disability

Disability isn't just a physical condition, it is also a social construction. I had never really thought about it this way, but it makes sense. Certain things are only disabilities because society is designed in a way that makes people who have them less able to function in society. For example, if all buildings were wheel chair accessible and if everyone knew sign language, or if all documents were available in brial, then these disablities would still have disadvantages in some ways to the people who have them, but they may not come with as much social stigma. If society was designed to have these things, and if they were seen as standard, instead of kind or going above and beyond, people who are "disabled" wouldn't be looked at as in need of special care, or less productive. I do however think that it's important to keep in mind that there is a biological component to many (but not all) disabilities. Although society does play an importnat role they both need to be considered. (Things like being blind, or paralized are good examples.)That being said, what is culturally constructed is which biological conditions are considered "disabilities" and how people who have them are percieved as being less able to function in soiety because of how it is set up. The obesity example is a really good example of this. People who are obese do have real medical problems and they really do have a harder time doing lots of physical acticities, but the consideration of this as a disability is social.

On the other hand some "disabilities" don't necessarily have a biological component but are only percieved to. An example of this is the throwing like a girl example. If girls are taught to throw the way boys do, they are able to. (If you don't believe me, come meet my 13 year old sister who throws so hard she hurts my dad's hand when they play catch) There isn't anything biological that stops them from doing so. The physiological differences in men and women that make a difference in throwing ability are probably minimal. Therefore, although the best male might be able to throw a ball faster than the best female the difference is probably minimal. Also, many females who are trained as well as males to throw can still throw better than most males. Differences in skill are more individual than on an overall gender basis. By realizing that disability is socially constructed, we can deconstruct it, kind of like I did with the throwing like a girl example.