Tradition Practiced In The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

Introduction

Lottery summer is a story that involves a game of lottery which later turns out to be deadly as villagers' stone Mrs. Tessie Hutchinson. The village tradition had been passed down for many years. However, the custom was barbaric as it involved taking the lives of another innocent person. The culture may seem to be fun for the people involved, but it is dangerous for those that pick the paper with a black dot. The villagers believe their tradition is something that should be practiced each year. They fail to see the barbaric nature of the game and how it is affecting different people. Although the tradition has been passed down from generation to generation, there is no need of following it. People should be able to identify cultures and traditions that are harmful and stop practicing it. The villagers of England are behaving like other people today who follow the traditions that were handed down to them despite the customs being detrimental to the people's lives. Issues such as genital mutilations and child marriages have negative effects on a child. However, people are still practicing these traditions despite them having a negative impact on the people of their community and families.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Traditions That Should Be Banned

Every society has its customers and traditions. Some of the traditions have been acquired from other people while others have been passed down from generation to generation. Although traditions are some of the factors that make people unique and gives them a sense of identity, some of the traditions practiced today should be abolished because they are barbaric and goes against the human rights. Some of the customs and traditions that should be banned include the female genital mutilation. Female genital mutilation can involve partial or total removal of the clitoris. Other cultures remove the clitoris including the labia minora. In other cultures, the girls have their vaginal openings narrowed by creating a narrowing seal. Additionally, other cultures go to the extreme by removing all of the external female genitalia. The culture is rampant in Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Different culture conducts this practice when the girls are of different ages (The United Nation of Human Rights). Some carry out the exercise when the girls are below the age of fie while other circumcise the girls when they reach puberty (Muller 30). The cultures that practice this act believe that it is an act of beautifying and modesty. The practice is rooted in inequality where women's sexuality is limited. Some family members allow their girls to undergo the practice in fear of being isolated while others believe it is the right thing to do. The practiced should be abolished because the procedure is extremely painful (World Health Organization). Cutting the nerve endings is painful, and in most cases, no proper anesthesia is used. Although some culture use painkillers, the procedure is still painful because it is conducted by traditional women who do not have a medical background and are therefore not well versed in the application of anesthesia. The healing period is also long especially for those girls who have undergone complete removal of their genitals. Sometimes the surgery does not go as planned and clitoral artery may be cut leading to excessive bleeding. The pain associated with the procedure is also responsible for causing shock, infections, and hemorrhage (World Health Organization). Sometimes the diseases caused by the procedure may cause genital tissue swelling. There is also a risk of the girls getting HIV because of sharing the same blade in the procedure. Women who have undergone the procedure may also find it hard to pass urine and in extreme cases may die. The procedure can also be traumatic and affect the ladies who are undergoing the procedure psychologically because of the physical force that is used during the circumcision. Women who have undergone the procedure may also suffer from long-term effects such as menstrual problems because of the obstruction of the vaginal opening (World Health Organization). The removal of the sensitive genital tissues can also affect a woman's sexuality by reducing her sexual desire and pleasure.

Another tradition that should be banned is the law that exonerates a rapist from facing a jail term if he accepts to marry the person that he/she was raped. Rape is a traumatizing phenomenal, and nobody should be forced to marry a person that has raped them (The United Nations Children's Fund). Countries such as the Philippines and Lebanon have used their tradition to influence the policymaking. However, this law and tradition should be allowed in the 21st century. Forcing a person to marry a rapist is not only denying the person a chance to choose who to marry, but it is also a torturous situation. Other traditions that are prevalent in Asia include honor killing. An honor killing occurs when a woman or a girl is killed because she is believed to have brought dishonor to the family. The tradition should be banned because it violates the human rights of the killed. Everyone has a right to life, and no one should be denied this right. Women in Iran, Australia, India, and Bangladesh have had to endure a barbaric culture when the women are killed or driven to suicide because of harassment and torture by the husband. The issues of dowry should be banned because a woman is not a property that can be bought or sold.

Child marriage is yet another tradition that should be banned. It is common for young girls to be married off to older men in many cultures in Africa. The girls have no say or determination in such kind of marriages. The girls who are married off have little knowledge about family planning and do not have a chance to go back to school. The decision to marry off these young girls is anchored in the belief that young virgins are fertile. However, doctors have shown that a child born by a girl who is below the age of twenty is likely is likely to die in his/her first year than a child born by someone who is above the age of 20. Most of the governments in Africa are however trying to stop this practice through implementations of laws and fines for those who are found to engage in this practice. Despite the effort, there are still people who slip through the government watchful eye and continue to practice child marriages.

Female infanticide is also a commons traditional practice especially in Asia and parts of Africa. Some cultures still believe a boy is better than a girl. Such beliefs have led to the neglect and mistreatment of a girl which at times affects their physical and mental health. The preference of a boy over a girl has led to inequitable distribution of the family resources, from food to education. Some of these people who hold such belief are of the opinion that a boy will grow up o carry the family name. A girl on the other end will get married, and that would be the end of the family line. Based on this logic, many families prefer to have a boy and not a girl (Muller 1997). The prevalent of such cultures should not be entertained in the 21st century and should be banned because all children are equal.

Meaning of Tradition and Their Relationship to Human Rights

Tradition is the practices that a certain group of people carries on as part of their identity and culture. Some of the cultures have positive effects on the people, and some have negative effects. Others are considered illegal under the current laws while others are an outright violation of human rights. The United Nations recognizes the right of every individual despite what country that one resides. However, some cultures and traditions violate these rights. The prevalent of honor killing in parts of Asia violate the right of a person to life. By taking away the life of a person because they are considered a dishonor to the family, the tradition is a violation of the UN charter on human rights.

Other cultures such as early marriage and female genital mutilation are also against the UN charter on human rights. The people who practice these traditions deny a child the right to education (Jackson 2016). The world has agreed that every child should have a meal, clothing and an education. However, some of the cultures that do not recognize a girl as an equal to a boy violate the human right expectation. When a child is forced into a marriage, shes denied the chance of an education and if forced to enter into a relationship when she is not mentally mature. Such kind of tradition violates the child's rights and exposes them to danger. Young girls who get married may end up dying while giving birth because their bodies are not well mature. They may also be exposed to HIV from their partners.

The Relationship Between the Story and Human Right

The story "The lottery' and the traditions and cultures in Asia, Africa, Middle East and other regions have a relationship with the Human rights. As the world moves to ensure people enjoy equal rights some cultures are still lagging behind. However, some of the people doing this do not understand the effects that their cultures have on other people (The Daily Nation). Some of the people doing early marriages, for example, believe it is the right thing to do because the child is fertile when she is a virgin and still young.

The misconception about different issues has led to the suffering of many people and the continuation of some outdated and barbaric cultures. However, the UN is working with different governments to ensure the practices are stopped. People are also getting educated on the effects of their cultures and show reasons why they should stop them. By engaging communities and elders, the governments and the UN are making strides to ensure traditions and cultures do not violate human rights.

Works Cited

The Daily Nation. "Liberia: Cultural Practices That Violate Human Rights." AllAfrica.com, 21 Dec. 2015, allafrica.com/stories/201512211746.html.

Jackson, Shirley. The Lottery. HarperPerennial Classics, 2016.

Muller, Christa. "Female Genital Mutilation in German." Sexual Mutilations, 1997, pp. 159-162.

The United Nation on Human Rights. "OHCHR What Are Human Rights." 2010, www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Pages/WhatareHumanRights.aspx. Accessed 14 May 2018.

The United Nations Children's Fund. "Women - Commentary." Home Page | UNICEF, www.unicef.org/pon97/women1b.htm. Accessed 14 May 2018.

World Health Organization. "Health Risks of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)." World Health Organization, 2012, www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/fgm/health_consequences_fgm/en/. Accessed 14 May 2018.