Re: LIFESCIENCE: gender 1

["Prof. Dr. Birgit Richard" <B.Richard@kunst.uni-frankfurt.de>]

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ARS ELECTRONICA FESTIVAL 99
LIFESCIENCE
Linz, Austria, September 04 - 09
http://www.aec.at/lifescience
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dear lubica lacinova,

Clinical genetics is dominated by males and they do like to exert control.

> Nevertheless, for me is more important question if women should really accept
> "industrialization" of formerly natural reproduction.

you are absolutely right i am probably not so well informed about alternative
possibilities for women to plan these issues autonomously

> Not that long time ago
> cesarean section was exceptional procedure. Now, 25% of all births in USA are
> done that way. The question is, did general health status of women
> deteriorated so rapidly (if so, how comes that there is no furor
> about it ?!?) or it is just extension of the obsession of our society with
> modern technology and control?

yes  i also read about that and i asked myself what is natural and what are the
technical implication forced upon women birth in a clinical e.g. the lying
position is already not natural and not comfortable for women.


> men and/or women. The point is not to increase accessibility of "alternative
> conception methods", the point is to reject their use in cases when they are
> not a necessity.
>

i must confess that i am not able to judge what is a medical necessity and what
is not. i would be always like to the whole topic of life science dependend on
informations of other people of experts. i am only able to choose my source of
information.

>
> >so woman will be mostly not able to
> >know about all the possiblities of genetics and reproductive technologies,
> >especially if they have little money (in germany they cutting down the rates
> >for consultations with special machines, if you have normal insurance you
> >have to pay extra money to make ultrasonic images of the fetus)
>
> I can not see the direct connection between lack of money and lack of
> informations, particularly in Germany. You have quite good network of public
> libraries, most of the households have TV.

yes but tv is not a neutral medium

> As far as the informations about
> reproductive technologies will be publicly available, women can find them.

okay i agree with that but what if you read about the suitable methods for you
and do not find anyone to realize it for you?

> Nevertheless, stress should go in direction to explain, that these
> technologies are not superior to -- so to say -- natural reproduction.

that is a very important point the possibilty to choose

>
> >the cases of a doctor in rome allowing a 63 year old woman to give birth to
> >until now two sons was a scandal the critique was how irresponsible this
> >woman is to give birth at that age because she will die soon.
> >what about all old man being father in senior age. This is indeed normal and
> >accepted by society.
>
> Yes, you are right: society expect mother to take care of child, father's
> obligations are much less binding. Question is, which part of this situation
> deserves more attentions: should we request less from mothers or should we
> require more from fathers? My preference is the second one.
>

mine too

sorry for my broken english, difficult work to concentrate on today, not very
good today in making english sentences
regards
birgit

don4t forget the total eclipse today



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