⁠#151: Why the indigenous Runa find natural parenting so WEIRD (ft. Francesca Mezzenzana)⁠

It's Not Just In Your Head

“There is more than one way to flourish as humans in this world”

Harriet talks with anthropologist Francesca Mezzenzana about her work and parental experiences with the Runa of the Ecuadorian Amazon and the challenge of bringing up children to survive in a ruthless neoliberal hellscape.

We discuss the export of middle class parenting ideology and how idea around good childcare are rooted in assumptions from WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich and Democratic) societies, and highlight the contrasting community focused values of the indigenous Runa people.

References:

Amazonian childcare: https://aeon.co/essays/why-runa-indigenous-people-find-natural-parenting-so-strange

The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56269264-the-dawn-of-everything

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Harriet’s other shows:

WBAI Interpersonal Update (Wednesdays): https://wbai.org/program.php?program=431

Capitalism Hits Home: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPJpiw1WYdTNYvke-gNRdml1Z2lwz0iEH

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