Social Influences On Tina's Story

To break society’s possible stereotype of seeing addicts as an inhumane population of people, both anthropologies allowed the readers to see past addiction and into loving, compassionate, and feminist life of a women called Tina. Her story impacted this reader due to her childhood experiences of sexual abuse, failed detox treatment, defiant femininity, unapologetic seductive sexuality, mother’s compassion, yet childless. Tina’s childhood is not one that resembles that of a fairy tale. At a young age, Tina was engulfed in violent crises, sexual abuse, and alcohol that contributed to her lifestyle. Despite these contributions, Tina took responsibility for her own start of using drugs. Tina said, “But it ain’t my mother’s fault I’m like this. I don’t blame her. I really don’t’. I don’t blame her for my drugs. That’s on me. I can’t keep putting the burden on my mother” (Bourgosis & Schonberg, 2009, p. 126). This reader was impacted by the evolution of Tina’s understanding of her social influences, yet it was she who decided to place the pipe in her mouth. Some may argue that negative social …show more content…
On the other hand, she embraced her femininity by desiring to be taken care of by men. She was good at using her feminist abilities to seductively accomplish her needs. This reader was reminded that despite being homeless, a desire to feel beautiful and embrace one’s femininity does not disappear because of an addiction. Each client’s personality, desires, and wants are different and they should be treated on an individual’s bases. Lastly, Tina’s story was impactful due to her traits of a motherly care taker, yet Tina did not have custody of any of her children. It was rewarding to understand the motherly tendencies Tina showed toward the men in the camp as in taking care of Hank when he was sick. Despite not having her kids, addiction did not disable her caring