The Hutterites are a communal group of people, living on hundreds of scattered colonies throughout northwestern North America. By basically removing themselves physically from the outside world, they feel they are able to keep the influences of the world away. On average, fifteen to eighteen families live and work on the typical Hutterite colony, where they farm, raise livestock and produce manufactured goods. In these colonies, the Hutterites use modern equipment and share all property in common. They eat meals as one group in a main dining hall as family time is very important to them. The men in the colonies dress in jackets and pants, usually black in color. Under their jacket, they wear a button up collared shirt. The pants they wear …show more content…
do not have pockets, and they are held up suspenders rather than a belt. Women and girls wear a dress with a blouse underneath. They also wear a kerchief-style head covering which is usually black with white polka dots. The polka dots tell which branch the women belong to. Young girls wear a bright, colorful cap that fastens under the chin. The Hutterites also speak in a German dialect but most of them also know English as well. The Hutterite’s religious beliefs are the major factor of influencing their behaviors and values. Hutterite follow Christianity religion, they believe that humans can be “saved” or “returned to God” only through communal living. Because of their strong belief in God, Hutterites consider death and dying a natural part of life. They believe that if they are faithful to God and their religion of Christianity they will have a place saved for them in heaven where they will be reunited with their loved ones that have passed before them. However, even with their strong beliefs in God, losing a loved one is still tragic and causes an immense amount of grief for their family and throughout the entire colony. While it is hard on them to lose an elder in the colony, it is said that when a child dies Hutterites envy them for being spared the struggles and temptations of life. Denzin (1974) defines ritual as “a joint act, involving two or more persons, that is frequently in the lives of those members. It is endowed with special, often sacred meaning, is focused around a set of clearly defined objects” (p. 272). Every culture has rituals, although rituals vary with each culture. When a member of the Hutterite culture passes away they believe that they are going to a type of paradise or heaven, if they have lived a faithful life and devoted themselves to God. The ritual for Hutterites when a loved one dies they care for the deceased bodies at home where they do a partial embalmment. They then have a wake, also called a vigil beside the body before it is buried. Burial of the body takes place within three days after the person has passed away and is usually attended by family, colony members, as well as baptized members from other colonies. These members of the colony and other colonies come together to provide support for the family of the deceased. Just like all other cultures around the world, Hutterites are prone to disease as well.
In every culture, we hope or pray that our loved ones live a life full of happiness and free of sickness. Hutterites want this as well, however, while some cultures may put their elderly in assisted living or nursing homes, Hutterites try to care for their elderly at home for as long as they possibly can. Hopefully, that is until their death. When an elder gets sick in the colony and can no longer live on their own, they move in with one of their children, usually a daughter so she can care for them for as long as possible. In many Hutterite communities, the wife of the colony leader usually serves as the community health advocate, or “nurse” for all of the families in the colony. The job of the colony “nurse” is to assess what is wrong with the person having health problems and then can counsels them on whether or not they should see a doctor (UW Medicine). Hutterites are not likely to go to the doctor and seek medical attention for minor pain or illnesses, instead they tend to use folk medicines and drink herbal teas. They are not opposed to seeking medical attention or have surgery, but are not as likely as some cultures to intervene with a life-threatening illness, especially in their elders. Their home remedies or folk medicine includes interventions such as: vitamins, homeopathic remedies, health foods, reflexologists, and chiropractors. Hutterite health habits are primarily …show more content…
shaped by their culture. As stated before, Hutterites can suffer the same illnesses as many other cultures.
Some of the more common illnesses that are seen throughout Hutterite colonies are cystic fibrosis, alcoholism, genetic mutations and other problems that can be associated with inbreeding (E. Becker, Personal Communication, 2017). One of the major illnesses that is seen when caring for Hutterites is Bowen-Condrati Syndrome. Bowen-Condrati Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that is apparent at birth. It is characterized by intrauterine growth retardation, failure to grow and gain weight at the expected rate during infancy, malformations of the head and facial area, causing physical abnormalities. Bowen-Condrati Syndrome is transmitted as an autosomal recessive trait. The parents of most individuals with Bowen-Condrati Syndrome have been closely related by blood (National Organization for Rare Disorders). Scientists at the University of Manitoba led a seven-year project that has located the fatal switch in the EMG1 gene that happens in roughly one out of every 355 Hutterite births (University of Manitoba). Generally, a baby born with Bown-Condrati Syndrome usually does not live longer that six months, they are born at a low birth weight, feeding complications, and failure to thrive. If a baby does survive they are prone to seizures, abnormalities of the kidneys, heart, brain, and other organs (Genetics Home
Reference). Colony members always support and care for their elderly. They are greatly respected as a rich source of wisdom; stories and experiences are passed from generation to generation through them (Hutterian Brethren). As an important part of the colony the elders are taken care of by the colony until death. As mentioned before when they can no longer live on their own they go to live in a home with one of their children, usually a daughter that can take care of them. If an elder need more care that can be handled by a family member or within the colony they will be taken to a nursing home, but this is rare. Even when admitted into a nursing home or other healthcare facility, they are never alone. If a male is admitted into the hospital or nursing home, his wife and another lady from the colony will stay with him. This is not only for male patients, if any person from the colony is in a healthcare facility, they are never alone, there are always other members of the colony with them, sometimes one, sometimes many. As a rule, Hutterites take care of their elderly members as well as those with mental or physical handicaps. Hutterites are not opposed to seeking medical attention when needed, but will not go to a medical provider for minor aches or illnesses. If a Hutterite is seeking medical attention it is usually because it is an emergency or something that is a big concern to them. When necessary, Hutterites can have surgical procedures, dental work, anesthesia, or blood transfusions. Organ transplants are permitted, except for the heart. Hutterites believe the heart is the soul of the body. As a medical professional, it is very important to understand the culture that your patients are part of. As a new nurse who just finished school it is important to know that Hutterites do not like to be seen by a medical profession who is “learning” they want to be taken care of by an experienced provider. Hutterites prefer to be called by their first name. They also prefer doctors and nurses to sit with them and explain the situation and answer the questions that they might have. It is very important to educate them on what you’re explaining. Since Hutterites speak mostly German, and English as a second language, it is important to slow down and make sure that they understand. It is also important to allow more than just the patient in the room if they want someone else with them, they are part of a colony and it is common for one or more to attend appointments or stay with their elders and other members of the colony. If a Hutterite patient refuses treatment but you feel treatment is needed, speak to the patient about his or her potential disability. Hutterites fear disability more than the threat of death. A nurse could encourage home health care if possible. Home health care can be less expensive than a hospital stay and care delivered in their environment could lead to a better understanding of their illness and how to care for it.
Traditional Hmong’s believe in their Shaman rather than western doctors, they choose to detain their treatment by hosting their rituals to save them. A shaman is “a person who acts as intermediary between the natural and supernatural worlds, using magic to cure illness, foretell the future, control spiritual forces, etc” (dictionary.com). Hmong individual’s have a belief that ancestral spirits, including the spirits of shamans, are reincarnated into the same family tree. Hmong consider being a shaman an honor because they carry the duty of helping mankind according to Hmong mythology. Differences between Hmong traditional beliefs and Western biomedical beliefs create a lack of understanding. Negative health care experiences result in Hmong community members’ mistrust and fear of Western medicine. However, when there’s mistrust between a doctor and a patient there could be lack of treatment because of the differences between our ...
There are many different cultures throughout the world. They each have their own distinct customs and beliefs relating to marriage, rites of passage, conflict resolutions, education etc... The most interesting aspect of each culture is how they incorporate their religious beliefs into the healthcare they receive. Some cultures are not affected by their religious beliefs when dealing with healthcare. They are not regulated in the terms of medical procedures and practices they can obtain from healthcare professionals. However, this is not true for every culture in this world. The Amish and Mennonite culture is depicted upon separating themselves from this world and living a plain life. These two cultures are heavily rooted in their religious beliefs and have tendencies not to stray away from those beliefs regardless of the possible benefits of modern technology. Amish and Mennonite culture may share some similarities, but they have some differences also. A culture’s religious beliefs will be the main determining factor in the healthcare they choose.
This book addresses one of the common characteristics, and challenges, of health care today: the need to achieve a working knowledge of as many cultures as possible in health care. The Hmong population of Merced, California addresses the collision between Western medicine and holistic healing traditions of the Hmong immigrants, which plays out a common dilemma in western medical centers: the need to integrate modern western medicinal remedies with aspects of cultural that are good for the well-being of the patient, and the belief of the patient’s ability to recuperate. What we see is a clash, or lack of integration in the example of the story thereof. Lia, a Hmong child with a rare form of epilepsy, must enter the western hospital instead of the Laotian forest. In the forest she would seek out herbs to remedy the problems that beset her, but in the west she is forced to enter the western medical hospital without access to those remedies, which provided not only physical but spiritual comfort to those members of the Hmong culture. The herbs that are supposed to fix her spirit in the forest are not available in the western hospital. The Merced County hospital system clashes with Hmong animist traditions.
Secondly, the customary health beliefs of the aboriginal populace are interrelated with numerous characteristics of their customs such as kinship obligations, land policies, and religion (Boulton-Lewis, Pillay, Wilss, & Lewis, 2002). The socio-medical structure of health beliefs, which the aboriginal people...
In pursuit of national glory, profit and religious mission, England started to explore and conquer the North America. Through the 1600s and the early 1700s, three major colonial regions, the New England colonies, the Middle colonies, and the Southern colonies, formed and developed, and the economic freedom from land owning drew people to the North America. However, during and after the French-Indian War, colonies cooperated to resist British policies and finally declared their independence in 1776.
Hutterites Society The Hutterian Brethren, more commonly known as “Hutterites”, possess many similarities and differences to my own culture as a North American Christian. The life of a Hutterite society is characterized by their historical background, geographical distribution, language, unique cultural aspects, and threats within the colony. I have always been fascinated and curious by the consistent and well-structured way of living that the Hutterites have accomplished over many generations. Ironically, it was the first culture that was spoken about in the anthropology course and book by Michael Allen Park. Therefore, I have chosen to compare and contrast my culture, which I live in today, with the Hutterian Brethren civilization, to further
Clothing is a necessity that is need throughout life for protection and comfort, especially in a lifestyle that leads one to have direct contact with the outside environment and a life in the fields. With the low income that a sharecropper and his family had to work with, being fashionable was not one of their top priorities. Even having sufficient clothing at all was a struggle for the family. The clothing that they did have was “coarse, crude, and not warm enough” (Gentry 138). The typical attire for men was “denim overalls”, and...
The Roanoke colony was located on the Roanoke Island, in Dare County. This is where North Carolina is located today. In 1584, explorers Philip Amadas and Arthur Barlowe were the first Europeans to set view the island. They were sent to that particular region by Sir Walter Raleigh with the assignment of exploring the extensive sounds and estuaries in hunt of an ideal location for settlement. Barlowe wrote bright information of Roanoke Island, and when the explorers returned to England a year afterward with two Natives, Manteo and Wanchese, all of London was abuzz with chat of the New World’s wonders.Queen Elizabeth, impressed with the results of the reconnaissance voyage, knighted Raleigh as a reward. The new ground was named “Virginia” in respect of the Virgin Queen, and the next year, Raleigh sent a gathering of 100 militia, miners and scientists to Roanoke Island. It was a late 16th century attempt for England to establish a permanent settlement. Queen Elizabeth 1 was queen at the time. The attempt was put together and financed by Sir Humphrey Gilbert. Sir Gilbert drowned in his attempt to colonize St.John’s, Newfoundland. His half-brother Sir Walter Raleigh, gained his deceased brothers charter. He would execute the details of the charter through his delegates Ralph Lane and Richard Greenville. Greenville was a distant cousin of Raleigh. Raleigh’s charter specified that he needed to establish a colony in the North America continent, or he would lose his right to colonization. Raleigh and Elizabeth hoped that the colony would provide riches from the New World and a location from which to send privateers on raids against the treasure fleets of Spain. Raleigh never had visited the continent of North America, although he did lead e...
Similarly, in an Australian household their family members depend on their social solidarity and mutual obligation to provide both emotional and practical support when older people are unable to care for themselves independently (Yeboah, 2015). Though, when it comes to seeking assistance, both cultures demonstrate great differences. For instance, Puerto Rican families seek outside help when their elders have severe disabilities due to their assimilation to American culture (Delgado & Tennstedt, 1997). Whereas, Australian families tend to keep assistance to a minimum by having care brought from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) approach, which accommodates older adults based on their cultural background (Yeboah, 2015). A point often overlooked is that regardless of the quality of care the older adult receives, they prefer to be located close to family. More importantly, a nursing home produces an environment that shows little consideration for family values, which is the main aspect older adults strive for when considering a nursing home. Therefore, participating in a nursing home can be disputed because it is the defining line between a good or poor quality of life if the older adult fails to make it their home. Quality of life refers to the perceptions people have of their position
Culture care is grounded within one’s worldview, which is shape by social structure factors such as religion, economics, cultural values, environmental context, ethnohistory, and language (Alligood, 2014; Sitzman & Eichelberger, 2015). Moreover, culture care share similarities and differences related to health and well-being, how individual deal with disability and death, as well as, when to seek relief from illnesses or distress. As culture plays a vital role in health care seeking habits and decision making, it is imperative for nurses to fully understand cultural knowledge. With increase cultural knowledge, nurses are better able to implement care plans that are beneficial to the patient with respect to their beliefs, values, and cultural
Folk medicine is an important aspect of the Appalachian region. According to Mathews, folk medicine is known in involving diseases or illnesses “which are the products of indigenous cultural development and are not explicitly derived from the conceptual framework of modern medicine” (Mathews 1). Folk or traditional medicine is found in all societies, throughout in history, and predates innovation of modern medicine. Folk medicine also explains roles for “indigenous practitioners”(1) who treat and restore health for the individual and community. Folk medicine beliefs and practices serve for the treatment and prevention of aliments and are resistant to change even when the cultural tradition may have gone extinct.
However, some generalizations can be made to help provide culturally competent care to this group of people. One of the most significant factors of culture for Pacific Islanders is family. Family help care for each other and the family should be included in health care decisions. Health is viewed as being in balance and harmony, and illness viewed as an imbalance. Prayer is important aspect of health and healing. Traditionally, in the Pacific Islander culture having a very large body was a sign of health, wealth, and prestige. Just like many cultures food is used in ceremonies and social function. Certain foods are associated with the ethnic identity of the Pacific Islander cultures, these include: breadfruit, green bananas, yams, fruit, fish and coconuts to name a few (Sobralske, 2006, p.
Cultural competence is a skill essential to acquire for healthcare providers, especially nurses. Cooperating effectively and understanding individuals with different backgrounds and traditions enhances the quality of health care provided by hospitals and other medical facilities. One of the many cultures that nurses and other health care providers encounter is the American Indian or Native American culture. There are hundreds of different American Indian Tribes, but their beliefs and values only differ slightly. The culture itself embodies nature. To American Indians, “The Earth is considered to be a living organism- the body of a higher individual, with a will and desire to be well. The Earth is periodically healthy and less healthy, just as human beings are” (Spector, 2009, p. 208). This is why their way of healing and symbolic items are holistic and from nature.
The clothing also represents the breakdown of the society. To begin, most of the boys were wearing school uniforms and some were wearing choir robes. This shows they are educated, civilized young men, who are most likely from, or around the city. As time passes, the boys do not remain fully clad. They shed their shoes and shirts. Their hair grows longer, and they are dirtier. This resembles their civilized ways beginning to fade. They also started using face paint for camouflage, and it eventually becomes a ritual.
With this new affiliation, I may be taking care of traditional Native American in the near future. Native Americans believe in respecting elders, using active listening, and that autonomy is extremely important. They believe in a universal energy and spiritual balance. Illness occurs if there is a disruption in that balance. The nurse should always discuss cultural needs with every patient and that a medicine man may be requested or seen along with their health care provider. Death is viewed as a natural part of the lifecycle because things only live for a certain amount of time. In order to deliver culturally competent care, nurses must understand and respect cultural differences. As nurses, we cannot let our beliefs and values affect how we treat others. We should strive to deliver culturally competent care to all of our