Perhaps one of my most captivating books is The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman. The three introductory chapters enlighten the reader about the Hmong’s childbirth customs and traditions. It was fascinating to learn of their belief in ghosts and the placental role in childbirth. Anne Fadiman did an excellent job portraying the Hmong’s distinct autonomous culture and deep religion. The author wrote the preceding three chapters to demonstrate the necessity of understanding Hmong culture to comprehend what Lia’s household was going through.
Reading the book was enjoyable for me since the author drew similarities between birth in Hmong traditions and birth in the United States. It was fascinating to learn about childbirth as someone who had never heard of the Hmong community. It was particularly moving to witness Foua deliver several of her babies by herself (Fadiman, 1998). This tradition, in particular, shocked me since, in Western culture, it is almost unheard of. Being born and raised in a family with three doctors, they frequently cautioned me about the dangers involved in delivering outside of a hospital. As a result, I was skeptical about natural births in homes facilitated by midwives. Therefore, learning about Foua’s delivery method was not only surprising but also breathtaking. The introductory chapter sparked my interest and increased the desire to understand more regarding Hmong traditions.
I did not entirely love reading the middle chapter since I believe the author placed it in an incorrect position in the book. It should have been the opening chapter since it focuses on the Hmong’s origins and history. Based on the text, I believe scholars may develop a new multidisciplinary medical approach. Conjoined therapy may assist in minimizing cultural disparities. Intercultural reliance would eliminate most of the obstacles, which would perfectly ease Lia’s situation if the Hmong had implemented them.
Reference
Fadiman, A. (1998). The Spirit Catches you and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, her American doctors, and the collision of two cultures. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.