the social construction of disability.

It’s a shame how easy it is to become labeled as disabled because of pace changes and how easy it is to be stigmatized as a result. It is an even bigger shame how difficult it is to get rid of that stigma even when you have not become any more disabled than you were before the pace change. It is also ashame what some people label as disabilities. The authors bring up the point that even social statuses can be seen as disabilities. For example one author states that “common colds can be acknowledge publically, and allowances are made for them, but menstruation cannot be acknowledged and allowances are not made for it.” It is easier to understand why the world is biased for physically and mentally able people, but very difficult to see why menstruation is stigmatized, as it occurs in the world just as much as the cold does, simply because it is a female thing.

It makes you wonder how being a woman is disabling when there are more women than men and women live longer than men. It is strange and frustrating how under appreciated women are for their strength and resilience. Its funny how life in underappreciated in general. So many people with physical disabilities are so much more psychologically and emotionally “able” than able-bodied individuals. Its sad how many people take their health for granted until they lose a key part of it; then all of a sudden life and their other abilities are so precious and they become model citizens.

These readings beg the question what does it means be normal versus abnormal? Able and disabled? Everyone is disabled in one way or another. Some people can simply hide their disability better than others can. Being socially awkward, not having rhythm, not having money is easier to conceal than not having a leg.