A father and his son are in a car accident. The father is killed and the son is seriously injured. The son is taken to the hospital where the surgeon says, "I cannot operate, because this boy is my son."
This popular brain teaser, even though very old, is still relevant in our society. Studies have shown that 40 to 70 percent still cannot solve it. The answer in case you are wondering is that the surgeon is the boy's mother. This riddle of sorts brings forth our personal biases, and the presence of implicit sexism that exists in our society. As Adam Grant and Sharyl Sandberg pointed out, "Even when we have the best of intentions, when we hear “surgeon” or “boss,” the image that pops into our minds is often male."
As a parent, I have become more aware of the subliminal messages our society and the mainstream media send out to young children. It really bothers me that all Disney Princesses have tennis-ball sized eyes, which implicitly implies that big eyes are the ultimate mark of beauty. For that reason, I have a lot of appreciation for Curious George and Robert Munsch books. In Curious George stories, the Man with the Yellow Hat's boss is a female, Professor Wiseman. Similarly, in Munsch's story books, there are not only strong female protagonists, but girls are also excused of the responsibility to be the "perfect little angels", to their "trouble-making" male counterparts.
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“I’m studying cardiac regeneration to help repair damaged hearts. It was widely believed that hearts cells could not be replenished, but we’ve used carbon dating to discover cells in the heart that are younger than the heart itself. So I believe it is possible.”
(Lahore, Pakistan) - Brandan Stanton of Humans of New York
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I was reminded of the aforementioned brain teaser, when I stumbled upon the above photograph by Brandon Stanton. The popularity of Humans of New York lies in the fact that his photographs, and the corresponding stories, not only break stereotypes, but make us aware of our own personal biases. In the above photograph, you do not know which of the two is responsible for the groundbreaking research. And, that is the magic of Stanton's incredible story-telling.
If you are wondering what to get your loved ones for the holidays, I highly recommend Stanton's new book, "Humans of New York: Stories". The stories are captivating, and illustrate how as humans we experience the same struggles, doubts, fears and foibles. Here are some of the riveting stories that really resonated with me.
And, if you are looking for a comforting autumnal curry, go ahead and make this delicious Coconut Chicken Curry.
Coconut Chicken Curry
Delicious Coconut Chicken Curry. The full recipe will be posted soon on www.cultivateflavors.blogspot.com.
Posted by Cultivate Flavors on Friday, October 30, 2015
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
For the marinade:
1 pound of boneless chicken thighs
1/4 cup of sambal (Thai chili paste)
1/4 cup of ketchup
1 tablespoon of garlic powder
1 teaspoon of soy sauce
1 teaspoon of honey
Juice of a lemon
For the curry:
1/8 cups of oil
6-8 cloves of garlic (chopped)
2 inches of ginger (crushed)
1/4 cup of sliced red onions
Half of yellow pepper
2 cups of chicken stock (using Saffron Road)
1 can of coconut milk (403 mL)
Step 1: In a mixing bowl, marinate the chicken thighs in sambal, ketchup, garlic powder, soy sauce and honey. Marinate for 30 minutes.
Step 2: In a skillet over medium-high heat, add the oil, chopped garlic, and crushed ginger. Saute until golden.
Step 3: Add the marinated chicken, sliced red onions and yellow pepper. Cook for 1 minute.
Step 4: Add chicken stock and a can of coconut milk. Stir and combine. Cook until the curry has thickened and the chicken is tender.
Serve with egg fried rice.
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