Over the course of the semester I’ve gained several new viewpoints. This class has really given me valuable information, that as 21 years old it’s sad I didn’t know about. Why don’t we learn about invisible disabilities in high school? Why didn’t we learn about Crip Camp in history? To me that seems like a major historical event…. The history of women regarding their bodies, labor, reproduction, was never talked about.

There are so many topics touched on in this class that should have been taught in middle/high school. When I tell people (who have never been in one) that I am in a gender studies class they assume it’s easy. Or that it’s just a filler elective and they don’t really understand what we cover. This class and these topics are things everyone should know about. The fact that some of these topics are brand new is depressing.

I feel like this class has given me a better idea of what people go through. It only reiterates the idea that you never know what it’s like to be in someone else’s shoes. Also, the importance of awareness, open-mindedness, and kindness. We’re all from different backgrounds and taught different things and that’s ok. We just have to be willing to listen to each other and learn so we can do better.

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.

In class we talked about defining disability and Shakespeare’s “Social Model of Disability”. However, there was one line in the Shakespeare piece that really stuck with me, “In our view, it is society which disables physically impaired people. Disability is something imposed on top of our impairments, by the way we are unnecessarily isolated and excluded from full participation in society. Disabled people are therefore an oppressed group in society” (Tom Shakespeare). The piece also went on to talk about social problems “as an added burden faced by people with impairment” (Tom Shakespeare). The discussion in class resonated with what I’ve been learning in one of my other classes and I thought I should share.

I am currently taking PSYC 365, or Psychology of Children with Disabilities. My teacher grew up with a disability as a child and shared her first hand experience. Prior to 1975 kids with major disabilities regardless of mental or physical were not considered entitled to an education. So often times that meant those kids could not go to school. Schools weren’t made with elevators to help those kids, there was no hallway buddy system for kids with crutches, there was nothing. There were no accommodations or support put in place to even help those kids get from class to class. If you could not physically get yourself to class then you weren’t able to go. Personally growing up in the 2000s it’s hard to believe that those kids missed out on so much and it was somehow “okay” . I think alot of us take for granted something as simple as going to grade school.

Finally, in 1975 the federal government signed a huge act that basically said that all children have the right to a free education. Previously, there were no requirements for schools to help these children. Although, we have a ways to go it’s crazy to think how much things have changed even from the 70s. As of 2006 developmental screening for all kids is recommended (should be required but it’s a work in progress) at 9, 18, and 24/30 months of age. These check ins or screening visits are done at the pediatrician. The point of these check ins is to help any child who may be in need as early as possible. This is also known as early intervention. Some of the most popular tests used for developmental screening include the PEDS, ASQ-3, and M-CHAT. The M-CHAT is fairly popular because it’s free and takes very little time. Each state has a lead agency responsible for helping kids with disabilities and their families. Maryland has one of the best programs called “Infants & Toddlers” and it’s at no cost to families. Many other states charge public or private insurance. Also, note the program is to support kids and their families. I attached the link below for anyone who would like to take a look.

https://marylandpublicschools.org/programs/Pages/Special-Education/MITP/index.aspx

Sources:

Children with Disabilities 8th Edition

Batshaw M.D., Mark,Roizen M.D., Nancy,Pellegrino M.D., Louis,Peterson, Nancy,Twomey, Catherine

Oxford defines the term physicality as follows, “The fact of relating to the body as opposed to the mind” (Lexico, Oxford). While, Merriam-Webster defines the term as, “predominance of the physical orientation usually at the expense of the mental, spiritual, or social” (Merriam-Webster). I’m referencing these terms because they are relevant to how many women and young girls are viewed on a daily basis. To be viewed more often as a body than a mind. The same way that girls are less likely to be called on in math class but more often criticized for appearance. More often to be dress coded then asked to write an answer up on the board in stem classes. This is often a daily struggle that goes unnoticed by many. Often times it is reinforced since birth through the media, pop culture, kids cartoons, music, etc. Some examples, would include over sexualized female characters and only including women with the same body type or skin tone. Not only does this cause body image issues for young girls, but it also reinforces the stereotypical expectations of what a girl or woman should be to young boys. This trend is especially seen in video games, superheroes, and some comics. Some well known over sexualized characters include Lara Croft and Harley Quinn. The following picture shows Margot Robbie and her character Harley Quinn. The link posted under the pic goes on to talk about how other countries even photoshopped the length of her shorts. She talks about how uncomfortable she felt wearing the outfit on set but she did it for her character (Dailymail.com).