Name: _ Date: __10/8______________

Reading: ____Vulnerability of Dependent Relations_____________________________

"A relationship is set within a number of cultural determinations establishing

who meets whose needs-modulated, necessarily, by exigencies not foreseen in
the culturally established conventions" (58).

+ The example she gives of having to help a bleeding man versus feeding your
child truly highlights how relations/responsibilities, where despite being
responsible for the dying man because it is just you two, you are still responsible
for satisfying the child's hunger even when there is a crowd around you capable
of doing so. It's the mother's responsibility because of the relational tie that she
has with her child and it's this cultural mindset that dictates that a mother should
care for her child.
"Our own behavior can render us less worthy, so that the full treatment as a
mother's child may be justifiably overridden by other societal needs, but it can

-
never be fully relinquished" (69).

This might be an oversight on what it means to be dependent on someone or

vulnerable, but what of the case of those sentenced to death for actions they've
committed? Kittay states later on that nothing can take from an individual his or
her worthiness for…care and connection, but those sentenced to death, are they
not deemed unworthy of living and thus having a care and connection, much like
convicted felons in prison?
"The elder-care worker who tends to a frail elderly man may be vulnerable to
sexual abuse, economic exploitation, and poor treatment. The vulnerability is
aggravated where the dependency worker is. poor, a woman, a person of color,

!
an immigrant, and so forth" (65).

This reminds me of my healthcare friends can relate to this sentiment, in that

despite devoting their entire lives to taking care of others, they still are
"vulnerable to the actions of the charge," where I've heard stories of male
charges acting inappropriately with nurses or just blatant and constant
complaining. And in response, sometimes it feels like these nurses aren't given
much compensation or consideration for the all the stress they have to go
through, so it begs the questions, who provides for these healthcare providers?
 Are there any truly altruistic actions that lack self-interest?

?
Concerning Kittay's discussion of the self and the "transparent" self, I'm curious
as to whether my classmates believe if there is a truly self-giving action that has
no self-interest. And if not (I'd argue that sacrifice is the potentially one altruistic
action with no self-interest), then I'd be curious as to just when does this self-
interest become an "interference" with the transparent self and have those
dreaded consequences.