Monday, March 29, 2010
Queering Crip Cripping Queer
You've read Chapter 7, Booth's overview of how to make a good argument. Using Booth's ideas in that chapter, break down the argument in "Queering Crip Cripping Queer." What is the essay's claim? Name at least three reasons the writer presents for that claim. Provide a couple examples of evidence the writer provides. How does she acknolwedge and respond?
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In “Queering Crip Cripping Queer” one of the first arguments Sandahl makes is drawing the comparison between the disabled and those of the homosexual class, I believe this is an extremely effective method, and a valid argument. She speaks about how the two have a shared history of persecution and even today they are fighting for their own civil rights. The argument can be seen as effective because it brings together the idea that there are many minorities who are subjugated, and the giving of legal protection of civil rights more of a universal feel.
ReplyDeleteAnother argument is that both of these classes of population go against the norm outspokenly, that they preach about their own individuality, as well as some would consider a measure of pride about their conditions. To this Sandahl points to a number of performers who have been spoken out about their respective conditions. This can be seen as incredibly effective due to the fact that it gives society a view that despite their harsh words and conditions they give to live in, they are still a part of them. That they will not be brought down to the subspecies that many claim is their position. Confidence is incredibly important in getting any task done, and when you feel the weight of a group of people who feel no shame of who they are trying to gain the rights they’re entitled to, it becomes effective. Confidence is also contagious, if a number of reputable people speak out concerning their own individual conditions, then it seeps down into what could be claimed as less significant people.
Sandahl also makes an argument that within the disabled society, people judge them based on their own gender. That many people feel as though they do not fit into a specific gender role due to their inability to act in that way. This can also be drawn into the perspective of people regarding sexual orientation, this can be placed into the role of the relief of gender inversion and such.
“Queering Crip Cripping Queer” tries to explain and change how individuals very their own bodies and the bodies of others. In effect what Carrie Sandahl is articulating is that we must let go of the biases imposed on us by the system of traditions which we have come to accept.
ReplyDeleteIn the very beginning of the article Sandahl explains that queer theory and disability scholarship were both breed from a need to combat the rigid structures of exclusion that were involved with both. Gay and lesbian thought often excluded discussion of the proclivities. She goes on further to discuss the discontent felt by many in the “Crip” community because of discussion of the differently-abled took place on in the context of medicine or academic study.
To further express the point one can look to the experiences performer Greg Walloch. Walloch describes just how difficult it is for those who are not part of the disable community to come to terms with the fact a person isn’t just defined by his or her disability. Walloch recalls, “’Once . . . I performed at this very P.C. and stuffy, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Open Orientation conference. The audience was falling all over themselves laughing extra hard, clapping their asses off at the end and coming up to me saying things
like ‘The community thanks you for just being you.’ I got so sad, these are supposed
to be my peers, the place I fit in?’” (Sandahl 30) This is the kind of difficulty one faces because of the perceptions of others. Those who viewed this particular performance were viewing him through their own lens a view in which this was a disabled man doing something courageous, whereas Walloch simply viewed himself as a man telling stories amongst his peers.
There is also the perception of the gender roles of the disabled, Sandahl writes, “Because disabled bodies are often unable to perform certain gendered behaviors in ‘passable’ ways, the disabled are often considered genderless (or less than male or female) and, by extension, sexless” (45). This furthers the notion that perception is the problem. One must be willing to accept any and everyone for who they are and not for whom we believe them to be.
In “Queering Crip Cripping Queer” Sandahl makes three arguments; she compared disabled and homosexuals, how people judge each other in the disable community and pride in their conditions.
ReplyDeleteIn today’s world people are judge and hated on. Both disabled and homosexuals have been through this. Within each of their own communities they must deal with hate against them. In both cases people of their own community hate against them, in class I remember it being said that it’s cool to be gay if you are pretty; what happens to the obesity and disable people. One way to deal with a problem is to take pride/ownership of what you are and one can’t use that against you. What I have come to notice is that all kinds of people are the same. Everyone is a bully at some point, everyone feels like the victim at some point, you can’t bet apart of the cool crowd every time. In order for these feeling to be avoided you must try to treat people the way you want to be treated as if everyone did this we wouldn’t have to deal with some of those problems from the essay.
In “Queering Crip Cripping Queer” Sandahl attempts to change how people view themselves, as well as others. We must accept, and even more so, be willing to accept each other for who we are. The first argument Sandahl makes is the comparison between the disabled and homosexuals. She explains how both groups share a history of discrimination, and still today continue to fight for civil rights. The other argument Sandahl makes is how people judge each other in the disabled society. Both groups oppose the “norm.” They are pride-filled, and advocate individuality. They are outspoken about their conditions. Sandahl makes this point by referring to performers who, likewise, have spoken out on their different conditions. The third argument Sandahl makes is that within their community, the disabled are judged based on gender. However, some of the disabled don’t feel as though they belong to a particular gender, or fit into a “gender role.”
ReplyDeleteIn “Queering the Crip or Cripping the Queer”, Sandhal is comparing the struggles that both queers and cripples face in their pursuits of equality and social acceptance. Sandhal explains how both groups have a history of injustice: “both have been pathologized by medicine; demonized by religion; discriminated against in housing employment, and education; stereotyped in representation; victimized by hate groups; and isolated socially, often in their families of origin” (26). Both of the groups partake in activism to promote their feelings and to strive towards normalcy. Each group has a broad member base, “diverse in terms of race, class, gender, sexuality, religion, political affiliation, and other respects” (26). Because of the vast amount of characteristics under scrutiny in members of each group, an overlay exists. Instead of each group vying for social acceptance, these assemblies call for a rejection of all forms of social normalcy. As Coty said, the author uses several examples of artists supporting their own “flaws”, using them as the center of an act, or as the focus of their “being”. These artists are often blatant about their condition, a method that gives details about their unspoken “illness” and provides the unknowing audience with the reality and truth of the situation. Both queers and cripples have been encouraged by the masses to be cured or to find a cure, and both groups are expressing a notion that they do not need to be cured, that there is no right, normal way to be, and that they are not the way they are because of a trial they are supposed to suffer through. Another striking commonality between the two assemblies is that growing up, most members of each group experienced a “profound isolation…since they are rarely born into queer or crip families, much less communities.” (37). Each of these associations have experienced common methods of isolation and prejudice, and each of these groups, sometimes a mixture of both, fights for equality in similar manners.
ReplyDeleteIn “Queering Crip, Cripping Queer,” Sandahl’s main argument is comparing the struggles of queers to that of the disabled. Sandahl begins by focusing on both groups’ commitment to activism. Both the disabled and queers have faced a series of injustices: “pathologized by medicine; demonized by religion; discriminated against in housing, employment, and education; stereotyped in representation; victimized by hate groups; and isolated socially, often in their families of origin” (Sandahl 26). A lot of the crimes against the disabled very often go unnoticed or ignored. Sandahl then goes on to discuss “perhaps the most significant similarity between [the] disciplines” (Sandahl 26): both groups lead a very strong protest against the idea of normalcy. Many queer theorists have criticized feminists and other gay and lesbian groups for excluding or ignoring other groups that defy normalcy, such as the disabled, SM practitioners, transgenders, etc.
ReplyDeleteSandahl then goes onto to make a very bold claim that by some standards, “crips” should be considered queer: “Consider, for example, how the term queer has been defined by some of its proponents. In The Queer Renaissance Robert McRuer describes queer as a fluid designation for identities that ‘are shaped and reshaped across differences and that interrogate and disrupt dominant hierarchical understandings of not only sex, gender, and sexuality but also race and class.’ I think McRuer would agree to adding disability to that list” (Sandahl 26). Although I can understand why Sandahl and other queer theorists would consider the disabled as “queer,” I wonder how a disabled person would feel knowing that they are considered “queer” by some. However, Sandahl’s argument is centering more on those who consider themselves both “crip” and “queer,” so that is not really an issue.
Sandahl then goes on to discuss how theatre, specifically performance art, and queer crips intermingle. Artists use monologues for the purpose of “building alternative communities” (Sandahl 27). Performance art is very popular among queer crips for many reasons. First, it’s cheap and easy, and effective. Also, “solo performance is about crossing boundaries. It is open to anyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or sexuality” (Sandahl 27). Sandahl then goes on to discuss various queer crip artists and their ways of performing, which takes up a good bit of the essay.
In "Queering the Crip or Cripping the Queer", Sandhal compares homosexuals and the disabled in the sense of the way they are treated in society. She shows similarities between the two groups. Both must face discrimination everyday and both fight for their own civil rights. These groups speak of individuality and but not of acceptance. They speak of acceptance of who they are. They are proud of who they are. I like how Brandy said they express that they don't need to be cured. Sandhal argues that a disabled person's ailment is a part of who they are, not something to be fixed. They don't see themselves as broken. Sandhal shows us preformers who are up front about their ailment and shows their audience the truth about who they are and what they are dealing with. These preformers aren't in some media for dating someone famous or going to rehab (maybe their are, depending on the ailment), they are out there for advocating that they are surviving. That they have perseverence and nothing will stop them from being successful. And that's certainly something to have pride in.
ReplyDeleteIn “Queering Crip the Cripping or Cripping the Queer”, Sandahl first compares the disabled and homosexuals by their “radical stance toward concepts of normalcy; both argue adamantly against the compulsion to observe norms of all kinds.” This is a great point because I never thought comparison between the disabled and homosexuals existed, but the essay made me realize that both are really considered as going against/are not the “norm.” She also spoke about how both groups took part in activism to be heard and fight to attain civil rights. Another comparison that she presented was that as minorities, both have been pathologized by medicine; demonized by religion; discriminated against; victimized; and isolated socially. Later on page 30 she discusses how both the disabled and homosexuals artists were denied opportunities to portray fully rounded, non-stereotypical disable or gay characters on the mainstream stage, disabled actors may not have access to the house which leads them both to take up solo performances.
ReplyDeleteIn “Queering the Crip or Cripping the Queer?”, Carrie Sandahl discussed the similarities and the struggles that both queers and people with disabilities have to go through. She discusses first how “sexual minorities and people with disabilities,
ReplyDeleteshare a history of injustice: both have been pathologized by medicine; demonized
by religion; discriminated against in housing, employment, and education; stereotyped
in representation; victimized by hate groups; and isolated socially, often in
their families of origin.” Showing that we clearing both groups have had to deal with some kind of oppression, and then goes on to discuss how “Both constituencies are diverse in terms of race, class, gender, sexuality, religion, political affiliation, and other respects”, further talking about how we are interconnected. This again brings up the topic of Intersectionality, how one person can be both queer and disabled. Both of these groups are really just striving for equality. It’s a little ridiculous that we even need to “strive” for equality. It should be something that we are born with. Like brown hair, or green eyes. Everyone should be born with equality. But sadly we don’t. And what I think Carrie was meaning to do by showing that people with disabilities, queers, and those who fit into both categories need to realize is that because they are both being denied their rights of equality that they need to stand together. I think that if all of the people being denied equality were to stand together, we would far outnumber those attempting to deny us those rights. It may sound a little boyscout-esque, but I always thought that united we stand and divided we fall was such a vivid description of how life goes. If we stand together we can really do anything. But if we separate ourselves into even more divisions, we will find it very hard to accomplish anything at all.
In Sandahl's paper she compares the way queers and the disabled are viewed in society. She points out that crips and queers go through the same discrimination on a day to day basis and both have to deal with being ridiculed. I definitely agree with what Brandy said and they don't want to be cured, they just want to be treated as equals. I like the quote from the article that says, "Young able-bodied college students often seem surprised to discover that
ReplyDeletedisabled people are sexual beings, let alone that we can flaunt our sexuality" (33). I am definitely guilty of not seeing disabled people as having sexual orientation and being sexual beings. That is one point that she is trying to make in her essay. Even though they do have this illness or hindrance, that doesn't mean we shouldn't see them as normal human beings with feelings and emotions. She also points out that "As crips, they may experience the queer community’s ableism; as queers, they may experience the disability community’s homophobia." (35-36) This double-edged sword makes it extremely hard for disabled queers to get involved in either of these communities. The theme of this paper all boils down to acceptance. We have to not only teach heterosexuals to be accepting, but within our own communities we have to be accepting of others that are different.
The article "Queering Crip Cripping Queer" discusses the conflict between intersectionality of gender roles in modern society. Society places a stigma upon being a member of the LGBT community; i.e. lesbians being "butch" and gay men being "flamboyant" and "feminine". However, LGBT persons do not feel they should have to subject themselves to live under prescribed personalities designated to them by heterosexual persons. How can hetero individuals expect LGBT persons to live up to standards set by people who do not even know what it is like to live life as a persecuted member of the LGBT community? To have to face the hardships and struggles they face with a peaceful hand on a daily basis? They have no idea and cannot relate and for this we can blame a lack of communication and ignorance of lifestyles other than the proclaimed "norm". Much like disabled individuals are talked down to and assumed to be almost lesser human beings because they cannot process things at the same rate/capacity the average person can. To have the double-edged stigma sword of being both mentally challenged and/or disabled along with being LGBT is like fuel for the fire of heterosexual criticism.
ReplyDeleteSandhal’s main issues focused around comparing the struggles that people who are crippled or queer face on a daily basis while pursuing equality. She goes in depth in focusing on their commitment, no matter what, to achieve full equality. Many people do not see the struggles many in the disabled community come into contact with every day.
ReplyDeleteAlso, she proposes that some crippled people could be considered queer: “Consider, for example, how the term queer has been defined by some of its proponents. In The Queer Renaissance Robert McRuer describes queer as a fluid designation for identities that ‘are shaped and reshaped across differences and that interrogate and disrupt dominant hierarchical understandings of not only sex, gender, and sexuality but also race and class.’ I think McRuer would agree to adding disability to that list” (26). I do not personally understand why being disabled would put someone into the queer category (honestly, I don’t understand why anyone needs to be called queer, but hey, I am not in charge of that) because of a physical ailment. I do agree, though, that many crippled individuals do face a lot of public embarrassment when some people treat them disrespectfully.
Around page 30, Sandhal then the struggles of both the disabled and queer performing artists faced when they were not allowed to portray not easily identifiable characters in their work. I say that term loosely -- mainly, they were not allowed to put into their pieces of work people who were homosexual or disabled. Anything out of the norm was not acceptable.
It all comes down to their struggles for acceptance and equality and Sandhal used comparison to show that hatred can be in all different forms.