What would you look like?

            This summer I will be working at an orphanage in Madurai, South India.  The children in this orphanage are known to be a part of the community of “Untouchables”, which essentially means they have leprosy.  To be completely honest, before I learned about my placement, I did not know a lot about the leprosy community around the globe.  In the West, we are quite ignorant of this disease because it simply is not a threat; however, this is not the case for many around the world.  Here is some information that I discovered through my research:

What is Leprosy?

Leprosy is an infectious disease that is caused by Mycobacterium leprae.  Leprosy primarily affects the body’s nervous system and is highly concentrated on the cooler parts of the body.  Many times, the affected areas include the skin, the eyes and muscles in the hands and feet.  As the disease progresses, debilitation of the hands and feet can occur.   

Can Leprosy be transmitted easily?

There is a common myth that leprosy is easily transmitted.  However, that is simply not the case.  Leprosy is very difficult to transmit and normally, it takes a long time before any symptoms occur.  About 95% of the population are naturally immune to the disease.  Children are much more susceptible to this disease. 

Is there a cure?

There is a cure.  Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT) is a blend of drugs that is effective in killing all known strains of leprosy bacteria.  This blend can be given to an individual from 6 months-2 years depending on the severity of the disease.  The isolation in “leper colonies” for victims of leprosy is completely unnecessary.

How are people affected by leprosy?

People with leprosy are not only physically affected by the disease; but also socially.  The myths and stigmas that surround this disease have remained strong throughout history even though many of their claims simply have no merit.  Many times, people with leprosy are humiliated and are often quite afraid of going out in public.  Sometimes, people with leprosy are so fearful of the shame that accompanies going out in public, they often go into hiding which makes it more difficult to get the medication needed to prevent this disease from progressing.   

            Even amidst this information, as I stated before, the stigma that continues to exist regarding leprosy is overwhelming. In India alone, more than 160 million individuals are considered “Untouchable”.  The community of the “Untouchables” are individuals who have been deemed from birth that they are dirty, defective, impure.   In India, those with leprosy, are known as “Dalits”.  The abuse and victimization that these individuals face just breaks my heart.  One of the headlines from an Indian newspaper read: “Dalit boy beaten to death for plucking flowers”.   Dalits in India live in awful conditions and are constantly being faced with the possibility of humiliation.  90% of all poor Indians and 95% of illiterate Indians are Dalits.  India’s National Crime Records Bureau indicated that every hour, two Dalits are assaulted; every day, three Dalit women are raped, two Dalits are murdered and two Dalit homes are torched.  This consistent violence against the Dalit community seems so unnecessary, especially when leprosy is a disease that can be treated quite easily.

            The question that remains unanswered is why this disease continues to hold such a strong stigma amidst its curability.  As I was pondering this question, the answer seemed to jump out right in front of me, both literally and figuratively.  As I was driving home earlier this afternoon to see my mother, I drove past fast-food restaurants, outlet malls, and of course Tim Hortans’.  As I continued to think about this question as I was driving, I stopped at a red light and as I glanced over to my right-hand side, I saw two massive billboards that were advertising new beauty products.  I did not realize until later, that these signs hold the answer to my question.  As I discussed earlier, leprosy can cause disfiguration of the face and body; therefore, of course it maintains its strength within the contemporary world.  Beauty, within modernity, is what determines opportunity, courage and eventually, a mate.  Beauty is defined, within material culture, as something that establishes social class, economic stability and even happiness.  But what if, going along with my theme of stripping myself of the comforts of life, society decided to re-define beauty? What if beauty on the outside was flipped inward, and the beauty of the heart replaced our faces? I wonder what I would look like? I challenge you to think about what you might look like as well?