Shelby Macuga

Jared Unger

ENG 101

March 16, 2017

The Misconceptions of the Amish

In the United States, out of the 326 million people living in the nation, there is

approximately 308,030 Amish citizens as of May 2016. The Amish account for a very small

proportion of the nations population. Although they account for a very small proportion of the

United States population, their values and culture is what set them apart from society. They hold

very specific rules and traditions that are based off a religious background that outcast them from

the norms of society. As they have values that outcast them from the norms of society, social

media often times misrepresents the Amish and their values they hold. As social media falsifies

the Amish's beliefs, it leads to society stereotyping who the Amish are.This misrepresentation

and stereotyping is often involved with the Amish's beliefs on health, technology, and social life.

SECTION ONE: TECHNOLOGY

One of the most common misrepresentations about the Amish is the idea that they hate

and forbid using any kind of technological advancements. This is not actually the case. Although

they dont use devices like televisions, radios, and computers, they do use some technology such

as phones or batteries to operate things like calculators, fans, copy machines, flashlights, etc.

According to the article, Technology published by the Amish Studies, The Amish do not

consider technology evil in itself but they believe that technology, if left untamed, will

undermine worthy traditions and accelerate assimilation into the surrounding society

(Technology 2). It is established that the Amish do not actually forbid technology or see it as
evil, they actually use it selectively. By the fact that the Amish use technology selectively shows

that the idea that the Amish hate any kind of technology is a misconception some media presents

to people.

As the misconception of the Amishs use of technology is projected, the media allows

others to stereotype Amish as a non-technological group. This stereotyping blinds people from

knowing what the Amish actually think. As learned in the paragraph above, the Amish use

technology selectively. The Amish use it selectively as they feel that using too much technology

may damage their culture and their traditions. This idea is universal to the different communities

of the Amish but can the extent to what they can and cant use varies. Depending on the

community, some Amish groups allow more or less technology devices. As mentioned in the

article, Amish Community Not Anti-Technology, Just More Thoughtful, the author states, In

Lancaster County, the Amish population is OK with using electricity, but they reject the grid that

brings it into most Americans' homes. That's because they want to maintain a separation from the

wider world (Brady 8). Lancaster County is one example of how depending on what community

you belong too, the range of technology changes. But one thing that does not change is the

universal idea that for the Amish, using too much technology may damage their traditions and

culture. This is what separates the Amish from the rest of the world. For people who do not

practice the Amishs beliefs this may seem obscured as social media misrepresents the customs

of the Amish as non users of technology which is false.

SECTION TWO: SOCIAL LIFE

Not only are the Amish misrepresented with their views on technology, but also on their

social life as well. Social media has painted a picture in many individuals heads that the Amish

interact or feel very arrogantly with the world outside of their community. This is another
misconception about the Amish. In 2006, a man by the name of Charles Roberts did a horrible

act that affected many Amish families. Charles Roberts who was not Amish but lived in the

community, stormed into an Amish school and shot 10 young girls. He ended up killing 5 of

them and then proceeded and killed himself. In the article, Amish Forgive School Shooter,

Struggle with Grief, it is mentioned that, Several families, Amish families who had buried

their own daughters just the day before were in attendance and they hugged the widow, and

hugged other members of the killer's family (Shapiro 7). Not only did they visit the widow of

the killer, but they also donated money to her and their children. The Amish showed forgiveness

for Charles's action even if he wasnt Amish. By the Amish showing forgiveness, the idea that

the Amish are arrogant to the people around them is false. How the Amish reacted to this event

with a non-Amish man, shows how social media has covered the actual truths about the Amish

and how they treat individuals around them.

Another common misconceptions or myth about the Amish that social media has

presented to society is the idea that the in order for them to get married it has to be arranged by a

bishop. For most subgroups of the Amish, that is not actually a rule. Amish men and women are

able to date and marry whoever they please apart from a few small sets of rules. These small sets

of rules are what social media tells the public which is why there is so many misconceptions

about the Amish. The few rules they have about marriage is that in order to remain Amish both

the man and the woman need to be baptized into the Amish church. This is typically done at the

age of 16 when he or she decides whether to stick with the Amish lifestyle or live in the cities as

regular American. In an article called, Fake Amish and the Real Ones, the author of the article

declares that, Neither bishops nor anyone else engages in matchmaking; young people are free

to date and marry whomever they like. But if they wish to remain Amish, both persons must be
baptized members of the Amish church before a bishop will marry them (Kraybill 4).When

social media picks apart the Amish, they create misconceptions and myths about how their

lifestyles and cultures. The parts that social media typically picks apart are the values that are not

normal for the rest of society. The myth that in order for Amish to get married, they have to be

arranged by a bishop is created on the small Amish value that in order for two individuals to be

married they must both be baptized by a bishop. As social media presents this information to the

public, they are falsifying the the Amish lifestyle and culture.

SECTION THREE: HEALTH

The Amish also set themselves apart from society in the healthcare aspect of things. The

Amish have many different perceptions of health and illness, one of which is their healthcare

providers and insurance. They actually exclude themselves from social security and health

insurance coverage in almost all cases. An article written by Sharon Strouse, titled The Health

Of The Amish stated Involvement with the health care system is approached with the belief

that medicine helps, but God alone heals. Purchasing insurance shows a lack of faith in God who

provides (Strouse 1). With the Amish it is the norm to not get insurance. Being that they are

very religious and strong in their beliefs and traditions, they do believe that God is their health

provider and has the ultimate power in deciding how a person overcomes their ailments.

The Amish in general typically have good health it seems. In fact, they are healthier than

many in today's population. Sharon Strouse backs up the fact that the Amish are in better health

by reasoning that Health conscious behaviors are considered the norm among the Amish. As a

population, they use less tobacco, less alcohol, less salt, and more vitamin and mineral

supplements. The ability to work and provide for family is the motivation for maintaining good

health (Strouse 3). Health is all about what a person puts into their body versus what they put
out. Compared to many in modern days society, the Amish are far more conscious and aware

about their health by monitoring and protecting themselves from harmful foods or drinks or

activities such as smoking. Their avoidance of what many of us may indulge in a little bit too

much along with their mostly physically taxing labor makes them very healthy people in general.

Just about everyone knows that even when we watch our health and try our hardest not to

get sick or cause some sort of injury, that the inevitable will happen and may end you up in the

hospital or seeking medical attention. The Amish, as we have learned, prefer not to be involved

with any healthcare provider if possible. In an article by the Cleveland Clinic they even state

The Amish religion does not forbid its people to seek modern medical care ("Treating the

Amish and Addressing Their Health Care Concerns" 2). This is a common misconception in the

healthcare aspect of the Amish. In many cases they will first try to self medicate any ailments

they may have or use the assistance of family or friends; however, if all else fails they will turn

to seeing health professionals.

The practices within the healthcare community still have their limitations in the Amish

community. The Cleveland Clinic goes into detail about the Amish health practices and they

state If an Amish person is seeking medical treatment, it indicates that it is an emergency or a

very important concern. When necessary, the Amish can have surgical procedures, dental work,

anesthesia, or blood transfusions. Many Amish will refuse an autopsy. Organ transplants are

permitted, except for the heart. The Amish believe the heart is the soul of the body("Treating

the Amish and Addressing Their Health Care Concerns" 2). There are obvious limitations in how

far the Amish will go into treatments as it interferes with their religious views or beliefs. As they

have specific religious and cultural beliefs, social media uses those values to misrepresent the
Amish to the rest of society that the Amish never go to the doctors or have health care with is not

the case.

There are limitations to what is available to the Amish as far as treatments go as well.

Their health care providers can provide some assistance with their practices but will lack in some

areas. An article in PubMed by Adams CE and Leverland MB states They do not practice birth

control; they often lack the preventive practices of immunizations and prenatal care; and they

may use a variety of traditional and nontraditional health care providers ("The Effects of

Religious Beliefs on the Health Care Practices of the Amish" 1). Their religious affiliations

inhibit how far or to what extent they will go into treatment. Just like many people today, the

Amish may also have issues with money at times. In an interview conducted by Daniel Kelley of

NBC News with an Amish man, who asked for his name to not be provided, stated, "They

(hospitals) give you a bill," he said. "If you can't pay it, your church will" (Kelley 5). Their

religion plays the ultimate factor in how they interact with the healthcare world, which social

media uses to give misconceptions to the rest of society.

The media presents so much false information and misconceptions of just about anything

in today's world, the Amish happen to be just one of the many groups who are often portrayed in

misguiding ways. The Amish can mis misrepresented in many of their values such as their use of

technology, how they interact with society, or how they manage their health.
 Works Cited

"Amish: Out of Order Facts." National Geographic Channel. N.p., 10 Apr. 2012. Web.

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/amish-out-of-order/articles/amish-out-of-order-

facts/

Beattie-Moss, Melissa. "Probing Question: Do We Romanticize the Amish?" Penn State

University. N.p., 12 Apr. 2011. Web.

http://news.psu.edu/story/141810/2011/04/12/research/probing-question-do-we-

romanticize-amish

Brady, Jeff. "Amish Community Not Anti-Technology, Just More Thoughtful." NPR. NPR, 02

Sept. 2013. Web.

http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2013/09/02/217287028/amish-community-

not-anti-technology-just-more-thoughful

Diebel, Matthew. "The Amish: 10 Things You Might Not Know." USA Today. Gannett Satellite

Information Network, 16 Aug. 2014. Web.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/08/15/amish-ten-things-you-need-to-

know/14111249/

"Family." Amish Studies. N.p., 05 Oct. 2015. Web.

http://groups.etown.edu/amishstudies/social-organization/family/

Kelley, Daniel. "As U.S. Struggles with Health Reform, the Amish Go Their Own

Way."NBCNews.com. NBCUniversal News Group, 06 Oct. 2013. Web.

http://www.nbcnews.com/health/u-s-struggles-health-reform-amish-go-their-own-way-

8C11345954
Kraybill, Donald. "Fake Amish and the Real Ones." The Huffington Post.

TheHuffingtonPost.com, 18 July 2013. Web. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/donald-

kraybill/fake-amish-and-the-real-o_b_3617736.html.

Setrakian, Lara. "For the Amish, Crime but Seldom Punishment." ABC News. ABC News

Network, 04 Oct. 2006. Web. http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=2529347&page=1

Shapiro, Joseph. "Amish Forgive School Shooter, Struggle with Grief." NPR. NPR, 02 Oct.

2007. Web. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14900930

Strouse, Sharon. "The Health of the Amish." Ohiosamishcountry.com. Ohio's Amish Country, 14

Oct. 2015. Web. http://www.ohiosamishcountry.com/article/the-health-of-the-amish.html

"Technology." Amish Studies. The Youth Center, 30 Sept. 2015. Web.

https://groups.etown.edu/amishstudies/cultural-practices/technology/

"The Effects of Religious Beliefs on the Health Care Practices of the Amish." The Nurse

Practitioner. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3446212/

"Treating the Amish and Addressing Their Health Care Concerns." Treating the Amish and

Addressing Their Health Care Concerns. Cleveland Clinic, 1995. Web.

http://www.health-share.org/health-info/docs/1700/1783.asp?jerseys-2103.html

"WGBH American Experience . The Amish." PBS. Public Broadcasting Service, n.d. Web.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/teachers-resources/amish-guide/