During class on Wednesday, we talked about inclusion and I feel as though the idea of normalcy was described very well by Laura Curiale: Everyone wants to belong to a tribe. In the case of the article, we all theoretically want to belong to the tribe of society, to meet the culture of normalcy’s impossible standards.. and those who can’t will be set as outcasts.
I personally hate the idea of normalcy. ‘Normal’ is not a word I choose to keep in my vocabulary because it is discriminating in every sense, because nobody can really be normal, and those who are ‘normal’ generally aren’t being completely genuine. You can’t be like everybody else and be a unique individual with distinct ideas and beliefs. I’m dejected by the whole idea that we discriminate against disability, regardless of what it is. Simply because in some ways we are all disabled by our personal limits. It irritates me that society has decided that some personal limits are acceptable (ie being physically active, being married multiple times, having a diet based on fast food, etc), and other personal limits that are not (agoraphobia, anxiety, looking our age in our elder years—especially for women, those who don’t have the same abilities—whether the limit is physical or mental). We must not deem any life ‘abnormal’ just because they have a different way of learning, communicating, or moving. We must respect others as different from us as individuals (AKA everyone else). I think if we all could do this, regardless of others’ personal limits, anyone could feel included in our society. The most frustrating part of this article for me was the medical industrial complex section. Simply because in general the medical world should be there to support and assist us in dealing with our personal limits (whether the limit is strep throat, or paralysis), but in reality they are really just in the to create a wellness norm. The idea that we are only accommodating those with severe personal limits so that they can function with average physical and mental capacities is infuriating. We should not just assume that individuals would be happier with the average capacities, but rather ask them what they need to feel satisfied and what may help them IF they want it. Acceptance of everyone as individuals is an incredibly heavy concept, but if we get that down, imagine how great our world could be. Series, D. Think Everything’s “Normal?” Then It’s Time To Reconsider And Promote A New Narrative Of Disability. Retrieved from http://organizingchange.org/think-everythings-normal-then-its-time-to-reconsider-and-promote-a-new-narrative-of-disability/
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Annotated Bibliographies
This is where all of my opinions and ideas on the in class assigned readings will be posted |