Weekly Genetics Quote #24: Anxious Parents
This week’s genetics quote is from Anxious Parents: A History Of Modern Childrearing In America by Peter N. Stearns:
The particularly American fascination with genetic explanations had much the same flavor, in the final decades of the 20th century. Genetics confirmed the belief that many children were flawed, either physically or mentally or both. Genetic causality might also, of course, provide some hope for redress, which was always welcome.
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10 opinions for Weekly Genetics Quote #24: Anxious Parents
Deb L
Jun 14, 2006 at 8:57 am
So sad that we cling to the idea of perfection so fiercely.
And what is that, really, but many times just subjective cultural beliefs?
On the other hand, when you do have a child who is obviously not in the ‘majority’ of children, it is a relief to have the medical community acknowledge that, give it validity, and then work to do what can be done to help that child “fit” into society as best as can be done.
river2sea72
Jun 14, 2006 at 11:13 am
“Redress”, as in, using biotechnology to “fix” our potential offspring before they are born?
Hsien Hsien Lei, PhD
Jun 14, 2006 at 12:52 pm
Deb: Since I am actually reading this book, I can say that this quote is actually taken out of context. The chapter deals with the change in the treatment of children as resilient and hardy to beings in need of constant care and protection.
river2sea72: I suppose that’s the implication and the hope of some parents out there!
river2sea72
Jun 14, 2006 at 12:54 pm
You need to arrange for a webcast of Blade Runner.
Hsien Hsien Lei, PhD
Jun 14, 2006 at 1:05 pm
river2sea72: LOL I haven’t seen that movie! Maybe when I no longer have to worry about little eyes seeing what they shouldn’t, I’ll rent it.
river2sea72
Jun 14, 2006 at 1:09 pm
It’s old-time science fiction, and interesting from the perspective of a future with genetic modification and its potential abuses. He’d probably get a kick out of it. Although, I guess there are some parts that might require more explanation than you’d like to provide at this point. We watch movies after the little one has gone to bed so we can maintain a semblance of adult culture.
Genetics and Health » Weekly Genetics Quote #26: Anxious Parents
Jun 28, 2006 at 4:09 am
[…] I can’t help but feature Anxious Parents: A History Of Modern Childrearing In America by Peter N. Stearns yet again. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that a book about families should include references to genes. Aptitude tests could in fact be prepared for; hence the proliferation of test tutoring and pressures on instructors to teach for the test. Even if tests measured raw aptitude, there was always the question of whether parents had provided good genes or done enough to ensure learning-intensive early years. […]
Genetics and Health » Weekly Genetics Quote #25: Anxious Parents
Jun 28, 2006 at 4:23 pm
[…] This week’s genetics quote is, once again, from Anxious Parents: A History Of Modern Childrearing In America by Peter N. Stearns: Genetic explanation of why children were depressed, or unruly, or fat also maintained the ambiguous relationship to parental responsibility that the fascination with frailty had always implied. Flaws were not the fault of children. They were also not the result of parental misbehavior. But they suggested a need for parental compensation, and they implied some responsibility, as well. Parents did not deliberately cause genetic misfiring, but they did provide the genes. […]
Genetics and Health » Genetics in The New York Times
Jun 28, 2006 at 4:24 pm
[…] Wasn’t I just talking about this yesterday? […]
Genetics and Health » Serotonin Transporter Gene, Family Environment, and Depression
Oct 10, 2006 at 10:25 pm
[…] Says something about this anxious mother that my first thought upon reading this quote was - “Gosh, just one more piece of ammunition for our kids to blame us for handing down bad genes AND bad parenting.” […]
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