it. Hmmm, kind of like abortion. These people who are threatening her probably believe they have some right to do so, since they are the ones paying ‘with their hard-earned tax dollars’ to take care of her children on welfare.
Also the contrast with the Mccauhey septuplets is very startling, but hardly anyone mentions it. I guess it is ok to have 7 children if you’re doing under the guise of good Christians.
This is a complete distraction to what is really going on in our culture, I am not going to be able to tease it all out right here but there is definetly something wrong. No surge of media covers child abuse this extensively or how African American welfare mothers have a higher percentage of births or how many other people willingly bring children into this world without giving a thought to whether they can afford to care for them (namely religious people who don’t believe in birth control) but somehow these issues go overlooked.
People have even gone as far as to say that Nadya has a baby addiction.. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29163803/
riiiight, she’s addicted. It seems like this is another way to ‘blame the victim’ and not look at her circumstances at all. Just say ‘you made your bed now lie in it’ is basically what I keep hearing. I’m not sure what circumstances could lead to this but I’m sure our crazy baby culture has something to do with it, and of course I am not trying to take away the responsibility she should have for these children, I just don't think she should be persecuted for it.
And everyone is practically laughing at her for asking (no wait begging according to this article) for help, http://www.parentdish.com/2009/02/11/octuplet-mom-asks-for-money-on-new-web-site/73
But meanwhile the Mccaugheys were given a house…and had much other support from the community, they knew they couldn’t do it on their own either but no one shunned them for it, or threatened their life. They actually have called Mccaughey a ‘wonder mom’ àhttp://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-756585.html
I think focus needs to be somewhere else besides banning choices on life, or deciding if the state has the power to take away these children. ( I think they already do). this is an unusual case..and complicated but it does not mean that everyone is going to go do this kind of stuff now. Just my opinion and I welcome all other opinion and criticisms etc. Thanks for reading my rant haha.
P.S. the deal with the first picture is that there is a debate over whether the photo was touched up to make her (Mccaughley) teeth look straighter...I found that a little bit interesting
I'm not sure where I stand w/ this issue. Babies are supposed to be a blessing and exciting for everyone involved in their lives. Yet, for the mother of 14 children, we are questioning whether she should be a mother at all. It would seem that if we as the outside society can see that there is a "healthy family" already in place, we don't seem to mind when the mother has lots of babies at once. But what is a "healthy family" after all? I mean, there are plenty of single parents out there (for whatever reason) who are doing the best they can for their kids, and they are doing just fine, hanging in there.A "healthy family" doesn't always include a mom and dad. Now clearly, the mother who now has 14 children isn't doing the best as a parent in our eyes...
ReplyDeleteSo as for me, I'm not sure where to go on this one. Clearly the mom needs help, and I mean needs help, b/c these babies are w/ us now, there's no going back. So should we just continue to shake our heads and sigh w/ disgust at how poor of a parent she is or help her out where we can, for the babies sake?
There comes a point where you have to confront someone and let them know you don't agree w/ their decision, and make sure they know where you're coming from and why, but then be ready to move on and continue to love them.
I think one of the main reasons why people are so frustrated with Nadya and her octuplets is because she and all her kids are on welfare. The fact that other people are paying for her kids' food, clothes, shelter practically their lives is kind of ridiculous when Nadya wants to keep having children. I think that's why Mccaughley isn't looked down upon because she's raising her family with her own money and is more responsible in that she takes care of them. I think it shcould all just come down to whether or not you can support your children. You should only have as many as you can take care of mentally, physically and definately financially.
ReplyDeletei agree, children are a blessing, i love them. I have worked with children my entire life, all age groups. I know a ton, more than i should know, about them. I am not even upset that she had octuplets, how can you control that. I am upset that she already had sixtuplets at home. they are young too. ive never raised kids of my own before, but i do know that even raising one is challenging. i cannot even imagine raising six at one time. but then to go and have fertility treatments while your other six are still young? that is absurd! it is like you are saying those six weren't good enough! it is not like she got pregnant on accident! she made herself get pregnant. i also think it is crazy to compare this situation to any other situation, especially that couple because they are a couple who wanted a family, and could afford and handle it. they also did not have six small children at home. There's a HUGE difference!!
ReplyDeleteI think its pretty sad.
ReplyDeleteBut the bottom line is she has the freedom and right to do as she pleases with her money and her body. No matter where she is getting it from.
No matter how mentally disturbed she is, money talks, especially to shifty unethical people.
I think it's a little sick that we are already calling this woman "mentally disturbed" I'm not sure what those psychologists are basing those broad assumptions on, but at most it is misinterpreted quotes. Any REAL psychologist would REFUSE to make such sweeping statements about someone without even speaking to them.
ReplyDeleteWe are concerned about her using up welfare money and the "poor children" she will never have time to look after, but no one is calling in TV therapists to talk about the thousands of families that take in too many foster children, barely care for them, and just keep the money? No one is spending HOURS of NEWS time talking about the abuse children sustain in "healthy" homes.
I don't know. I think this is just another example of how TV news wastes our time with crap instead of facing actual issues.