Kianna Little
Anth 316
Essay Exam 3
1.
When assessing why women have so many children even though that is not the way of
an ideal family, it is important to look at the cultural aspects surrounding reproductive
choices and birth control. Hughes shared that 85% of Brazil’s population is considered to
be catholic, therefore, Catholic “morality” mandated their reproductive decisions and
obligated that women “Cooperate with god and nature” essentially assigning it a
women’s duty to procreate (Hughes, 337). Birth control was not common either as most
of the population was under the impression that the birth control pill would cause
extreme illness (Hughes, 333). Tubal ligation was restricted as well because it went
against the teachings of the Catholic church and much of the population were nominal
Catholics (McKee, Lecture 10).
Only 44% of women actually marry, and impoverished
women in Bom Jesus were not guaranteed work, food, comfort and health, however, sex
is something they refuse to give up (McKee, Lecture). For impoverished women sex is
something that brings them happiness for free and was likely unprotected so many
pregnancies is a sensible outcome.
