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- Convenor:
-
Reddisekhara Yalamala
(Dalhousie University)
Send message to Convenor
- Track:
- Life and Death
- Location:
- Alan Turing Building G109
- Sessions:
- Tuesday 6 August, -, -
Time zone: Europe/London
Short Abstract:
Concepts of health and and wellness differ significantly through time and space and across the human life course as people age. What does it mean to be a well human through time and space and how do these notions change across the human life course in times of rapid change?
Long Abstract:
Concepts of health and wellness differ significantly cross culturally and temporally and should be considered across the human life course, as people age, as well. The economic, social and historical contexts that individuals are born into influence their concepts of health, wellness and disease, etc. Food, what constitutes the meal, the cultural acceptability of foods, words, practices and treatment are vital emic dimensions but also are first affected in times of rapid change. Researchers conducting demographic, epidemiological and medical research projects need to well understand the shifting nuances of the culture and the shifting meanings across individual life courses to correctly select the measures and tools of the study in order to implement meaningful health policy changes. Sources of stress, such as rapid change, are influenced by shifting local meanings and that meaning themselves are context/culture dependant. In this panel we will examine case studies of health and wellness cross culturally, temporally and with a view to understanding how these change or remain the same across the human life course. The organisers encourage papers that recommend policy alternatives and develop culturally sensitive methods delivery of health and medicine in their specific field contexts and papers that value aging and the aged as a cultural resource.
Accepted papers:
Session 1 Tuesday 6 August, 2013, -Vellore Pragati (Puducherry Institute of Linguistics and Culture)
Paper short abstract:
Aging process is universal phenomenon and inevitably this stage comes in every society. In traditional Hindu society the elderly persons enjoys lot of respect and honour.
Paper long abstract:
Aging process is universal phenomenon and inevitably this stage comes in every society. Under Indian situation the aged persons are looks at differently in different societies. In traditional Hindu society the elderly persons enjoys lot of respect and honour. They also have knowledge in treating certain illnesses at family level. Among the dalit communities the old people have varied statuses.The dalits of our country constitute an important section of population from anthropological perspective. This study makes as humble attempt to examine some aspects of their status and order of aged women of rural dalit women in Puducherry . Continuing participation in economic, cultural and community life is closely related to the maintenance of health and self esteem of older women.
Jonathan Skinner (University of Surrey)
Paper short abstract:
This paper presents research funded by CARDI into dance health practices in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. In both regions, social dance amongst senior citizens has become a recognised means to successful ageing. Examples of dance health practice range from traditional set dancing - an embodiment of traditional movement systems sedimented in the body – to new exotic latin dances such as salsa and the vogue dance fitness brand Zumba.
Paper long abstract:
This paper presents research funded by CARDI into dance health practices in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. In both regions, social dance amongst senior citizens has become a recognised means to successful ageing. Examples of dance health practice range from traditional set dancing - an embodiment of traditional movement systems sedimented in the body - to new exotic latin dances such as salsa and the vogue dance fitness brand Zumba. In all cases, dancers benefit from the dances, mentally and physically: from increased mobility, flexibility, balance and physical health to social inclusion, self-esteem and a sense of worth and well-being.
This paper gives an overview of dance health practices. It also disseminates findings and recommendations from practical research and interviews: combining All-Ireland dance research we go on to explore, assess and assist dance health practices in physical education in particular. Two-handed dances and variations on group folk dance have been adopted by Age and Opportunity as a result of this research. The use of scarves is explored in gentle dance activity, and advised as a simple introduction to creative dance. More active ageing dance health practice is exemplified by the popular Zumba franchise Gold programme where 'active older adults' get 'camaraderie, excitement and fitness as a regular part of their weekly schedule'. Our conclusion is to recommend the range of dance health practice as outreach and support for our diverse ageing population
Reddisekhara Yalamala (Dalhousie University)
Paper short abstract:
Cultural Consensus Modelling is a unique method for understanding efficacious healing beliefs through time and space. In this paper I explore the potential of the method in understanding health, medicine and indigenous scientific techniques through time and space among Tribal and low caste people.
Paper long abstract:
Cultural Consensus Modelling is a unique method for understanding efficacious healing beliefs through time and space but very seldom used by anthropologists during their fieldwork. In this paper I explore the potential of the method in understanding health, medicine and indigenous scientific techniques through time and space among Tribal and low caste people. I also explore the challenges in developing and deploying the cultural consensus modelling questionnaire in relation to different cohorts, castes, language groups and religions.
Shail Shankar (Indian Institute of Technology Mandi)
Paper short abstract:
This project examined how mumukshus (individuals who come and stay in Kashi to attain liberation) lead a normal life despite having a health crisis. Their positive state of mind, disciplined life and their faith in their religion across their lives improved their health status.
Paper long abstract:
This research investigates how these mumukshus lead a normal life despite their health crisis. More specifically this study aims to examine the relationship between religious beliefs and positive construal of their life situations.
The present study attempts to see the association between religious beliefs and health as well as attempts to understand the facts, sequences of events and reconstruction of activities that directly influenced their health status. More specifically, there is an attempt to understand their daily life activities, perceptions about life and death, present status and changes that they perceived in their health status. It was found that religious beliefs were associated with the peace of mind, sense of freedom from the daily hassles of life and to live the life the way they want to. Mumukshus were found to have low death anxiety and fear of disease they have, which is cultivated across the life course.
Amuthavalluvan Varatharajan (Pondicherry University)
Paper short abstract:
This paper deals with the the folk healing behaviour of Narikuravan, a semi-nomadic community of South India who are also healers to many rural and urban folk. There is much external influence not only on their health seeking behavior but also on the profession of traditional healer.
Paper long abstract:
Folk medicine involves the accumulated knowledge through generations regarding the concepts, perception and treatment of disease. The remedies are usually magico-religious or even involve locally available herbs, imposing structures on food and activities of the patient. These semi-nomadic people passing through more or less fixed routes touches country side as well as the urban areas. They usually do not depend upon the modern medical facilities and draw upon their own health seeking practices, which developed over the generations. Accordingly some symptoms of ill health may not have any significance among them and often left to natural or super natural care. However for certain ailments they provide herb as remedies especially for venereal disease and sexual dysfunction. In this respect the Narikuravan became traditional healers for rural and urban folk who cannot afford biomedical treatments and who also continue to have confidence on the traditional healers. Under these conditions the Narikuravan are caught in between the socially accepted traditional health care system and the over imposing modern medical system that involves not only their health but also their business as healers.