In class we talked about the meaning of the word queer and through that discussion we talked about the self. Dr. Kate brought up a discussion question we’ve briefly touched on before, “who has the authority to tell the story of the self?” You would think it’s an easy answer. Shouldn’t you have the authority to tell your own story? Doesn’t everyone have the authority to tell their individual story?

This question really resonated with me because it’s a common theme throughout time. The oppressed and under represented often never get to fully tell their stories and often times they are rewritten by others. An easy example, that immediately comes to mind would be when women were frequently diagnosed with “hysteria”. This diagnoses basically ignored any vocalized concerns a woman had and they were given a label. Hysteria was thought of almost as a madness so you can imagine how quickly they were dismissed with that label. Another example would be the difficulty in “coming out” as disabled. Often those with invisible disabilities are forced into a situation where they have to then prove their disability. When it comes to accommodations for disabilities there is a tendency that others seem to assume that those who don’t “look” disabled must be trying to take advantage of the system. This ignores the individual trying to voice their disability and needs and completely takes over the story of the self. Here is someone trying to tell their story and instead they are told they don’t have a real disability and must be trying to get hand outs.

Another example, would be a scene from Mad Men. In this episode a woman named Betty went to psychiatrist, later that night you can see her coming home with her husband Don. Once she goes upstairs he then proceed to call her psychiatrist, and basically has a report of the session. The doctor violates her privacy and appears to tell Don everything. It comes across as if Betty is viewed as a child. That just had to be something a husband had to take care of. She had no authority of her situation, her husband and doctor were in full control of her. In the most basic sense she did not have authority over her body or mind let alone her story. The men in her life were taking over and telling her what her story was.

This is just one example but it’s seen throughout time across all different types of people and situations. This discussion could go on forever these are just some of my thoughts. But you can’t tell the story of the self if someone is re-writing because then it simply isn’t your story anymore.