Human Reproduction as a Biocultural Process

While researching prenatal care in Greece, anthropologist Eugenia Georges discovered that ultrasound scanning—"putting the baby on television" in the words of women she interviewed—had become part of obstetrics care by the 1990s. The technical principles of ultrasound are similar everywhere, but the meanings and purposes of the procedure vary, depending on cultural contexts. Medical anthropologists who specialize in human reproduction are particularly attuned to the subtle cultural differences shown in these variable interpretations of ultrasonography. Like other life course events, pregnancy and birth are prime examples of biocultural processes. Human reproduction follows a template established in mammalian evolution. In contrast to egg-laying animals, the young of mammals develop internally, nourished by the mother&s;s blood through the placenta, an organ present only during pregnancy. The basic premise of life history theory is that energy from food in the form of kilocalories is needed for all life functions and that "energy used for one purpose cannot be used for another.".

Biology · Human reproduction · Process (computing) · Reproduction · Computer Science · Ecology · History · Reproductive Health and Technologies

• Reproducing Race

  Khiara M Bridges, Khiara Bridges•Reproducing Race•2019

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