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Disability Nancy Mairs

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Everyone has experienced a stereotype directed towards them once in their life whether it be based on race, gender, status, physical ability or appearance. People who use stereotypes fail to realize the impact it could have on the receiver of the statements. In most cases, stereotypes are not accurate and marginalize people, making them feel distanced from society. The essays “Disability” by Nancy Mairs and “Fatso” by Cheryl Peck both deal with women who have been pushed to edges of normal society due to their stereotypical identities. “Disability” is about a woman who has trouble walking and uses a wheelchair, due to being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The author is disappointed by how she is seen as physically dependent on people and …show more content…
Mairs’ essay uses a purposeful and collaborative tone in her essay to illustrate her mission of normalising people who lack some physical abilities. She proposes, “achieving this integration, for disabled and able-bodied people alike, requires that we insert disability into our field of vision: quietly, naturally, in the small and common scenes of our ordinary lives” (Mairs 218). Mairs sounds hopeful and wants to work together with the readers to assimilate the disabled into what is seen as ordinary. The author of “Disability” does not set herself apart from the readers, she makes comparisons with the reader to get close with them by stating, “I worry about smoker’s breath, so I buy mouthwash...I drive a car, talk on the telephone...eat pizza” (Mairs 217). All of these statements prove that Mairs is really like any reader and she is normal. Peck on the other hand, uses a tone that displays sarcasm and annoyance which does not help her create bonds with the reader. Peck professes, “I have never been called crude names, like ‘fatso’ or ‘lard-bucket’...I have never assumed an admirer would never pay any attention to me because I’m fat. I have never mishandled a sexual situation because I have been trained to think of myself as asexual” (Peck 223). By repeating “never” throughout the piece, the author of “Fatso” sets up an aura of negativity in her piece and expresses scorn because in reality she wishes she “never” received any of the vile comments made towards her, but her “never” means the opposite in her life; she always receives comments about her weight. Mairs uses a hopeful tone to invite people to her cause and in contrast Peck uses a negative tone to express her

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