--Tom Odell, "I Think It's Going To Rain Today"
This week in class we discussed "Disability" by Nancy Mairs, an informative essay that describes the trials and tribulations the disabled encounter daily. She discusses that although the disabled are "just like every other" person, society still "looms" on the "embodiment" of their disease (Mairs para 4). With a disability, she enjoys food, "drives a car" and tries to maintain beauty with "lotions", similarly to most women in America. Yet the media (movie productions and advertisements) portrays disability as the "major premise" of a woman's life and excludes the character's personality and individuality (Mairs para 3). With the idea that disability ruins one's jovial life, society is manipulated to view those with a disability as helpless and hopeless, feelings that a person would rather do without. Society will then look down upon them and ignore their presence because they do not want to "conform" to someone less fortunate than themselves (Mairs para 6). Ultimately, the disabled become outcasts and don't fit in with others because they are different and unable to conform with the rest of society. Sadly, people forget that the disabled live their lives comparably and our own happiness could mitigate in a moment. After all, we are just "Temporarily Abled Persons", drunk on the idea that our euphoria is infinite (Mairs para 7).
We really do take our health for granted at times. It's unfortunate that disabled people have to live with the stereotypes and under-representation of everyday media and "Temporarily Abled Persons."
ReplyDeleteWe really do take our health for granted at times. It's unfortunate that disabled people have to live with the stereotypes and under-representation of everyday media and "Temporarily Abled Persons."
ReplyDeleteI really liked that you addressed that people with disabilities are, in many ways, like normal people, but this is often not portrayed in the media.
ReplyDeleteThis is a well-written post Sarah, especially the last sentence! The connection you made between disabled people and how they are "othered" by TAPs is a sad reality.
ReplyDeleteSara, I like that you ended the piece with the idea that our euphoria is really not indefinite. I think many people in our society feel that it is, and that is why we consider people with disabilities as pitiful.
ReplyDeleteWow I totally just spelled your name wrong^ Sorry :P
ReplyDeleteI like how your quote from Tom Odell demonstrates society's attitude towards disabled people. Disabled people should not be treated like the lonely tin can, and society needs to respect them like normal people.
ReplyDeleteI was very impressed with your use of quotes to illustrate your point of view. Keep up the great work!
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