My Experience As An Outsider

People with a disability are in many ways othered within our society. Othering was expressed by Canales (2010) as, power within relationships for domination and subordination, with the potential consequences of being alienated, marginalized, decreased opportunities, internalized oppression, and excluded. Canales (2010) also suggested that “exclusionary othering is often influenced by the visibility of one's otherness and that these stigmatizing features that are immediately apparent, construct one's identity as other (p.19)… Their otherness is signified by their relational differences; when compared to the ‘ordinary’ and ‘natural’ attributes of persons perceived as socially acceptable (p.19)”.

What does being an outsider feel like? Is it not being by anyone, is it feeling like you have no place in the position you’re in? Or is it feeling like everybody you are around is a different species than you, and you belong back on home planet? Whatever it is, it’s different for everybody that feels that way, and eventually takes some getting used too.

“Everybody tries to be exactly the same. I think being an outsider is a good thing”- Ethan Embry. What this quote is saying is it’s ok to be an outsider because everyone tries to act the same so standing out isn’t a bad thing.Being an outsider can seem as an negative thing to everyone else but in To kill a mockingbird the author Harper Lee shows that it doesn’t always have to be a bad thing. Being an outsider is not a bad thing and the characters from the story prove that. Scout was an outsider in the story but it in a way helped her grow as a person. Arthur Radley was also an outsider which kept him from the negativity happening in Maycomb. Even Atticus was seen as an outsider because of who was defending. Anyone can be an outsider and that’s okay.

‘Normal’ what does that mean? For many, this means fitting into the group and being the same as everyone else. In most groups ‘normal’, means having both legs and arms, being able to hear and see, not needing help in everyday tasks, like going to the washroom or getting dressed, drinking and eating. For people with disability, ‘normal’ is different, and changes from day to day depending on the tasks or how they are feeling that day, some need extra help, while others have learned to accomplish tasks by themselves. Through Jim Ferris’s poem “Normal” and Adam Pottles “Hearing Test” a different point of view is given for what is considered ‘normal’. “Normal” uses a simple baseball game to show how disability is affecting a child’s life, while

Pretty soon, you'll be entering the doors a new school, you'll have a fresh identity, and a new set of friends. This is your opportunity to start over. Start by defining yourself and your friends. “Friends are people” And I will repeat this quote so that it resonates with you, “friend”. It is said that are friends are elements that help define us. It is important that you choose the right friends. Choose friends that will make positive impacts on your life. Choose friends that are willing grow with you and help you get through any and everything that can possibly be put in your way. Choose responsible friends and be that responsible friend.

Amaris Elliott-Engel, an American lawyer and legal journalist has a website, ‘Cultivated Compendium’. On the site there is an article titled ‘You’re an Outsider’: Adoptees Push to Open Up Access to Birth Certificates. The piece written by Elliott-Engel, was published by The Connecticut Post, the Danbury News-Times and saved as a pdf file on my desktop with the name ‘article-deluded’.

In the book The Outsider by S.E Hinton, there are many problems between the East and the West side resulting to many conflicts. The author writes “‘It was the Socs’ I said nervously, because there were plenty of Socs milling around and some of them were giving me funny looks, as if I shouldn’t be with Cherry or something.’And I don’t like talking about it either, Johnny getting beat up I mean’”(Hinton 31). This shows how nervous Pony is about the Socs. They can not even be seen with a Socs and Pony is with two, Cherry and Marcia girlfriends of two major Socs. Another reason is, Johnny got beat up by two socs and he is a nervous wreck going anywhere Socs could be.” We all looked up and saw a blue mustang coming down the street, Johnny made

Growing up I did not have many experiences with diversity because I was a sheltered child. In elementary school, I use to think that people with disabilities were different because they were not in the classroom. I would see them at lunch at school and be nervous to go near them, or I would turn my head. As I got older, and went off to college I had the chance to experience being around individuals with disabilities through an exceptional children’s class that I took at York Technical College. While taking this class, I had the opportunity to go to a classroom to observe and interact with the children. I learned from this that they are not any different from me, and some are even doing better than people who do not have a disability. I loved

I’ve always thought a lot about what the world would be like without me, not if I were to suddenly disappear, but rather if I were to never exist in this world at all. It seems like a dark thought to most I know, as some would see their futility, and think not all that much would change without them. I, on the other hand, think very differently.

All the friends I had were expelled from school, and I was left alone. But overtime I made new friends, ones who actually cared about my future, instead of my reputation. Thanks to some unbelievable faculty and a few good friends and student reform program on-campus I was able to find a new version of myself. I started getting more involved with leadership positions at school, I joined new sports I’ve never tried before, and even won a scholarship for college from an art competition. My life was falling back into place, but after graduation I knew I had to be something better, if I want to survive

So I'm pretty sure you think I'm an asshole now... but I just want you to know that if you ever need anything I can be here for you. Sometimes I do irrational things, but it's usually when I'm afraid of being hurt. This whole thing has been pretty confusing lately, but if anything has remained constant it's that I do care about you and I'm pretty sure you care about me too. My actions the other night were wrong, and even though we're "taking a break" it just didn't feel right. The truth is, I was feeling confused and I didn't want to be missing someone I wasn't with. So, I tried to find draw my attention away from you and it didn't work at all. You've left quite an impression on me. I don't want to play games with you. It's difficult, but this

For my next three paragraphs i 'm going to discuss what it was like to be an outsider, when I experienced diversity and an experience I have had with disability

The sociological imagination is the idea that our private lives have a larger social effect. Things like poverty, depression, and homelessness might affect people in their personal lives and it is just “their problem” but the world around them is affected by their situation and many others are in the same situation.

Albert Camus’ title, The Outsider, strongly connects to the main character throughout the novel. The main character, Meursault, is an outsider to his general surroundings and is an amoral man. Throughout the novel, the readers notice that Meursault's behaviour and attitude toward family are absurd. His emotions are defused and detached as he discovers his mother has passed away. He doesn't grieve or exhibit any trouble over the passing of his mom. Next, the main character further enhances his characteristic of a stranger through his interactions with a woman and a new friend. Furthermore, Meursault ultimately displays actions that are taken as absurd when he is faced with society as he goes against their standards,

The narratives offer a reflective, interactive exchange whereby disability can then be understood as a social construct rather than a deadly disease or death sentence. Furthermore, as a result of the presence of an alternative narrative that challenges conventional stereotype, the gaze is turned back to the audience in a non- threatening manner. Accordingly, the audience begins to question their misconceptions and role in perpetuating the stigma and discrimination of marginalized and stigmatized