The Amish Way of Life
The Amish Way of Life
Shannon Mason
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
Jessie Cohen
December 14, 2011
The Amish Way of Life
The Amish culture is fascinating to me, because it exists in our own country, and our own communities, but yet it is not an integral part of our mainstream society. Although the Amish culture exists in our own backyards, The Amish have distinct gender roles, cultural beliefs and values, and their own way of handling sickness and healing. As in many cultures, the Amish people have very distinct gender roles. This means that men and women have certain tasks and traditions that are separate for each gender, and as a rule, these tasks are not performed by the other. The Amish father is responsible for providing for his family through farm work or by employment in the local community. Many Amish men are working away from the farm [because of] the declining availability of farmland. Many Amish men work as carpenters, masons or laborers in factories. Some have home based businesses such as furniture making, harness repair or the shoeing of horses. Amish culture teaches girls to serve and please others such as their parents, husbands and relatives. An Amish wife is identified by using her husband 's name, eg. Eli Katie means Eli 's wife, Katie. The social life for an Amish woman is centered around church, funerals, quilting bees, baking, barn raising and frolics (Lemon, 2006). Unmarried young women often find work in shops and restaurants owned by "English" (the generic term for non-Amish persons), or in housecleaning services (Cates, et al 2006). It seems that women would rebel against the lack of personal identity this culture allows them, but since they are raised and taught this to be normal, it is rarely questioned.
Amish beliefs and values contain aspects that are the same as mainstream society, but much of their attitudes and beliefs are very unique. The Amish culture is said to be a branch or denomination of the
Shannon Mason
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
Jessie Cohen
December 14, 2011
The Amish Way of Life
The Amish culture is fascinating to me, because it exists in our own country, and our own communities, but yet it is not an integral part of our mainstream society. Although the Amish culture exists in our own backyards, The Amish have distinct gender roles, cultural beliefs and values, and their own way of handling sickness and healing. As in many cultures, the Amish people have very distinct gender roles. This means that men and women have certain tasks and traditions that are separate for each gender, and as a rule, these tasks are not performed by the other. The Amish father is responsible for providing for his family through farm work or by employment in the local community. Many Amish men are working away from the farm [because of] the declining availability of farmland. Many Amish men work as carpenters, masons or laborers in factories. Some have home based businesses such as furniture making, harness repair or the shoeing of horses. Amish culture teaches girls to serve and please others such as their parents, husbands and relatives. An Amish wife is identified by using her husband 's name, eg. Eli Katie means Eli 's wife, Katie. The social life for an Amish woman is centered around church, funerals, quilting bees, baking, barn raising and frolics (Lemon, 2006). Unmarried young women often find work in shops and restaurants owned by "English" (the generic term for non-Amish persons), or in housecleaning services (Cates, et al 2006). It seems that women would rebel against the lack of personal identity this culture allows them, but since they are raised and taught this to be normal, it is rarely questioned.
Amish beliefs and values contain aspects that are the same as mainstream society, but much of their attitudes and beliefs are very unique. The Amish culture is said to be a branch or denomination of the
References: Charlotte Smitten by Amish Way of Life. (2011, November 24). The Western Morning News,3. Retrieved December 12, 2011, from ProQuest Newsstand. (Document ID: 2518670011). For Richer or Poorer (1997) - Goofs - IMDb. Retrieved 12 14, 2011, from www.imdb.com/title/tt0119142/trivia?tab=gf Jana Howington and Steve Lukanic. (1997) For Richer or Poorer. Universal Pictures 1997, Directed by Bryan Spicer, Retrieved 12 8, 2011, from www.imdb.com/title/tt0119142/ Lemon, Betty Spencer, (2006). Amish Health Care Beliefs and Pratices In An Obstetrical Setting. Journal of Multicultural Nursing & Health, 12(3), 54-59. Retrieved December 5, 2011, from Research Library. (Document ID: 1193070451) Linda L Graham, & James A Cates. (2006). Health Care and Sequestered Cultures: A Perspective from the Old Order Amish. Journal of Multicultural Nursing & Health, 12(3), 60-66. Retrieved December 5, 2011, from Research Library. (Document ID: 1193070461). Schreiber, William I (1960), Amish Wedding Days, , The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 73, No. 287 (Jan. - Mar., 1960), pp. 12-17, (article consists of 6 pages), Published by: American Folklore Society, Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/537597