Death Without Weeping
It is so hard to think of children dying in the United States from diseases which can be
cured and diseases which cannot. Mothers in America would hope for three children, especially
healthy ones. The Alto women wish for a family size of three as well but they always seem to
have around ten to twelve. Why do these women keep having more children than they wish? As
stated in
Death Without Weeping,
Alto families live in horrendous conditions with no food,
clean water, and dirty homes. When the child is born, all the mother can do is wish for a strong,
healthy baby who will survive malnourishment, germ-filled water, and being unattended. Some
would wonder why do these children die and Alto women have many answers to that question.
They said the children die because they are poor and hungry, drink filthy water with germs,
cannot afford to keep shoes on their feet, worthless medical care, and the biggest reason is
neglect. (Scheper-Hughes,
1992; 313) Table 7.5 shows a comparison between young and older
women and both have most of their babies die during infancy. (Scheper-Hughes, 1992; 312)
Women have to continue trying to have another child until her family is complete. Sometimes
women have more than they wanted because of inconsistent birth control and no ability to
conduct a hysterectomy. Most men do not use condoms with their wives, only with prostitutes;
no protection means bigger chance of becoming pregnant.
