HW 53

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/13/nyregion/13burial.html

In the New York area there is a revival of Jewish practices for the care of the dead. These practices value equality and balance rather then excessiveness and profit. All people are buried in identical pine coffins. This is too have all people be sent to god in the same form. However, not only do they choose care for burial they prepare the dead body for its burial by bathing, dressing him/her prior to burial. It as if they are interacting with the body before they bury it rather than just simply caring for it. It is a much more intimate and humane way of caring for the dead

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/21/us/21funeral.html?adxnnl=1&ref=funerals&adxnnlx=1305289314-Vt1IIHl/xm2QiW+niBhV7Q

Precis: Home burials are becoming a more popular alternative. Although they are not for everyone they have many upside. One of the biggest upsides is cost, the Roe family for example had a home burial and only spent $250. This is obviously a pretty significant savings, given the cost of a funeral for average american family. Home burials also offer a more natural and intimate experience for the family member participating in help care for a loved after death.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/15/nyregion/in-funeral-industry-womens-presence-grows.html?_r=1&ref=funerals

Ms. Dozier is a female mortician practicing in brooklyn. Females are very scarce in the world of the care of the dead. However, many women like Ms. Dozier have unique perspectives and idea that can be beneficial to a family looking to have a funeral for a loved one who died. Stylistically she can bring a woman point of view. Ms. Dozier has broken into a profession that is male dominated. This an ongoing trend with many different jobs, women are starting to assume more roles of power.


I like that all of these articles give different perspectives on the same topic. For example the first two focus on methods of caring for the dead, and in particular uncommon methods. There seems to be some sort of shift or wave of consciousness in our society as more and more people are turning to alternatives from the dominant social practices that so many of us don't even bother to question. The last article although focusing on a different subject within the greater topic, I found extremely interesting. It made me wonder why is that this profession is so male-dominated? Are people more comfortable with men when talking about funerals, etc?